A prospective study of self‐esteem in the prediction of eating problems in adolescent schoolgirls: Questionnaire findings

Abstract

A number of authors have emphasized the importance of self-esteem in the aetiology of the eating disorders anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Evidence for such theorizing, however, mainly derives from clinical observations on people being treated for eating disorders. This study is the first prospective study to investigate the role of self-esteem in aetiology prior to the onset of an eating disorder. Self-esteem was measured in 594 schoolgirls aged 11-12 using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965). Almost 400 of these girls were successfully followed up at age 15-16 and they completed a questionnaire examining eating and other psychological problems. Results showed that girls with low self-esteem at age 11-12 were at significantly greater risk of developing the more severe signs of eating disorders, as well as other psychological problems, by the age of 15-16. It is argued that more research is needed to replicate and extend these findings. The results also give weight to the case for examining the potential role of self-esteem enhancement in the prevention of eating disorders.

Genetic and environmental factors affecting self-esteem from age 14 to 17: a longitudinal study of Finnish twins

“…Adolescent girls more often than boys suffer from conditions like depression and eating disorders, where low self-esteem evidently plays a role (Button et al 1996, Kendler et al 2002. In childhood, children's self-worth is equal between sexes.…”

“…Self-esteem is positively associated with better self-rated health (Glendinning 1998), and low self-esteem has been related to poor physical health outcomes (Nirkko et al 1982). Under some circumstances, low self-esteem predisposes to depression and disordered eating (Whisman & Kwon 1993, Button et al 1996, Kendler et al 2002. On the other hand, high self-esteem seems to be a heterogenous concept which may promote initiative and confident action in either constructive or destructive ways (Salmivalli et al 1999).…”

Fat, plain, but not friendless: self-esteem and peer acceptance of obese pre-adolescent girls

“…At what age do low self-esteem and poor peer relationships start to become related to impaired psychological health? 23 More speci®cally, how might these youngsters be protected from future eating disorders given the predictive value of adolescent low self-esteem 24 and overweight? 25,26 If psychological health promotion has equal priority to that of physical health promotion these are questions that demand research attention and investment.…”

Construção e fidedignidade teste-reteste de escalas de silhuetas brasileiras para adultos e crianças

“…Com o aumento da incidência dos distúrbios relacionados à obesidade e aos padrões inadequados de conduta alimentar em idades cada vez mais precoces (Ambrosi-Randic, 2000; Davison & Birch, 2001;Dietz, 1998), cresce também a preocupação em investigar as variáveis associadas, os fatores desencadeantes e as possibilidades de intervenção preventiva em relação a esses distúrbios ainda na infância (Button, Sonuga-Barke, Davies & Thompson, 1996;Pinheiro & Giugliani, 2006;Ricciardelli & McCabe, 2001;Smolak, 2004).…”