Trends in the perceived body size of adolescent males and females in Scotland, 1990\u20132014: changing associations with mental well-being

Ross D Whitehead,Alina Cosma,Fergus Neville,Dorothy Currie,Jo Cecil,Candace Currie,Jo Inchley

doi:10.1007/s00038-017-0997-y

Ross D Whitehead, Alina Cosma + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-017-0997-y

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Abstract

ObjectivesThis paper explores trends in Scottish adolescents’ body size perceptions and associated mental well-being outcomes.MethodsData were collected on Scottish 11-, 13-, and 15-year-olds by the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study between 1990 and 2014 (n = 42,312). Logistic regression was used to examine changes in the prevalence of over- and underweight perceptions. Ordinal and linear regressions were used to examine changes in the association between body perception and mental well-being.ResultsLittle change was observed in over- or underweight perceptions. However, relative to those perceiving their body as ‘about right’, those perceiving themselves as overweight reported decreasing confidence (all groups), decreasing happiness (11- and 13-year-old girls), and increasing psychological health symptoms (all girls and 15-year-old boys). Perceived underweight is associated with poor well-being, especially in males, but we present little evidence that this is a recent phenomenon.ConclusionsWe present evidence suggesting that the association between body size perception and poor mental health in adolescence is changing over time. This may play a role in the recently observed worsening of mental well-being in Scottish adolescents.

Highlights

Conspicuous physical development during adolescence draws attention to one’s body shape and size, instigating comparison against peers and subjective ideals (Voelker et al 2015)
Objectives This paper explores trends in Scottish adolescents’ body size perceptions and associated mental wellbeing outcomes
Perceived underweight is associated with poor well-being, especially in males, but we present little evidence that this is a recent phenomenon

Summary

Introduction

Conspicuous physical development during adolescence draws attention to one’s body shape and size, instigating comparison against peers and subjective ideals (Voelker et al 2015). This can lead to dissatisfaction with one’s body, where self-perception is discordant with a desired target (Cash and Szymanski 1995). Around one in five 15-year-old males are classified as overweight or obese, which is concordant with the proportion of male adolescents perceiving that they are overweight (Inchley et al 2016). Both overweight and underweight perceptions are common among boys, with around 20% of non-overweight boys perceiving that they are underweight (Quick et al 2014)

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