Journal of Pediatric Psychology Advance Access originally published online on June 14, 2006
Journal of Pediatric Psychology 2007 32(1):30-41; doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsl008
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Body Image and Childrens Mental Health Related Behaviors: Results from the Healthy Passages Study
1 University of Alabama at Birmingham Center for the Advancement of Youth Health, 2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3 Department of Health Services, University of California, 4 University of Texas School of Public Health, 5 RAND, and, 6 Los Angeles Department of Pediatrics, University of California
All correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to M. Janice Gilliland, PhD, MSPH, Center for the Advancement of Youth Health and Comprehensive Youth Violence Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1530 3rd Avenue South, 912 Building, Birmingham, Alabama 35294-1200. E-mail: mjgill{at}uab.edu.
| Abstract |
|---|
Objective This study examined the relationship between body image discrepancy (BID) scores for actual versus ideal body image for children and indicators of child mental health. Methods Data were collected from 650 5th graders and their parents who participated in the Healthy Passages Phase I study. Participants were recruited through schools in Alabama, California, and Texas. Measures included the Collins Body Image to produce child- and parent-reported child BID scores, respectively, body mass index (BMI) for child and parent, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and the Positive and Negative Affect Scale for Children (PANAS-C). Results After controlling for potential confounders, childrens internalizing problems as rated by parents and negative affect as rated by children were significantly associated with discrepancies based on child- and parent-reported child BID scores, respectively. Conclusions Overall, higher child- and parent-reported child BID scores were significantly associated with more internalizing problems and negative affect among children. There were some inconsistencies in the associations between other mental health behaviors and child BID scores contingent on parent or child ratings. Early intervention may be indicated to prevent possible adverse consequences, especially for internalizing problems, from the effects of child- and parent-reported child BID scores on adolescent and adult mental health and well-being.
Key words: body image; children; mental health.