Different factors associate with body image in adolescence than in emerging adulthood: A gender comparison in a follow-up study

Authors

  • Sunna Gestsdottir University of Iceland
  • Erla Svansdottir University of Iceland
  • Hedinn Sigurdsson Glaesibaer Primary Health Care Centre
  • Arsaell Arnarsson University of Akureyri
  • Yngvar Ommundsen Norwegian School of Sport Sciences
  • Sigurbjorn Arngrimsson University of Iceland
  • Thorarinn Sveinsson University of Iceland
  • Erlingur Johannsson Western University of Applied Science

Keywords:

body image, fitness, physical activity, exercise, youth

Abstract

Background

Body image dissatisfaction has been linked with a range of adverse psychosocial outcomes in both genders and has become an important public health issue. Across all ages, women have reported being more dissatisfied with their bodies than men. The aim of the current study was to examine if fitness and physical activity associate with body image satisfaction differently across gender and age, measured in the same participants.

Participants and procedure

Participants were measured initially at age 15 years (N = 385) and again at age 23 years (N = 201). Structural equation modelling was used to examine the association between body image satisfaction, fitness, and physical activity. Covariates included skinfold thickness, body mass index, socioeconomic status, anxiety, and depression.

Results

Fitness and physical activity declined during the study period, body mass index increased, but no changes were found in body image satisfaction, depression, anxiety, or skinfold thickness. For women at ages 15 and 23 years, self-reported fitness and depression were found to be related to body image satisfaction, including body mass index at the age of 23 years. For 15-year-old men, skinfold thickness and aerobic fitness related to body image satisfaction, whereas skinfold thickness, depression, body mass index, and self-reported fitness did so at age 23 years.

Conclusions

Results suggest that different approaches are needed across gender to improve body image in adolescence whereas more similar ones can be used in emerging adulthood.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Arngrimsson, S. A., Sveinsson, T., & Johannsson, E. (2008). Peak oxygen uptake in children: Evaluation of an older prediction method and development of a new one. Pediatric Exercise Science, 20, 62–73.

Bearman, S. K., Presnell, K., Martinez, E., & Stice, E. (2006). The skinny on body dissatisfaction: A longitudinal study of adolescents girls and boys. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 35, 229–241. doi: 10.1007/s10964-005-9010-9

Borg, G. (1998). Perceived exertion and pain scales. Champaign: Human Kinetics.

Brage, S., Wedderkopp, N., Franks, P. W., Andersen, L. B., & Froberg, K. (2003). Reexamination of validity and reliability of the CSA monitor in walking and running. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 35, 1447–1454. doi: 10.1249/01.Mss.0000079078.62035.Ec

Bucchianeri, M. M., Arikian, A. J., Hannan, P. J., Eisenberg, M. E., & Neumark-Sztainer, D. (2013). Body dissatisfaction from adolescence to young adulthood: Findings from a 10-year longitudinal study. Body Image, 10, 1–7. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2012.09.001

Böhm, A., & Heitmann, B. L. (2013). The use of bioelectrical impedance analysis for body composition in epidemiological studies. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 67, 79–85. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2012.168

Cafri, G., & Thompson, J. K. (2004). Measuring male body image: A review of the current methodology. Psychology of Men and Masculinity, 5, 18–29. doi: 10.1037/1524-9220.5.1.18

Cheung, G. W., & Rensvold, R. B. (2002). Evaluating goodness-of-fit indexes for testing measurement invariance. Structural Equation Modeling, 9, 233–255. doi: 10.1207/S15328007sem0902_5

Corder, K., Sharp, S. J., Atkin, A. J., Griffin, S. J., Jones, A. P., Ekelund, U., & van Sluijs, E. M. F. (2015). Change in objectively measured physical activity during the transition to adolescence. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 49, 730–736. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2013-093190

Crocker, J., & Park, L. E. (2003). Seeking self-esteem: Construction, maintenance, and protection of self-worth. In M. Leary & J. Tangney (eds.), Handbook of self and identity (pp. 291–313). New York: Guilford Press.

Cruz-Saez, S., Pascual, A., Salaberria, K., & Echeburua, E. (2015). Normal-weight and overweight female adolescents with and without extreme weight-control behaviours: Emotional distress and body image concerns. Journal of Health Psychology, 20, 730–740. doi: 10.1177/1359105315580214

Darby, A., Hay, P., Mond, J., Rodgers, B., & Owen, C. (2007). Disordered eating behaviours and cognitions in young women with obesity: Relationship with psychological status. International Journal of Obesity, 31, 876–882. doi: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0803501

Davis, C. (1997). Body image, exercise, and eating behaviors. In K. R. Fox (ed.), The physical self: From motivation to well-being (pp. 143–174). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Derogatis, L. R., Lipman, R. S., Rickels, K., Uhlenhuth, E. H., & Covi, L. (1974). The Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL). A measure of primary symptom dimensions. Modern Problems of Pharmacopsychiatry, 7, 79–110.

Dooley, B., Fitzgerald, A., & Giollabhui, N. (2015). The risk and protective factors associated with depression and anxiety in a national sample of Irish adolescents. Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, 32, 93–105. doi: 10.1017/ipm.2014.83

Dumith, S. C., Gigante, D. P., Domingues, M. R., & Kohl, H. W. (2011). Physical activity change during adolescence: A systematic review and a pooled analysis. International Journal of Epidemiology, 40, 685–698.

Dunlop, R., Burns, A., & Bermingham, S. (2001). Parent-child relations and adolescent self-image following divorce: A 10 year study. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 30, 117–134. doi: 10.1023/A:1010389923248

Eisenmann, J. C. (2007). Aerobic fitness, fatness and the metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents. Acta Paediatrica, 96, 1723-1729. doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2007.00534.x

Eriksen, L., Tolstrup, J. S., Larsen, S., Grønbæk, M., & Helge, J. (2014). A maximal cycle test with good validity and high repeatability in adults of all ages. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 35, 1184–1189. doi: 10.1055/s-0034-1376973

Fox, K. R. (1998). Advances in the measurement of the physical self. In J. L. Duda (ed.), Advances in sport and exercise psychology measurement (pp. 295–310). Morgantown, WV: Fitness Information Technology.

Frost, J., & McKelvie, S. (2004). Self-esteem and body satisfaction in male and female elementary school, high school, and university students. Sex Roles, 51, 45–54. doi: 10.1023/B:Sers.0000032308.90104.C6

Gaspar, M. J. M., Amaral, T. F., Oliveira, B. M. P. M., & Borges, N. (2011). Protective effect of physical activity on dissatisfaction with body image in children – A cross-sectional study. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 12, 563–569. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2011.05.004

Geiser, C. (2013). Data analysis with Mplus. New York: The Guilford Press.

Gestsdottir, S., Arnarsson, A., Magnusson, K., Arngrimsson, S. A., Sveinsson, T., & Johannsson, E. (2015). Gender differences in development of mental well-being from adolescence to young adulthood: An eight-year follow-up study. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 43, 269–275. doi: 10.1177/1403494815569864

Gestsdottir, S., Svansdottir, E., Ommundsen, Y., Arnarsson, A. Arngrimsson, S., Sveinsson, T., & Johannsson, E. (2016). Do aerobic fitness and self-reported fitness in adolescence differently predict body image in young adulthood? An eight year follow-up study. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 10, 40–47. doi: 10.1016/j.mhpa.2015.12.001

Hansen, H. S., Froberg, K., Nielsen, J. R., & Hyldebrandt, N. (1989). A new approach to assessing maximal aerobic power in children: The Odense School Child Study. European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology, 58, 618–624. doi: 10.1007/Bf00418508

Haugen, T., Säfvenbom, R., & Ommundsen, Y. (2011). Physical activity and global self-worth: The role of physical self-esteem indices and gender. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 4, 49–56. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2011.07.001

Hausenblas, H. A., & Fallon, E. A. (2006). Exercise and body image: A meta-analysis. Psychology and Health, 21, 33–47. doi: 10.1080/14768320500105270

Health Behaviour in School-aged Children. (n.d.). International coordination centre, child and health research unit. Retrieved from http://www.hbsc.org/[accessed November 10, 2016].

Holsen, I., Jones, D. C., & Birkeland, M. B. (2012) Body image satisfaction among Norwegian adolescents and young adults: A longitudinal study of the influence of interpersonal relationships and BMI. Body image, 9, 201–208. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2012.01.006

Jones, D. C., & Crawford, J. K. (2005). Adolescent boys and body image: Weight and muscularity concerns as dual pathways to body dissatisfaction. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 34, 629–636. doi: 10.1007/s10964-005-8951-3

Kessler, R. C. (2003). Epidemiology of women and depression. Journal of Affective Disorders, 74, 5–13. doi: 10.1016/S0165-0327(02)00426-3

Lawler, M., & Nixon, E. (2011). Body dissatisfaction among adolescent boys and girls: The effects of body Mass, peer appearance culture and internalization of appearance ideals. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 40, 59–71. doi: 10.1007/s10964-009-9500-2

Levine, M. P., & Chapman, K. (2012). Media influences on body image. In T. F. Cash & L. Smolak (eds.), Body image: A handbook of science, practice, and prevention (2nd ed.) (pp. 101–109). New York: Guilford.

Little, T. D. (2013). Longitudinal structural equation modeling. New York: Guilford Press.

Magnusson, K. T., Sveinsson, T., Arngrimsson, S. A., & Johannsson, E. (2008). Predictors of fatness and physical fitness in nine-year-old Icelandic school children. International Journal of Pediatric Obesity, 3, 217–225. doi: 10.1080/17477160802169482

Markey, C. N. (2010). Invited commentary: Why body image is important to adolescent development. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 39, 1387–1391. doi: 10.1007/s10964010-9510-0

Martin Ginis, K., Strong, H. A., Arent, S. M., Bray, S. R., & Bassett-Gunter, R. L. (2014). The effects of aerobic-versus strength-training on body image among young women with pre-existing body image concerns. Body Image, 11, 219–227. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2014.02.004

McCabe, M. P., & Ricciardelli, L. A. (2003). Sociocultural influences on body image and body changes among adolescent body and girls. Journal of Social Psychology, 143, 5–26. doi: 10.1080/00224540309598428

Meland, E., Haugland, S., & Breidablik, H. J. (2007). Body image and perceived health in adolescence. Health Education Research, 22, 342–350. doi: 10.1093/Her/Cyl085

Mellor, D., Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, M., McCabe, M. P., & Ricciardelli, L. A. (2010). Body image and self-esteem across age and gender: A short-term longitudinal study. Sex Roles, 63, 672–681. doi: 10.1007/s11199-010-9813-3

Muthén, L. K., & Muthén, B. O. (1998–2012). Mplus user´s guide (7th ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Muthén and Muthén.

O’Dea, J. A., & Abraham, S. (1999). Onset of disordered eating attitudes and behaviors in early adolescence: Interplay of pubertal status, gender, weight, and age. Adolescence, 34, 671–679.

Offer, D., Ostrov, E., Howard, K. J., & Dolan, S. (1992). Offer Self-Image Questionnaire. Revised. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services.

Olivardia, R., Pope Jr, H. G., Borowiecki III, J. J., & Cohane, G. H. (2004). Biceps and body image: The relationship between muscularity and self-esteem, depression, and eating disorder symptoms. Psychology of Men and Masculinity, 5, 112–120. doi: 10.1037/1524-9220.5.2.112

Ortega, F. B., Ruiz, J. R., Castillo, M. J., & Sjostrom, M. (2008). Physical fitness in childhood and adolescence: A powerful marker of health. International Journal of Obesity, 32, 1–11. doi: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0803774

Penedo, F. J., & Dahn, J. R. (2005). Exercise and well-being: A review of mental and physical health benefits associated with physical activity. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 18, 189–193.

Prichard, I., & Tiggemann, M. (2008). Relations among exercise type, self-objectification, and body image in the fitness centre environment: The role of reasons for exercise. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 9, 855–866. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2007.10.005

Rosenberg, M., Schooler, C., Schoenbach, C., & Rosenberg, F. (1995). Global self-esteem and specific self-esteem – Different concepts, different outcomes. American Sociological Review, 60, 141–156. doi: 10.2307/2096350

Sampasa‐Kanyinga, H., Chaput, J. P., & Hamilton, H. (2016). Use of social networking sites and perception and intentions regarding body weight among adolescents. Obesity Science and Practice, 2, 32–39. doi: 10.1002/osp4.26

Sarwer, D. B., Thompson, J. K., & Cash, T. F. (2005). Body image and obesity in adulthood. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 28, 69–87, viii. doi: 10.1016/j.psc.2004.09.002

Sladek, M. R., Engeln, R., & Miller, S. A. (2014). Development and validation of the Male Body Talk Scale: A psychometric investigation. Body Image, 11, 233–244. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2014.02.005

Sopanaru, C. Bojian, A., & Lorga, M. (2016). Gender differences regarding body image, stress and coping strategies in adolescence. Archives of Medical Science – Civilization Disease, 1, e36-e42. doi: 10.5114/amscd.2016.59897

Smolak, L. (2004). Body image in children and adolescents: Where do we go from here? Body image, 1, 15–28. doi: 10.1016/S1740-1445(03)00008-1

Statistics Iceland. (n.d.-a). Population: Statistics. Retrieved from http://www.statice.is/Statistics/Population/Citizenship-and-country-of-birth [accessed May 16, 2014].

Statistics Iceland. (n.d.-b). Religion: Statistics. Retrieved from http://www.statice.is/Statistics/Population/Religious-organizations [accessed May 16, 2014].

Stice, E. (2002). Risk and maintenance factors for eating pathology: A meta-analytic review. Psychological Bulletin, 128, 825–848. doi: 10.1037//0033-2909.128.5.825

Stice, E., & Whitenton, K. (2002). Risk factors for body dissatisfaction in adolescent girls: A longitudinal investigation. Developmental Psychology, 38, 669–678. doi: 10.1037//0012-1649.38.5.669

Tiggemann, M., & Slater, A. (2013). NetGirls: The Internet, Facebook, and body image concern in adolescent girls. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 46, 630–633. doi: 10.1002/eat.22141

Tiggemann, M., & Williamson, S. (2000). The effect of exercise on body satisfaction and self-Esteem as a function of gender and age. Sex Roles, 43, 119–127. doi: 10.1023/a:1007095830095

Tomkinson, G. R., & Olds, T. S. (2007). Secular changes in pediatric aerobic fitness test performance: The global picture. Medicine and Sport Science, 50, 46–66. doi: 10.1159/0000101075

Troiano, R. P., Berrigan, D., Dodd, K. W., Masse, L. C., Tilert, T., & Mcdowell, M. (2008). Physical activity in the United States measured by accelerometer. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 40, 181–188. doi: 10.1249/mss.0b013e31815a51b3

Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society. The development of higher psychological processes. Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.

Wiederman, M. W., & Pryor, T. L. (2000). Body dissatisfaction, bulimia, and depression among women: The mediating role of drive for thinness. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 27, 90–95. doi: 10.1002/(Sici)1098-108x(200001)27:1<90::Aid-Eat10>3.0.Co;2-0

Wilson, J. M. B., Tripp, D. A., & Boland, F. J. (2005). The relative contributions of subjective and objective measures of body shape and size to body image and disordered eating in women. Body Image, 2, 233–247. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2005.06.001

Downloads

Published

2018-03-28

How to Cite

Gestsdottir, S., Svansdottir, E., Sigurdsson, H., Arnarsson, A., Ommundsen, Y., Arngrimsson, S., … Johannsson, E. (2018). Different factors associate with body image in adolescence than in emerging adulthood: A gender comparison in a follow-up study. Health Psychology Report, 6(1), 81–93. Retrieved from https://czasopisma.bg.ug.edu.pl/index.php/HPR/article/view/8684