Gender and weight concerns in early and middle adolescence: links with well-being and family characteristics.
Journal
  Journal of clinical child psychology.
Citation
  J Clin Child Psychol. 30(3):338-48
Publication date
  2001 Sep
Authors
  McHale SM
Corneal DA
Crouter AC
Birch LL
Investigators
  Leann Birch
Grant agencies
  National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Grants
  NICHD RO1-HD29409
MeSH headings
  Adolescent Behavior
Body Image
Body Weight
Family
Gender Identity
Self Concept
MeSH qualifiers
  psychology
Abstract
  Studied sex and developmental differences in weight concerns in early and middle adolescence and links between concerns and adolescent well-being and family experiences. Participants were mothers, fathers, and older and younger siblings (Ms = 15 and 12.5 years, respectively) from 197, Caucasian, working-middle class, 2-parent families. Parents rated their gender role attitudes and adolescents rated their weight concerns, well-being, gender role orientations, and physical development. Girls reported more concerns than boys; body mass index (BMI) correlated with weight concerns for all youth. Controlling for BMI and pubertal status, weight concerns were linked to older girls' well-being; with physical characteristics controlled, mothers' gender attitudes explained older girls' weight concerns, and siblings' weight concerns explained those of older and younger girls and boys.
Medline ID
  21393259