We examined the associations among self-reported body image, self-esteem, and measured body mass index (BMI) in El-Salvadoran American youth. Higher BMI was associated with body size dissatisfaction, lower peer esteem, and attempts to lose weight. Body size dissatisfaction was also significantly related to self-esteem in these El-Salvadoran American youth.
KeywordsBody dissatisfaction; Self-esteem; Overweight El-Salvadoran American children and adolescents Body image distortion and overall body dissatisfaction among adolescents have been implicated in the development of negative self-worth [1] and negative affect [2], and may serve as risk factors for the development of adolescent depression [3] and disordered eating behaviors [4]. Body image may be affected and partly determined by cultural beliefs and values regarding beauty and attractiveness [5]. Three prior studies have found an inverse relationship between weight status and either body image or self-esteem among Mexican American and Southwestern Hispanic adolescents [6][7][8]. However, body image has not been extensively examined among non-Mexican American Hispanics. We therefore examined the associations among self-reported body image, self-esteem, and body mass index (BMI) in El-Salvadoran American youth.
MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional survey of El-Salvadoran American children and adolescents aged 10 -18 years at two inner city community clinics in Washington, DC from February to July 2002. Subjects with both parents self-identified as Hispanics were eligible for the study. Only one child per family was recruited. Subjects were asked to indicate both their current and desired size using drawings of child figures from the Kids Eating Disorder Survey [9]. Body size dissatisfaction score was calculated as the difference between current and desired size. A greater absolute value of the score indicates more dissatisfaction with current body size. Selfesteem was measured using the abbreviated Hare Area-Specific Self-esteem scale [10,11]. The questions were scored on a 4-point scale. For the area-specific scores (peer, school, and home
NIH-PA Author ManuscriptNIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript self-esteem), the higher the score, the greater the self-esteem. Subjects and their parents also answered questions derived from validated surveys [12][13][14] about their perceived health status, eating habits, ability to make friends, family medical history, sociodemographics, acculturation, parental body perception, physical activity and sedentary behavior patterns. Physical assessments included height and weight measured on calibrated instruments. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC.
AnalysesChildren with BMI ≥ 95th percentile for age and gender were categorized as overweight, and those with BMI between 85th and 94th percentile as at risk for overweight [15]. Bivariate associations were examined using Chi-square tests for categorical variables, with analysis of va...