Weight Stigma Model on Quality of Life Among Children in Hong Kong: A Cross-Sectional Modeling Study

Abstract

We proposed a model to examine the relationship among different types of weight-related stigmas and their relationship to quality of life (QoL). We recruited 430 dyads of elementary school children [mean age = 10.07 years; nboy = 241 (56.0%); noverweight = 138 (32.1%)] and their parents. Parents completed QoL instruments about their children assessing generic QoL and weight-related QoL. Children completed QoL instruments assessing generic QoL and weight-related QoL and stigma scales assessing experienced weight stigma, weight-related self-stigma, and perceived weight stigma. Experienced weight stigma was significantly associated with perceived weight stigma, and in turn, perceived weight stigma was significantly associated with weight-related self-stigma. However, experienced weight stigma was not directly associated with weight-related self-stigma. In addition, experienced stigma was negatively associated with both child-rated and parent-rated QoL. Perceived weight stigma was associated only with parent-rated weight-related QoL but not child-rated QoL. Self-stigma was associated with child-rated QoL but not parent-rated QoL. Moreover, perceived weight stigma and weight-related self-stigma were significant mediators in the association between body weight and children's QoL; experienced weight stigma was not a significant mediator. The study findings can be used to inform healthcare providers about the relationship among different types of stigmas and their influence on child-rated and parent-rated QoL and help them develop interventions to address the global trend of overweight/obesity in youth and pediatric populations.

Sequentially mediated effects of weight-related self-stigma and psychological distress in the association between perceived weight stigma and food addiction among Taiwanese university students: A cross-sectional study

“…Additionally, the findings support the notion that stress derived from obesity and weight-related stigma may elicit psychological distress to provoke the eating disorder and the individuals may be at increased risk of developing food addiction. The relationship between perceived weight stigma and weight-related self-stigma has been reported in the literature [4,[47][48][49]. Similarly, the relationship between weight-related self-stigma and psychological distress has also been documented [49][50][51].…”

“…The relationships can be explained by the developed mechanism of weight-related stigma. That is, experienced weight stigma (i.e., prejudice or discrimination from others that was actually received by stigmatized individuals) elicited perceived weight stigma [ 48 ]. Once the individuals accepted the negative attributes regarding their weight, the stigma is internalized and initiates the process of weight-related self-stigmatization [ 8 , 49 , 50 ].…”

Reciprocal Relationships Between Problematic Social Media Use, Problematic Gaming, and Psychological Distress Among University Students: A 9-Month Longitudinal Study

“…More specifically, age, BMI, and cigarette use were compared between the two groups. Age, BMI, and cigarette use were compared because they can be important confounding factors in relation to individuals' psychological distress (77)(78)(79)(80)(81). Pearson correlations were used to understand the bivariate association between studied variables.…”

The mediation effect of perceived weight stigma in association between weight status and eating disturbances among university students: is there any gender difference?

“…PWS can be defined as fear of being discriminated against. Experienced stigma indicates that the individual has experienced discrimination directed against them [ 6 ].…”