Chung-Ying Lin1, Carol Strong2, Janet D Latner3, Yi-Ching Lin4, Meng-Che Tsai5, Pauline Cheung6. 1. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 11 Yuk Choi Rd, Hung Hom, Hong Kong. cy.lin@polyu.edu.hk. 2. Department of Public Health, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. 3. Department of Psychology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA. 4. Department of Early Childhood and Family Education, College of Education, National Taipei University of Education, Taipei, Taiwan. 5. Department of Pediatrics, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. 6. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 11 Yuk Choi Rd, Hung Hom, Hong Kong.
Abstract
PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the relationships between perceived weight stigma, eating disturbances, and emotional distress across individuals with different self-perceived weight status. METHODS: University students from Hong Kong (n = 400) and Taiwan (n = 307) participated in this study and completed several questionnaires: Perceived Weight Stigma questionnaire; Three-factor Eating Questionnaire; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Each participant self-reported their height, weight, and self-perceived weight status. RESULTS: After controlling for demographics, perceived weight stigma was associated with eating disturbances (β = 0.223, p < 0.001), depression (β = 0.143, p < 0.001), and anxiety (β = 0.193, p < 0.001); and eating disturbances was associated with depression (β = 0.147, p < 0.001) and anxiety (β = 0.300, p < 0.001) in the whole sample. Additionally, eating disturbances mediated the association between perceived weight stigma and emotional distress. Similar findings were shown in the subsamples who perceived themselves as higher weight or normal weight and in the male and female subsamples. However, in the subsamples who perceived themselves as lower weight, only the links between eating disturbances and emotional distress were significant. CONCLUSION: Perceived weight stigma was associated with eating disturbances and emotional distress in young adults with both higher and normal weight. Eating disturbances were associated with emotional distress regardless of participants' weight status. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study.
PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the relationships between perceived weight stigma, eating disturbances, and emotional distress across individuals with different self-perceived weight status. METHODS: University students from Hong Kong (n = 400) and Taiwan (n = 307) participated in this study and completed several questionnaires: Perceived Weight Stigma questionnaire; Three-factor Eating Questionnaire; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Each participant self-reported their height, weight, and self-perceived weight status. RESULTS: After controlling for demographics, perceived weight stigma was associated with eating disturbances (β = 0.223, p < 0.001), depression (β = 0.143, p < 0.001), and anxiety (β = 0.193, p < 0.001); and eating disturbances was associated with depression (β = 0.147, p < 0.001) and anxiety (β = 0.300, p < 0.001) in the whole sample. Additionally, eating disturbances mediated the association between perceived weight stigma and emotional distress. Similar findings were shown in the subsamples who perceived themselves as higher weight or normal weight and in the male and female subsamples. However, in the subsamples who perceived themselves as lower weight, only the links between eating disturbances and emotional distress were significant. CONCLUSION: Perceived weight stigma was associated with eating disturbances and emotional distress in young adults with both higher and normal weight. Eating disturbances were associated with emotional distress regardless of participants' weight status. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study.
Authors: Ching-Wen Chang; Ru-Yi Huang; Carol Strong; Yi-Ching Lin; Meng-Che Tsai; I-Hua Chen; Chung-Ying Lin; Amir H Pakpour; Mark D Griffiths Journal: Front Public Health Date: 2022-04-08
Authors: Amir H Pakpour; Meng-Che Tsai; Yi-Ching Lin; Carol Strong; Janet D Latner; Xavier C C Fung; Chung-Ying Lin; Hector W H Tsang Journal: Int J Clin Health Psychol Date: 2019-04-18
Authors: Małgorzata Lipowska; Ha Truong Thi Khanh; Mariusz Lipowski; Joanna Różycka-Tran; Mariola Bidzan; Tran Ha Thu Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-08-07 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Gary Ka-Ki Chung; Carol Strong; Yat-Hang Chan; Roger Yat-Nork Chung; Jung-Sheng Chen; Yi-Hsuan Lin; Ru-Yi Huang; Chung-Ying Lin; Nai-Ying Ko Journal: Front Med (Lausanne) Date: 2022-02-15
Authors: Chung-Ying Lin; Meng-Che Tsai; Chih-Hsiang Liu; Yi-Ching Lin; Yi-Ping Hsieh; Carol Strong Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-11-11 Impact factor: 3.390