Body Weight Dissatisfaction and Parent Communication Among Adolescents
Author Information
Author(s): Haleama Al Sabbah, Carine Vereecken, Frank J. Elgar, Tonja Nansel, Katrin Aasvee, Ziad Abdeen, Kristiina Ojala, Namanjeet Ahluwalia, Lea Maes
Primary Institution: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
Hypothesis
Adolescents who have difficulty communicating with their parents are more likely to report body weight dissatisfaction.
Conclusion
Improving communication with parents may help reduce body dissatisfaction among adolescents, especially girls.
Supporting Evidence
- Body weight dissatisfaction was more common among girls than boys.
- Difficulties in talking to fathers were associated with weight dissatisfaction in both genders.
- Adolescents with supportive parents are less likely to experience body dissatisfaction.
Takeaway
Talking to parents can help kids feel better about their bodies. If kids find it hard to talk to their dads, they might feel worse about their weight.
Methodology
Data were collected from a cross-sectional survey of adolescents in 24 countries using standardized questionnaires.
Potential Biases
The study used a single informant (the adolescent), which may introduce bias.
Limitations
The study relied on self-reported data and was cross-sectional, limiting causal conclusions.
Participant Demographics
Adolescents aged 11, 13, and 15 from 24 countries, including both boys and girls.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p = 0.015 (Canada), p < 0.001 (Switzerland), p = 0.004 (Finland)
Confidence Interval
(1.00–1.59), (1.09–1.97), (1.02–1.94)
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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