PURPOSE: To assess whether dispositional optimism is associated with adiposity and to explore whether dispositional optimism mediates the relationship between parent education and adiposity (body mass index [BMI] z-score). METHODS: Multivariate regression analyses of data were collected from 1,298 non-Hispanic black and white adolescents aged 12-19 years from a single Midwestern public school district. RESULTS: Less optimistic adolescents had higher BMI z-scores (r = -.09, p < .001). Addition of dispositional optimism to the regression model caused an approximately 10% attenuation of the parent education and BMI z-score relationship. Sobel tests confirmed that this attenuation indicated partial mediation. CONCLUSION: Lower dispositional optimism is associated with higher adiposity and this association accounts for some of the influence of parent education on adolescent adiposity.
PURPOSE: To assess whether dispositional optimism is associated with adiposity and to explore whether dispositional optimism mediates the relationship between parent education and adiposity (body mass index [BMI] z-score). METHODS: Multivariate regression analyses of data were collected from 1,298 non-Hispanic black and white adolescents aged 12-19 years from a single Midwestern public school district. RESULTS: Less optimistic adolescents had higher BMI z-scores (r = -.09, p < .001). Addition of dispositional optimism to the regression model caused an approximately 10% attenuation of the parent education and BMI z-score relationship. Sobel tests confirmed that this attenuation indicated partial mediation. CONCLUSION: Lower dispositional optimism is associated with higher adiposity and this association accounts for some of the influence of parent education on adolescent adiposity.
Authors: Paul W Franks; Robert L Hanson; William C Knowler; Maurice L Sievers; Peter H Bennett; Helen C Looker Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2010-02-11 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Lawrence M Dolan; Judy Bean; David D'Alessio; Robert M Cohen; John A Morrison; Elizabeth Goodman; Stephen R Daniels Journal: J Pediatr Date: 2005-06 Impact factor: 4.406