Abstract
PurposeThe main purpose of the present study was to investigate the association between sex and body mass index (BMI) as mediated by the temperament traits postulated by the regulative theory of temperament.MethodsA group of 317 subjects, including 122 men and 195 women 18–82 years old (M = 31.93; SD = 12.64 years), was recruited from the general population to participate in the study. A cross-sectional design was applied in this study. Temperament was assessed using the formal characteristics of behaviour–temperament inventory revised version (FCB–TIR). In the sample, BMIs ranged from 16.51 to 35.56 kg/m2 (M = 23.31 kg/m2; SD = 3.61 kg/m2).ResultsThe male group had significantly higher BMI, briskness and endurance levels and significantly lower perseveration, sensory sensitivity and emotional reactivity levels compared to the female group. No significant differences between these groups were noted in terms of activity and rhythmicity. The correlations between BMI and briskness and between BMI and endurance were positive, while the correlations between BMI and perseveration and between BMI and activity were negative. The correlations among BMI, sensory sensitivity, emotional reactivity and rhythmicity were not statistically significant. The mediation analysis showed that briskness and endurance were significant partial mediators of the relationship between sex and BMI.ConclusionsSex and two temperament traits, briskness and endurance, were the best predictors of BMI. Briskness and endurance partially mediated the relationship between sex and BMI.Level of evidenceDescriptive cross-sectional study. Level V.
Highlights
Body mass index (BMI) is an easy-to-perform screening for weight category and is commonly used to classify overweight and obesity in adults
The male group had significantly higher BMI, briskness and endurance values (Cohen’s d values were 0.69, 0.46 and 0.52, respectively, suggesting a medium effect) and significantly lower sensory sensitivity, perseveration and emotional reactivity values compared to the female group. (Cohen’s d values were 0.27, 0.63 and 0.52, respectively, suggesting a small, medium and large effect, respectively.) no significant differences between these groups were noted on the activity and rhythmicity scales
The current study aimed to understand the relationships between sex and BMI as mediated by the temperament traits the regulative theory of temperament (RTT) postulated
Summary
Body mass index (BMI) is an easy-to-perform screening for weight category and is commonly used to classify overweight and obesity in adults. Some studies have shown that men have higher BMI levels compared to women, this pattern may depend on the culture and age of the subjects. Kuan, Ho, Shuhaili, Siti and Gudum [2] examined a Malaysian sample of students and found that more males than females were overweight, while more females were underweight. This study demonstrated that females preferred an ideal figure that was underweight, whereas males chose an overweight figure as their ideal model. The highest BMI level in men relative to women was observed in a large Western European sample [4] as well as in a Central European sample [5]. Kodjebacheva, Kruger, Rybarczyk and Cupal [6] found that African American women
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