Association between higher BMI and depressive symptoms in Icelandic adolescents: the mediational function of body image
Background : Weight status and depressive affect in adolescents are positively related constructs, but the nature of this relationship is not well understood, especially in European populations. The objective of this study was to examine the interplay between body mass index (BMI) and depressive sym...
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2014
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fthighwire:oai:open-archive.highwire.org:eurpub:24/6/887 2023-05-15T16:50:22+02:00 Association between higher BMI and depressive symptoms in Icelandic adolescents: the mediational function of body image Eidsdottir, Sigridur T. Kristjansson, Alfgeir L. Sigfusdottir, Inga Dora Garber, Carol E. Allegrante, John P. 2014-12-01 00:00:00.0 text/html http://eurpub.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/24/6/887 https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckt180 en eng Oxford University Press http://eurpub.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/24/6/887 http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckt180 Copyright (C) 2014, Oxford University Press Child and adolescent health TEXT 2014 fthighwire https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckt180 2015-02-28T20:39:06Z Background : Weight status and depressive affect in adolescents are positively related constructs, but the nature of this relationship is not well understood, especially in European populations. The objective of this study was to examine the interplay between body mass index (BMI) and depressive symptoms, while accounting for the possible mediational role of body image, in a sample of older adolescents in Iceland. Method : We utilized data from a population-based cross-sectional sample of 11 388 junior college students (16–20-year-olds) to conduct structural equation modelling to test the relationship between BMI, body image and depressive symptoms while controlling for socioeconomic status and other background variables. Results : Higher levels of BMI are associated with higher depressive symptoms. However, this association was mediated entirely through perceptions of body image. The association is gender dependent, with the relationship between BMI levels and depressive symptoms being significantly stronger among junior college girls than boys. Conclusion : Body image is a key contributor in the relationship between weight status and depressive symptoms among adolescents. Future interventions with adolescents should take this association into account and focus on such factors as physical confidence and self-esteem. Text Iceland HighWire Press (Stanford University) The European Journal of Public Health 24 6 888 892 |
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Open Polar |
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HighWire Press (Stanford University) |
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fthighwire |
language |
English |
topic |
Child and adolescent health |
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Child and adolescent health Eidsdottir, Sigridur T. Kristjansson, Alfgeir L. Sigfusdottir, Inga Dora Garber, Carol E. Allegrante, John P. Association between higher BMI and depressive symptoms in Icelandic adolescents: the mediational function of body image |
topic_facet |
Child and adolescent health |
description |
Background : Weight status and depressive affect in adolescents are positively related constructs, but the nature of this relationship is not well understood, especially in European populations. The objective of this study was to examine the interplay between body mass index (BMI) and depressive symptoms, while accounting for the possible mediational role of body image, in a sample of older adolescents in Iceland. Method : We utilized data from a population-based cross-sectional sample of 11 388 junior college students (16–20-year-olds) to conduct structural equation modelling to test the relationship between BMI, body image and depressive symptoms while controlling for socioeconomic status and other background variables. Results : Higher levels of BMI are associated with higher depressive symptoms. However, this association was mediated entirely through perceptions of body image. The association is gender dependent, with the relationship between BMI levels and depressive symptoms being significantly stronger among junior college girls than boys. Conclusion : Body image is a key contributor in the relationship between weight status and depressive symptoms among adolescents. Future interventions with adolescents should take this association into account and focus on such factors as physical confidence and self-esteem. |
format |
Text |
author |
Eidsdottir, Sigridur T. Kristjansson, Alfgeir L. Sigfusdottir, Inga Dora Garber, Carol E. Allegrante, John P. |
author_facet |
Eidsdottir, Sigridur T. Kristjansson, Alfgeir L. Sigfusdottir, Inga Dora Garber, Carol E. Allegrante, John P. |
author_sort |
Eidsdottir, Sigridur T. |
title |
Association between higher BMI and depressive symptoms in Icelandic adolescents: the mediational function of body image |
title_short |
Association between higher BMI and depressive symptoms in Icelandic adolescents: the mediational function of body image |
title_full |
Association between higher BMI and depressive symptoms in Icelandic adolescents: the mediational function of body image |
title_fullStr |
Association between higher BMI and depressive symptoms in Icelandic adolescents: the mediational function of body image |
title_full_unstemmed |
Association between higher BMI and depressive symptoms in Icelandic adolescents: the mediational function of body image |
title_sort |
association between higher bmi and depressive symptoms in icelandic adolescents: the mediational function of body image |
publisher |
Oxford University Press |
publishDate |
2014 |
url |
http://eurpub.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/24/6/887 https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckt180 |
genre |
Iceland |
genre_facet |
Iceland |
op_relation |
http://eurpub.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/24/6/887 http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckt180 |
op_rights |
Copyright (C) 2014, Oxford University Press |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckt180 |
container_title |
The European Journal of Public Health |
container_volume |
24 |
container_issue |
6 |
container_start_page |
888 |
op_container_end_page |
892 |
_version_ |
1766040530941116416 |