Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
The relation between weight status (Body Mass Index - BMI), weight
perception and subjective wellbeing remains unclear. Several studies conclude that
discrepancies can be found between weight status and weight perception, among
children and adolescents. The present study aims at investigating the associations
between subjective wellbeing and individual characteristics, among children and adolescents.
The sample included 1200 children and adolescents (51.7 % girls, aged 9 to
17). Their mean age was 12.55 years (SD = 1.61). The questionnaire was completed in
school context, asking about the subjective wellbeing, use of self-regulation, eating
behavior awareness/care, weight perception and sociodemographic questions such as
age, gender and BMI. The study found a strong association between BMI and weight
perception, although subjective wellbeing was better explained by weight perception
than by BMI. Eating awareness and self-regulation also played an important role in
subjective controlling for age and gender. Age and gender interfere in the relation
between subjective wellbeing and other variables. The multiple regression model is
more robust and explicative for girls and older children. Psychological factors related to
weight, such as weight perception, self-regulation and eating awareness have a stronger
explicative impact in subjective wellbeing compared to physical aspects, such as Body
Mass Index. The relation between subjective wellbeing and weight is influence by age
and gender.
Description
Keywords
Subjective wellbeing Self-regulation Eating awareness Weight perception Body mass index Children/ adolescents
Citation
Child Indicators Research, 1-14. Doi: 10.1007/s12187-016-9424-9
Publisher
Springer Verlag