Abstract
Objectives:This paper explores trends in Scottish adolescents’ body size perceptions and associated mental well-being outcomes.Methods:Data were collected on Scottish 11, 13 and 15-year olds by the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study between 1990 and 2014 (n=42,312). Logistic regression was used to examine changes in the prevalence of over- and underweight perceptions. Ordinal and linear regression was used to examine changes in the association between body perception and mental well-being.Results:Little change was observed in over- or under-weight perceptions between 1990 and 2014. However, relative to those perceiving their body as ‘about right’, those perceiving themselves as overweight reported decreasing confidence (all groups), decreasing happiness (11- and 13-year old girls) and increasing psychological symptoms (all girls and 15 year-old boys). Perceived underweight is associated with poor well-being, especially in males, but we present little evidence that this is a recent phenomenon.Conclusions:We present evidence suggesting that the influence of body image on adolescent mental health is increasing over time. This may play a role in the recently observed worsening of mental well-being in Scottish adolescents.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 69-80 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | International Journal of Public Health |
Volume | 63 |
Issue number | 1 |
Early online date | 1 Jul 2017 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jan 2018 |
Keywords
- Body image
- Body size perception
- Overweight
- Underweight
- Adolescents
- Mental well-being
- Overweight/psychology
- Prevalence
- Body Size
- Humans
- Logistic Models
- Male
- Scotland/epidemiology
- Body Image/psychology
- Mental Disorders/epidemiology
- Adolescent
- Female
- Thinness/psychology
- Child
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health