Body Dissatisfaction and Depressive Symptoms on the Threshold to Adolescence: Examining Gender Differences in Depressive Symptoms and the Impact of Social Support

Abstract

The current study focused on the relationship between body dissatisfaction and depressive symptoms on the threshold of adolescence. We aimed to investigate the role of body dissatisfaction in gender differences in depressive symptoms, as well as the impact of social support from peers and parents. Mediation and moderation analyses were based on self-reports from a Norwegian population-based sample (the Tracking Opportunities and Problems Study) of 12- to 13-year-olds ( N = 547). Body dissatisfaction explained over 20% of the variance in depressive symptoms. The findings indicate that body dissatisfaction mediates gender differences in depressive symptoms, and that peer support moderates the positive association between body dissatisfaction and depressive symptoms. This is in line with Stress Exposure and Stress-Buffering models. The findings indicate that to prevent depressive symptoms in the transition into adolescence, focus should be on promoting body satisfaction, especially in girls, as well as promoting peer support for adolescents already struggling with body dissatisfaction.

Is the Effect of Body Dissatisfaction on Depressive Symptoms Dependent on Weight Status? A Study with Early-to-Middle Adolescents

“…The present findings go along with previous studies suggesting that body dissatisfaction is a predictor of depressive symptoms [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ]. This relationship can be explained by the self-discrepancy theory [ 41 ], as body dissatisfaction was measured as the discrepancy between the actual and the ideal body perceived by the adolescents.…”

“…This specific dimension of body image has been pointed as a risk factor for several health-related problems, such as quality of life [ 22 ], risky health behaviors (smoking, drug use, self-harm, etc.) [ 23 ], eating disorders [ 24 ], and depression [ 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ].…”

Dysmorphic concern and behavioural impairment related to body image in adolescents

“…Furthermore, sex was a moderator in the direction predicted on the indirect effect through dysphoria. In agreement with this results, Morken, Røysamb, Nilsen, and Karevold () found that girls in the general population aged 12 and 13 showed more dissatisfaction with their physical appearance and showed more depressive symptoms than boys. However, no moderation by sex was found on ideas of reference.…”

RETRACTED: ‘Weighty woes’: Impact of fat talk and social influences on body dissatisfaction among Indian women during the pandemic

“…Body dissatisfaction, the negative subjective evaluation of one's body, is a predominant risk factor for depression, emotional distress, and low self-esteem (Duchesne et al, 2017;Morken, 2019;Van Den Berg et al, 2010). Body dissatisfaction has been reported by around 19% (Rashmi et al, 2016) to 33.3% (Priya, 2010) of female Indian college students.…”