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- Title
Relations between sociocultural pressures and weight control behavior among early adolescent boys.
- Authors
Chu, Tsz Lun (Alan); Martin, Scott B.; Petrie, Trent A.; Greenleaf, Christy
- Abstract
Guided by the biopsychosocial model, we examined (a) the prevalence of weight control behaviors (WCBs; i.e., trying to stay the same weight, lose weight, gain weight, or do nothing about weight) among early adolescent boys by race/ethnicity and grade level, and (b) how the boys' perceptions of sociocultural pressures (from parents, peers, and media) to lose weight, gain weight, exercise, and diet predicted their WCBs while accounting for body composition and grade level. Early adolescent boys (n = 508) in middle schools completed survey measures of WCB and sociocultural pressures and objective assessment of body mass index as body composition. Multinomial logistic regressions revealed that sixth graders were more likely than seventh and eighth graders to be trying to lose weight. Moreover, greater pressure to gain weight and lower pressure to exercise predicted a greater likelihood of trying to gain weight. The significant roles of grade levels and different sociocultural pressures in predicting WCBs suggest that health professionals and school staff should consider these factors when intervening with early adolescent boys.
- Subjects
SOCIOCULTURAL factors; TEENAGE boys; PEER pressure; WEIGHT gain; MULTINOMIAL distribution
- Publication
Psychology in the Schools, 2019, Vol 56, Issue 2, p163
- ISSN
0033-3085
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/pits.22212