Body appreciation and body dissatisfaction between maltreated and comparison adolescents

Abstract

Body image, both positive and negative, is a salient issue in adolescence and can affect mental health as well as mental health can affect body image. Although maltreated youth are known to have serious mental health problems, very little research has explored body image problems in this population. This study explored the association between maltreatment and both body appreciation and body dissatisfaction as well as the relationship between BMI percentile and both body appreciation and body dissatisfaction. Data came from a study on the effects of maltreatment on adolescent development, and participants included child welfare-affiliated maltreated youth (N = 299) and comparison youth (N = 148) ages of 9–13 years. Linear regression was used to evaluate if BMI percentile and maltreatment status were related to body appreciation and body dissatisfaction, while also evaluating the influence of age, race, pubertal development, and depressive symptoms. The analyses were stratified by sex. Maltreated boys reported lower body appreciation than the comparison boys. Latina girls reported lower body appreciation compared to White, Black, or biracial/multiethnic girls. As depressive symptoms increased, body appreciation decreased and body dissatisfaction increased for both boys and girls. BMI was not associated with body appreciation or body dissatisfaction. Interventions that address body image should not only focus on decreasing body dissatisfaction but should also work to promote positive body image or body appreciation. These interventions should target boys and girls and all ethnicities/races, especially maltreated boys and Latinas, as well as address depression symptoms along body image problems.