A Longitudinal Analysis of Body Image as a Predictor of the Onset and Persistence of Adolescent Girls' Depression

Abstract

The importance of body image in early adolescent girls' depression was evaluated in a longitudinal study. Depression scores of over 500 girls were assessed twice, in the fall (TI) and spring (T2) of a school year, and four subject groups were identified: Persistent Depressed (depressed at Ti and T2); Remitting Depressed (depressed at Ti, nondepressed at T2); Onset Depressed (nondepressed at Ti, depressed at T2); and Stable Nondepressed (nondepressed at Ti and T2). Discriminant analyses indicated that body image at Ti was more important to the prediction of persistence of depression (i.e., to the discrimination of Persistent Depressed from Remitting Depressed girls) than to the prediction of onset of depression (i.e., to the discrimination of Onset Depressed from Stable Non depressed girls). Results therefore clarify the relationship between body image and depression and demonstrate the heuristic value of discriminating questions of onset and persistence of adolescent girls' depression.

The Relation between Eating- and Weight-Related Disturbances and Depressive Symptoms among Early and Late Adolescents

“…Another objective of the study was to investigate the relation between EWRDs and depression alongside two well-studied risk factors for depression, namely, pubertal status and self-esteem. Overall, the results support previous findings in the literature suggesting a link between maladaptive body weight regulation strategies and depression and important gender and age differences [11,[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]26]. Maladaptive body weight regulation strategies were significantly associated with depressive symptoms among early adolescent boys and girls and among late adolescent girls after accounting for pubertal status, BMI, and selfNote.…”

“…Furthermore, the specific nature of age and gender differences in this relation remains unclear. Previous research supports this relation in relatively smaller community samples of adolescent girls [11,13,14]. However, few studies have examined the relation between EWRDs and depressive symptoms in a populationbased sample of adolescent girls and boys, which would increase the generalizability of the findings.…”

“…Findings in the literature also suggest that the prevalence of body dissatisfaction among males is increasing, and male body dissatisfaction differs qualitatively from the female experience of body dissatisfaction [9,10]. Despite considerable evidence underscoring the role that EWRDs play in the development of depression in adolescence, EWRDs are not typically thought of as risk factors for depression [7,11,12]. Furthermore, the specific nature of age and gender differences in this relation remains unclear.…”

“…Some research on the relation between EWRDs and depression has focused on cognitive measures of EWRDs, namely body image and body dissatisfaction [11,[15][16][17]. Researchers have also expanded the measurement of EWRDs to include maladaptive body weight regulation strategies and have found support for the prospective relation between both types of EWRDs and depression in adolescence [14,[18][19][20][21].…”

Resilient Adolescent Adjustment Among Girls: Buffers of Childhood Peer Rejection and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

“…Eating pathology has not been investigated as an outcome variable for peer-rejection or for ADHD, probably because of the predominance of boys in such studies. However, there is reason to believe that peer-rejected girls with ADHD will be at risk for eating pathology, because eating pathology is related to depression (see Rierdan, Koff, & Stubbs, 1989), and depression is linked to peer rejection. Also, impulsivity is characteristic of ADHD, bulimia, and binge eating disorder (Fahy & Eisler, 1993).…”