Adolescent Obesity and Life Satisfaction: Perceptions of Self, Peers, Family, and School

Keywords

Obesity, Overweight, Satisfaction, Adolescents, Self-perception

Abstract

This study contributes to research on adolescent life satisfaction by considering its association with body weight, as mediated by perceptions of self, peers, family, and school. Data from the Health Behaviors in School-Age Children Survey (2001–2002) and OLS regression techniques are used to examine the association between body weight and life satisfaction. We also model these relationships by gender. Results indicate lower life satisfaction among adolescents that are overweight and obese relative to healthy weight youth, and that most of the negative association operates through perceptions of self, peers, parents, and school. We find little or no gender difference in the association between body weight and perceptions of self, peers, parents, and school; however, we find perceptions of body weight are generally more strongly associated with low life satisfaction among girls compared to boys.

Original Publication Citation

Forste, Renata, & Erin Moore. 2012. “Adolescent Obesity and Life Satisfaction: Perceptions of Self, Peers, Family, and School.” Economics and Human Biology, 10(4):385-394

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2012-12

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/5606

Publisher

Economics & Human Biolgy

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Sociology

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

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