Effects of perceived peer isolation and social support availability on the relationship between body mass index and depressive symptoms

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:To examine relationships between body mass index (BMI) and psychological correlates in Chinese school adolescents during the period of economic transition. DESIGN: Baseline data of 1655 Chinese adolescents aged 11-15 y were retrieved from a longitudinal smoking cessation and health promotion program in Wuhan, China. Assessments of body weight and height, depressive symptoms, perceived peer isolation (PPI) and perceived availability of social support (PASS) were collected. RESULTS: Based on the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) age-and sex-specific BMI cutoffs, 12.5% of boys and 9.2% of girls were overweight. In girls, high BMI was significantly related to higher self-reported depressive symptoms, and was dominantly mediated by PPI. On the contrary, high BMI boys reported significantly lower levels of PPI although high PPI level aggravated depressive symptoms. For both girls and boys, the observed effect of PPI on the relationship between BMI and depressive symptoms was sustained only in low PASS boys and girls. CONCLUSIONS: The present study revealed different effects of PPI on the association of BMI and depressive symptoms between boys and girls, which were buffered by levels of PASS. The findings of this study may contribute to our understanding of the influences of psychological correlates in pediatric overweight in the Eastern cultural environment.

Overweight trajectories and psychosocial adjustment among adolescents

“…Given the fact that obesity is viewed as a non-desirable and stigmatizing characteristic in the American culture, and that many youth are preoccupied with cultural expectations of a slim body as the standard of beauty, being obese has been assumed to predispose youth to depressive symptoms (Merikangas et al, 2012; Roberts, 2000; Sanchez-Villegas et al, 2012; Ting et al, 2012), social isolation (Strauss and Pollack, 2003; Xie, 2005), low self-esteem (Lau et al, 2004), poor health-related quality of life (Pinhas-Hamiel et al, 2006; Tyler et al, 2007), and psychosocial adjustment problems(Erermis et al, 2004). With the development of cognitive functioning during adolescence, the process of self-appraisal and social comparison of body image and physical attractiveness is presumed more operative and relevant to psychosocial adjustment problems among adolescents than among children (Bradley et al, 2008; Harter, 2006).…”

Overweight, Body Image, and Depression in Asian and Hispanic Adolescents

“…Pediatric overweight has been associated with depression and anxiety;1 peer isolation and discrimination;2,3 low self-esteem,4 self-concept,5 and social cooperation skills;6 family disharmony;7 dislike of school or trouble with teachers;7 and poor health-related quality of life 8. The underlying mechanisms have been presumably related to the reflected self-appraisal hypothesis and social comparison theory,9-11 which mainly involve cultural norms and social desirability of ideal weight and the process of self-appraisal and social comparison of body image and physical attractiveness.…”

“…A mediation-moderation approach has been recommended to investigate this association between overweight and depressive symptoms with application of a prospective longitudinal design 3,17. One potential mediator of this association is body image dissatisfaction.…”

An EGFR and AKT Signaling Pathway was Identified with Mediation Model in Osteosarcomas Clinical Study

“…In Beck’s study, mediation analysis indicated that pain influenced fatigue directly as well as indirectly by its effect on sleep (Beck et al 2005). Recently in a cross- sectional study, Xie et al demonstrated an association between BMI and depression mediated by perceived peer isolation in adolescents (Xie et al 2005). Small sample size is another limitation in our study.…”