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Overweight during childhood and internalizing symptoms in early adolescence: The mediating role of peer victimization and the desire to be thinner.
- Source :
-
Journal of Affective Disorders . Sep2016, Vol. 202, p203-209. 7p. - Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- <bold>Background: </bold>Overweight is associated with depression and anxiety among adults. It is unclear whether this association begins in childhood. Overweight among children is associated with a higher risk of peer victimization, and may mediate an association between overweight and internalizing symptoms. No study has tested this hypothesis in a longitudinal population-based sample using developmental trajectories of overweight in middle childhood.<bold>Methods: </bold>Data was drawn from the population-based Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development. A three-group trajectory model of overweight development (6-12 years) was previously identified using a semi-parametric group-based approach (n=1678): "early-onset" (11.0%), "late-onset" (16.6%) and "never overweight" (72.5%). Mediation models tested the link between overweight status and child-reported depression and anxiety at 13 years via peer victimization and body dissatisfaction.<bold>Results: </bold>Children on an early-onset overweight trajectory were at increased risk for both depression (B=.318, 95% CI=.141;.496) and anxiety (B=.262, 95% CI=.09;.44) at 13 years. These direct associations were mediated by peer victimization and subsequent desire to be thinner. Children on a late-onset childhood overweight trajectory were at increased risk for both depression (B=.332, 95% CI=.187;.477) and anxiety (B=.215; 95% CI=.072;.358) at 13 years, mediated by the desire to be thinner.<bold>Limitations: </bold>We were unable to control for previous levels of body dissatisfaction. Our measure of peer victimization was not specific to weight-based teasing.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>Overweight during middle childhood increases risk of early adolescence internalizing symptoms. Peer victimization and body dissatisfaction are partly responsible for this link. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *RISK of childhood obesity
*MENTAL depression
*ANXIETY
*INTERNALIZING behavior
*SYMPTOMS
*LONGITUDINAL method
*CHILDHOOD obesity
*BODY weight
*BULLYING
*CHILD development
*DEFENSE mechanisms (Psychology)
*LOCUS of control
*RESEARCH funding
*PSYCHOLOGY of crime victims
*AFFINITY groups
*PSYCHOLOGY
DISEASES in adults
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 01650327
- Volume :
- 202
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Affective Disorders
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 116781057
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2016.05.022