Multiple Types of Harassment: Associations With Emotional Well-Being and Unhealthy Behaviors in Adolescents

Abstract

Purpose To explore relationships between harassment (i.e., race-, weight-, SES-based, sexual) and health-related outcomes, including self-esteem, depressive symptoms, body satisfaction, substance use, and self-harm behavior, among diverse adolescents. Method Cross-sectional analysis using data from a population-based study with socioeconomically and racially/ethnically diverse sample (81% racial/ethnic minority; 54% low or low-middle income) of adolescents participating in Eating and Activity in Teens 2010 (EAT 2010) (n = 2,793; mean age = 14.4 years). Results Harassment experiences were significantly associated with negative health behaviors and well-being. After mutually adjusting for other types of harassment, weight-based harassment was consistently associated with lower self-esteem and lower body satisfaction in both genders (standardized βs ranged in magnitude from 0.39 to 0.48); sexual harassment was significantly associated with self-harm and substance use in both genders (ORs: 1.64 to 2.92); and both weight-based and sexual harassment were significantly associated with depressive symptoms among girls (standardized βs = 0.34 and 0.37). Increases in the number of harassment types reported by adolescents were associated with elevated risk for all outcomes regarding substance use/self-harm (ORs: 1.22 to 1.42) and emotional well-being (standardized βs: 0.13 to 0.26). Conclusions Harassment—particularly weight-based and sexual harassment— is associated with a variety of negative health and well-being outcomes among adolescents, and risk for these outcomes increases with the number of harassment types an adolescent experiences. Early detection and intervention to decrease harassment experiences may be particularly important in mitigating psychological and behavioral harm among adolescents.

Eating Behaviors, Weight Bias, and Psychological Functioning in Multi-ethnic Low-income Adolescents

“…This is an important finding because a longitudinal study examining WB and adverse eating and weight related outcomes found WB from both family and peers predicted unhealthy weight control behaviors and higher body dissatisfaction in females and higher BMI in males (Puhl et al, 2017). Our results also indicate WB was positively correlated with BMI which is consistent with previous reports (Bucchianeri et al, 2014;Feeg et al, 2014;Friedman et al, 2005;Puhl, Peterson, & Luedicke, 2013). It is evident from these results that low-income overweight and obese adolescents are dealing with stigmatizing experiences related to weight.…”

“…Higher levels of WB are associated with unhealthy coping strategies, such as eating more food (Puhl et al, 2017;Puhl & Brownell, 2006), higher body mass index (BMI; Myers & Rosen, 1999;Mamun, O'Callaghan, Williams, & Najman, 2013;Neumark-Sztainer et al, 2007;Takizawa, Danese, Maughan, & Arseneault, 2015), body dissatisfaction, and lower psychosocial functioning (Annis, Cash, & Hrabosky, 2004;Bucchianeri, Eisenberg, Wall, Piran, & Neumark-Sztainer, 2014). Additionally, obese individuals experiencing WB are at increased risk for depression and other mental health disorders (Bucchianeri et al, 2014;Friedman et al, 2005).…”

Patterns and Correlates for Bullying among Young Adolescents in Ghana

“…A number of hypotheses can be reflected upon regarding the relationship between bullying and health compromising behaviors among adolescents. The link between bullying and problematic alcohol use has been documented among various adolescent populations [55,56]. While most of these studies have been cross-sectional, the most commonly cited hypothesis regarding this association is that it is likely a coping mechanism among those who experience the stress, shame and humiliation of being bullied [57].…”

International Olympic Committee consensus statement: harassment and abuse (non-accidental violence) in sport

“…Harassment of any type, particularly sexual harassment, has been linked to a variety of poor mental health and well-being outcomes, including self-harm, among adolescents. The risk of non-suicidal self-injury/self-harm, suicide attempts and completed suicide increases with the number of harassment types that an adolescent experiences 159. Early detection and intervention, which reduces the incidence of harassment, is particularly important in mitigating mental health difficulties and behavioural self-harm among adolescents 160.…”