Skip Navigation



Journal of Pediatric Psychology Advance Access published online on August 8, 2006
Journal of Pediatric Psychology, doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsl024
This Article
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
32/3/250    most recent
jsl024v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Hanson, M. D.
Right arrow Articles by Chen, E.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Hanson, M. D.
Right arrow Articles by Chen, E.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Pediatric Psychology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org
Received September 13, 2005
Revised June 26, 2006
Accepted July 13, 2006

Article

Socioeconomic Status, Race, and Body Mass Index: The Mediating Role of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors during Adolescence

Margaret D. Hanson MA 1 * and Edith Chen PhD 1

1 Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Margaret D. Hanson, E-mail: hansonm{at}psych.ubc.ca


  Abstract

Objective To assess how sociodemographic and activity behaviors contribute to adolescent body mass index (BMI). Methods One hundred and thirteen adolescents (M = 17 years; 42% Caucasian, 56% African American) were assessed on BMI. Teens reported activity levels and caregivers reported socioeconomic status (SES). Results Adolescents from lower SES backgrounds, and from minority groups, had higher BMI (r = -.26, p < .01 and t(110) = -3.01, p < .01). Formal statistical mediation tests revealed that sedentary behaviors significantly mediated the association between SES and BMI (Z = 2.31, p < .05), whereas physical activity significantly mediated the race-BMI association (Z = 2.32, p < .05). Conclusions Interventions targeting teen BMI could benefit by aiming to decrease sedentary behavior in low SES teens and increase physical activity in teens from minority groups.

Keywords: adolescence; BMI; physical activity; sedentary behaviors; sociodemographics.
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 The Family JournalHome page
L. M. Hooper, J. J. Burnham, and R. Richey
Select Parent and Family System Correlates of Adolescent Current Weight Status: A Pilot Study
The Family Journal, January 1, 2009; 17(1): 14 - 21.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 J Pediatr PsycholHome page
F. W. Danner
A National Longitudinal Study of the Association Between Hours of TV Viewing and the Trajectory of BMI Growth Among US Children
J. Pediatr. Psychol., November 1, 2008; 33(10): 1100 - 1107.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Pediatr PsycholHome page
E. L. McQuaid
Introduction to Special Issue: Journal of Pediatric Psychology Statement of Purpose Special Section on Diversity and Health Care Disparities
J. Pediatr. Psychol., January 1, 2008; 33(1): 22 - 25.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.