Teasing and social rejection among obese children enrolling in family-based behavioural treatment: effects on psychological adjustment and academic competencies

Abstract

Objectives: The first objective was to determine the prevalence of psychological maladjustment (emotional and behavioural problems), low academic competencies and teasing/social rejection among obese Icelandic children enrolling in a family-based behavioural treatment. A second objective was to explore the degree to which teasing/social rejection specifically contributes to children's psychological adjustment and academic competencies when controlling for other variables, including demographics, children's physical activity, parental depression and life-stress. Methods: Participants were 84 obese children (mean body mass index-standard deviation score ¼ 3.11, age range ¼ 7.52-13.61 years). Height and weight, demographics and measures of children's psychological adjustment, academic competencies, teasing/social rejection and physical activity were collected from children, parents and teachers. Parental depression and life-stress was self-reported. Results: Over half the children exceeded cutoffs indicating concern on at least one measure of behavioural or emotional difficulties. Children endorsed significant levels of teasing/social rejection, with almost half acknowledging they were not popular with same-gender peers. Parent reports of peer problems were even higher, with over 90% of both boys and girls being rated by their parents as having significant peer difficulties. However, rates of low academic competencies as reported by teachers were not different from those of the general population. In regression analyses controlling for other variables, self-reported teasing/social rejection emerged as a significant contributor to explaining both child psychological adjustment and academic competencies. Conclusions:The results indicate that among obese children enrolled in family-based treatment, self-reported teasing/social rejection is quite high and it is associated with poorer psychological adjustment as well as lower academic competencies. Parent reports corroborate the presence of substantial peer difficulties, supporting the need to address peer relations with overweight children both in clinical practice and in public health interventions.

Prevalence and factors associated with depression symptoms among school-going adolescents in Central Uganda

“…Previous researchers have explained that the myriad of complex challenges associated with chronic disease conditions may interfere with regular school attendance [46–48], lead to peer rejection which may have detrimental effects on their self-concept [49, 50] and may result in inappropriate parental attitudes and behaviors, which may impair psychological well-being [51]. …”

Physical activity, diet and other behavioural interventions for improving cognition and school achievement in children and adolescents with obesity or overweight

“…These potential indirect factors include poor sleep due to obesity-related disordered breathing (Galland 2015; Tan 2014); hypertension (Lande 2015); Type 2 diabetes (Rofey 2015); metabolic syndrome (Yau 2012); decreased school attendance due to adverse physical and mental health (Pan 2013); and social isolation and bullying (Gunnarsdottir 2012a; Krukowski 2009). Reducing the risk of these health and psychosocial concerns, through reduction of obesity or increasing physical activity levels, or both, and improving diet and other obesity-related behaviours, could have beneficial effects on cognitive function, school achievement and future success in children and adolescents with obesity.…”

Dysfunctional involvement of emotion and reward brain regions on social decision making in excess weight adolescents

“…Adolescents with excess weight suffer significantly more peer bullying, marginalization, and social isolation [Ludwig, 2007;Strauss and Pollack, 2003]. These negative social experiences are the main predictor of poor psychosocial adjustment in children and adolescents with obesity [Gunnarsdottir et al, 2012]. Moreover, social stress is known to decrease prosocial choices in adolescents [Youssef et al, 2012], and preclinical studies indicate that this detrimental impact is mediated by neuroadaptations in prefrontal and limbic regions [Baarendse et al, 2013;McEwen, 2007].…”