Self‐esteem and body dissatisfaction in young children: Associations with weight and perceived parenting style

Abstract

Background: Parenting style has been associated with weight-related outcomes in children, but relationships between parenting, weight, and overweight-related psychological outcomes remain largely unstudied. The aim of the present study was to determine whether parenting was a moderator of the relationship between overweight and psychological outcomes in children.Methods: Participants were children aged 7-11 years and their primary caregivers (n = 158), recruited from primary schools across South Australia. Children completed measures of parenting style, self-esteem, and body dissatisfaction, and had their weight and height objectively measured. Parents completed measures of body dissatisfaction and depressive symptoms, and reported on their education. Regression analyses investigated associations between perceived parenting style, child weight, and outcomes of child selfesteem and body image.

Correlates of Body Dissatisfaction in Children

“…As expected 1,3,7,8,11,12,32 , being overweight was significantly associated with the desire to be slightly thinner or much thinner. Underweight preadolescents children had also a greater desire to be slightly larger, but not much larger.…”

“…10 Overweight and obese children are also more dissatisfied than other children, as has been found in several regions of the world. 1,3,7,8,11,12 Some studies indicate that body dissatisfaction is associated with lower self-esteem, although the size of this effect varies across studies. 11,[13][14][15] Considering the many consequences of body dissatisfaction in children, such as depression 16,17 and eating pathologies, 3,18 it is important to understand the factors that are related to its manifestation in children.…”

Síntomas psicopatológicos en adolescentes españoles: relación con los estilos parentales percibidos y la autoestima

“…Se ha relacionado la autoestima con el consumo de sustancias (Jiménez, Musitu y Murgui, 2008), trastornos alimentarios (Moreno, González y Ortiz 2009), problemas de satisfacción corporal (Taylor, Wilson, Slater y Mohr, 2012), conductas de riesgo (Florenzano et al, 2011;Musitu, Jiménez y Murgui, 2007), síntomas psicopatológicos (Dowd, 2002;Garaigordobil, Durá y Pérez, 2005;Garaigordobil, Pérez y Mozas, 2008;Kim, 2003 etc.). Kim (2003) encontró puntuaciones más altas en sensibilidad interpersonal, depresión, ansiedad y hostilidad pero no halló diferencias en edad y sexo.…”

Psychometric properties of Self-Perception Profile for Children in a Polish sample

“…Among other things, low global self-worth has been correlated with depression (Abela, Fishman, Cohen, and Young, 2012;Harter, 1993), with high levels of aggression and externalizing problems (Brent Donellan, Trzesniewski, Robins, Moffitt, and Caspi 2005;Diamantopolou, Rydell, and Henrickson, 2008), child body dissatisfaction (Taylor, Wilson, Slater, and Mohr, 2012), sexual abuse (Bolger, Patterson, and Kupersmidt, 1998), and difficulties in school transition (West, Sweeting, and Young, 2008). High global selfworth has been positively correlated with general life satisfaction in children (Huebner, 1991), and academic performance (Baumeister, Campbell, Krueger, and Vohs, 2003).…”