Body Dissatisfaction and Physical Development Among Ethnic Minority Adolescents

• NCJ Number: 214826
• Journal: Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume: 35 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2006 Pages: 189-201
• Author(s): Adrienne Nishina; Natalie Y. Ammon; Amy D. Bellmore; Sandra Graham
• Date Published: April 2006
• Length: 13 pages
• Grant Number(s): BCS-0345967; 03-03CY-041G-LA
• Sponsoring Agency: National Science Foundation; UC Linguistic Minority Research Institute
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the link between dissatisfaction with one's body and psychosocial adjustment, as well as the role that physical development played in this association among an ethnically diverse sample of 1,123 urban, ninth-grade boys and girls (mean age of 14).

Abstract

The three factors related to boys' dissatisfaction with their bodies, regardless of ethnicity, were general body dissatisfaction, feeling overweight, and feeling their muscles were too small. The factors that affected girls' dissatisfaction with their bodies were general body dissatisfaction and feeling overweight. These two factors for girls were present across all ethnic groups; however, African-American girls were generally more satisfied with their bodies than the other ethnic groups. This suggests the need to take into account cultural differences in ideal body types when studying body dissatisfaction among adolescent girls. Higher levels of body dissatisfaction predicted more psychological and social maladjustment for both boys and girls. General body dissatisfaction predicted more depressive symptoms and lower self-worth. For boys, faster physical development predicted stronger associations between feeling overweight and peer victimization. Feeling too small only predicted victimization if boys were actually low in physical development. For girls, physical development directly predicted less peer victimization, while perceived faster development predicted more victimization. Thus, apparently physical development can protect both girls (directly) and boys (buffering against the negative effects of body dissatisfaction) from peer victimization; whereas, perceived faster timing of development can increase the chance of peer victimization. Participants were recruited from over 140 high schools in the greater Los Angeles area. Instruments measured body dissatisfaction, physical development, perceived faster development, depressive symptoms, self-esteem, and self-perceived victimization. 4 tables and 52 references