PURPOSE: This study evaluated the prevalence and effects of teasing by family members on body dissatisfaction, eating disturbance, and psychological functioning. METHODS: Self-report data were collected from 372 middle school girls who were part of a larger study in a Tampa Bay, Florida area middle school (mean age: 12.6 years; 85% Caucasian). RESULTS: Twenty-three percent of participants reported appearance-related teasing by a parent, and 12% were teased by a parent about being heavy. Nineteen percent of the girls reported appearance-related teasing by fathers, 13% reported appearance-related teasing by mothers, and 29% reported appearance-related teasing by siblings. After controlling for body mass index (BMI) and maternal teasing, paternal teasing was a significant predictor of body dissatisfaction, comparison, thin-ideal internalization, restriction, bulimic behaviors, self-esteem, and depression. After controlling for BMI and paternal teasing, maternal teasing was a significant predictor of depression. After controlling for BMI and maternal teasing, paternal teasing significantly increased the odds of having a sibling who teases. Girls who reported being teased by at least one sibling demonstrated significantly higher levels of body dissatisfaction, comparison, thin-ideal internalization, restriction, bulimic behaviors, depression, and significantly lower levels of self-esteem than those girls who reported they were not teased by their siblings. Frequency of teasing was associated with higher levels of negative outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: This study has implications for treatment and prevention of eating disorders. The results suggest that health care providers should assess appearance-related teasing in their patients' lives to identify girls who may be at risk for body image and eating disturbance and poor psychological functioning.
PURPOSE: This study evaluated the prevalence and effects of teasing by family members on body dissatisfaction, eating disturbance, and psychological functioning. METHODS: Self-report data were collected from 372 middle school girls who were part of a larger study in a Tampa Bay, Florida area middle school (mean age: 12.6 years; 85% Caucasian). RESULTS: Twenty-three percent of participants reported appearance-related teasing by a parent, and 12% were teased by a parent about being heavy. Nineteen percent of the girls reported appearance-related teasing by fathers, 13% reported appearance-related teasing by mothers, and 29% reported appearance-related teasing by siblings. After controlling for body mass index (BMI) and maternal teasing, paternal teasing was a significant predictor of body dissatisfaction, comparison, thin-ideal internalization, restriction, bulimic behaviors, self-esteem, and depression. After controlling for BMI and paternal teasing, maternal teasing was a significant predictor of depression. After controlling for BMI and maternal teasing, paternal teasing significantly increased the odds of having a sibling who teases. Girls who reported being teased by at least one sibling demonstrated significantly higher levels of body dissatisfaction, comparison, thin-ideal internalization, restriction, bulimic behaviors, depression, and significantly lower levels of self-esteem than those girls who reported they were not teased by their siblings. Frequency of teasing was associated with higher levels of negative outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: This study has implications for treatment and prevention of eating disorders. The results suggest that health care providers should assess appearance-related teasing in their patients' lives to identify girls who may be at risk for body image and eating disturbance and poor psychological functioning.
Authors: G López-Guimerà; J Fauquet; D Sánchez-Carracedo; J R Barrada; C Saldaña; A Masnou-Roig Journal: Eat Weight Disord Date: 2012-02-06 Impact factor: 4.652
Authors: Valdo Ricca; Francesco Rotella; Edoardo Mannucci; Claudia Ravaldi; Giovanni Castellini; Francesco Lapi; Linda Cangioli; Paolo Martini; Carlo Faravelli Journal: Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health Date: 2010-07-20
Authors: Jessica L Suisman; J Kevin Thompson; Pamela K Keel; S Alexandra Burt; Michael Neale; Steven Boker; Cheryl Sisk; Kelly L Klump Journal: Int J Eat Disord Date: 2014-06-25 Impact factor: 4.861
Authors: Shannon L Michael; Kathryn Wentzel; Marc N Elliott; Patricia J Dittus; David E Kanouse; Jan L Wallander; Keryn E Pasch; Luisa Franzini; Wendell C Taylor; Tariq Qureshi; Frank A Franklin; Mark A Schuster Journal: J Youth Adolesc Date: 2013-01-19