Michaela M. Bucchianeri

Multiple Types of Harassment: Associations With Emotional Well-Being and Unhealthy Behaviors in Adolescents

PURPOSE To explore relationships between harassment (i.e., race-, weight-, socioeconomic-status (SES)-based, and sexual) and health-related outcomes, including self-esteem, depressive symptoms, body satisfaction, substance use, and self-harm behavior, among diverse adolescents. METHOD Cross-sectional analysis using data from a population-based study of adolescents participating in Eating and Activity in Teens 2010 (EAT 2010) (n = 2,793; mean age = 14.4 years). Sample was socioeconomically and racially/ethnically diverse (81% racial/ethnic minority; 54% low or low-middle income). RESULTS Having experienced any type of harassment was significantly associated with poor self-esteem, depressive symptoms, low body satisfaction, substance use, and self-harm behaviors. After mutually adjusting for other types of harassment, weight-based harassment was consistently associated with lower self-esteem and lower body satisfaction in both genders (standardized βs ranged in magnitude from .39 to .48); sexual harassment was significantly associated with self-harm and substance use in both genders (ORs: 1.64 to 2.92); and both weight-based and sexual harassment were significantly associated with depressive symptoms among girls (standardized βs = .34 and .37). Increases in the number of different harassment types reported by adolescents were associated with elevated risk for alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use, and self-harm (ORs: 1.22 to 1.42) as well as emotional well-being (standardized βs: .13 to .26). CONCLUSIONS Having had any harassment experience was significantly associated with a variety of negative health and well-being outcomes among adolescents, and risk for these outcomes increases with the number of harassment types an adolescent experiences. Early detection and intervention to decrease harassment experiences may be particularly important in mitigating psychological and behavioral harm among adolescents.

Parent conversations about healthful eating and weight associations with adolescent disordered eating behaviors

IMPORTANCE The prevalence of weight-related problems in adolescents is high. Parents of adolescents may wonder whether talking about eating habits and weight is useful or detrimental. OBJECTIVE To examine the associations between parent conversations about healthful eating and weight and adolescent disordered eating behaviors. DESIGN Cross-sectional analysis using data from 2 linked multilevel population-based studies. SETTING Anthropometric assessments and surveys completed at school by adolescents and surveys completed at home by parents in 2009-2010. PARTICIPANTS Socioeconomically and racially/ethnically diverse sample (81% ethnic minority; 60% low income) of adolescents from Eating and Activity in Teens 2010 (EAT 2010) (n = 2793; mean age, 14.4 years) and parents from Project Families and Eating and Activity in Teens (Project F-EAT) (n = 3709; mean age, 42.3 years). EXPOSURE Parent conversations about healthful eating and weight/size. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Adolescent dieting, unhealthy weight-control behaviors, and binge eating. RESULTS Mothers and fathers who engaged in weight-related conversations had adolescents who were more likely to diet, use unhealthy weight-control behaviors, and engage in binge eating. Overweight or obese adolescents whose mothers engaged in conversations that were focused only on healthful eating behaviors were less likely to diet and use unhealthy weight-control behaviors. Additionally, subanalyses with adolescents with data from 2 parents showed that when both parents engaged in healthful eating conversations, their overweight or obese adolescent children were less likely to diet and use unhealthy weight-control behaviors. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Parent conversations focused on weight/size are associated with increased risk for adolescent disordered eating behaviors, whereas conversations focused on healthful eating are protective against disordered eating behaviors.

Heterosocial involvement, peer pressure for thinness, and body dissatisfaction among young adolescent girls

The purpose of this study was to examine longitudinal connections among young adolescent heterosocial involvement (i.e., mixed-sex interactions), peer pressure for thinness, and body dissatisfaction. Three years of self-report questionnaire data were collected from 88 adolescent girls as they completed 6th through 8th grades. Results indicated that the relation between heterosocial involvement and body dissatisfaction was mediated by perceived peer pressure for thinness. Within this model, heterosocial involvement was associated with greater peer pressure for thinness. In turn, peer pressure for thinness was associated with greater body dissatisfaction. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for prevention and intervention efforts aimed at girls during their middle-school years.

The course of binge eating from adolescence to young adulthood

OBJECTIVE The course of binge eating in adolescence is variable, and little is known about factors maintaining binge eating behaviors. The current study sought to characterize the course of binge eating and identify psychosocial factors associated with its maintenance. METHOD A population-based sample reported on binge eating, depression symptoms, self-esteem, and body satisfaction at 5-year intervals spanning early/middle adolescence (Time 1 [T1]), late adolescence/early young adulthood (Time 2 [T2]), and early/middle young adulthood (Time 3 [T3]). Logistic regression examined factors predicting maintenance or cessation of binge eating. RESULTS A total of 15.8% of participants with binge eating at T1 continued to report binge eating at T2, and 42.0% of participants with binge eating at T2 continued to report binge eating at T3. From T1 to T2, improvements in self-esteem predicted cessation of binge eating. From T2 to T3, cessation of binge eating was predicted by improved body satisfaction, greater decreases in depression symptoms, and greater improvements in self-esteem. CONCLUSIONS Binge eating is relatively stable from late adolescence/early young adulthood to early/middle young adulthood, but less so from middle/late adolescence to late adolescence/early young adulthood. Improvements in psychosocial functioning during this timeframe may improve the outcome of binge eating, although mechanisms responsible for psychosocial changes (e.g., treatment involvement) require further investigation. Self-esteem appears to be a particularly salient factor involved in binge eating cessation and should be targeted in prevention and treatment programs.

Preventing the development of body issues in adolescent girls through intervention with their mothers.

The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of the Healthy Girls Project, an ecologically based, targeted prevention program aimed at discouraging the development of body-related problems in middle-school girls via an intervention directly and only with their mothers. Participants were 31 seventh- and eighth-grade girls and their mothers. The empirically based intervention comprised a series of 4 weekly workshops that had both interactive psychoeducational components and behavioral components (e.g., homework to do with daughters, modeling activities). The study design was experimental, with mother-daughter dyads randomly assigned to either the intervention group or a wait-list control group. Daughters completed pretest (i.e., pre-workshop) measures, posttest measures, and, 3 months later, follow-up measures. Results indicated that at both posttest and follow-up, girls whose mothers were in the intervention group perceived less pressure from their mothers to be thin. At follow-up, these girls also showed a lower drive for thinness. Results were mixed regarding group differences in body dissatisfaction levels at posttest and at follow-up. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for targeted prevention efforts aimed at girls during their middle-school years.

Body dissatisfaction: an overlooked public health concern

Purpose – In contrast to the attention it has received in related fields of research, body image has remained understudied within the field of public health. This is highly problematic, given a growing body of evidence implicating body dissatisfaction in a range of other public health concerns. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – This commentary is based on a review of the public health, body image, eating disorder, and mental health literatures. Findings – Body dissatisfaction is implicated in a range of public health concerns, including impaired psychological health (e.g. depression) and eating- and weight-related problems (e.g. eating disorders, obesity). Originality/value – Given these associations, as well as the high levels of body dissatisfaction in the population, the authors argue for a critical need to address the prevalence of body image concerns as a public health issue worthy of greater consideration within programs and policies; dedicated funding for researc...

Mother-reported parental weight talk and adolescent girls’ emotional health, weight control attempts, and disordered eating behaviors

BackgroundThe aim of this paper is to explore the relationships between mothers’ report of parental weight talk about her daughter, herself, and others, and adolescent girls’ weight-related behaviors and cognitions among a socio-demographically diverse population of mothers and their adolescent daughters.MethodsData were drawn from the baseline assessment of 218 mother/adolescent daughter dyads. Mothers completed survey items regarding the frequency of weight talk by parents, and girls completed survey items assessing outcomes including body dissatisfaction, depressive symptomology, use of extreme weight control methods, and binge eating.ResultsMore frequent comments to daughters about their weight were associated with higher depressive symptomology (p = 0.041), greater prevalence of extreme weight control behaviors (p = 0.040), and greater prevalence of binge eating (p = 0.048) among girls after adjustment for socio-demographic characteristics and girls’ standardized body mass index (BMI). For example, among girls whose parents never commented on their weight, 4.2% reported use of any extreme weight control behaviors, while 23.2% of girls whose parents frequently commented on their weight reported use of any of these behaviors. Mothers’ more frequent talk about their own weight, shape, or size was associated with lower self-worth (p = 0.007) and higher depressive symptomology (p = 0.004) among girls.ConclusionsFrequent parental weight talk as perceived by mothers was associated with adolescent girls’ use of harmful weight control methods and poor psychological health, while no associations were found between weight talk and girls’ use of healthful weight control strategies. Interventions that help parents create a family environment that supports healthful activities while reducing weight-related talk may be particularly effective in decreasing the prevalence of harmful outcomes among adolescent girls.

Prospective Predictors of Body Dissatisfaction in Young Adults 10-Year Longitudinal Findings

This study identified longitudinal risk factors for body dissatisfaction (BD) over a 10-year period from adolescence to young adulthood. Participants (N = 2,134; age at baseline: M = 15.0, SD = 1.6 years) provided two waves of survey data. A six-step hierarchical linear regression analysis examined the predictive contribution of Time 1 BD, weight status, demographics, family and peer environmental factors, and psychological factors. Among females, Asian race/ethnicity, low self-esteem, greater BD, and higher body mass index (BMI) during adolescence contributed significantly to predicting greater BD at 10-year follow up (R 2 = .27). Among males, demographics (i.e., Asian, other-mixed ethnicity, education attainment), depressive symptoms, greater BD, higher BMI, more parent communication, and less peer weight teasing during adolescence contributed to BD at follow-up (R 2 = .27). Findings indicate who may be at greatest risk of BD in young adulthood and the types of factors that should be addressed during adolescence.

Vulnerable Bullies: Perpetration of Peer Harassment Among Youths Across Sexual Orientation, Weight, and Disability Status.

OBJECTIVES We examined perpetration of bullying among youths in vulnerable groups relative to youths in peer groups not categorized as vulnerable. METHODS Data were collected in 2013 from a large school-based survey of adolescents conducted in Minnesota (n = 122,180). We used the χ(2) test and logistic regression to compare measures of perpetration of physical and relational bullying, as well as experiences of victimization and perpetration (or both), across categories of sexual orientation, weight status, and disability status. RESULTS Rates of physical and relational bullying perpetration were significantly higher among youths in vulnerable groups than among those not in vulnerable groups. With respect to context of victimization experiences, young men and women from vulnerable groups were overrepresented in the group comprising both perpetrators and victims. For example, odds of being both a perpetrator and a victim were 1.41 to 3.22 times higher among gay, lesbian, and bisexual youths than among heterosexual youths. CONCLUSIONS Vulnerable youths, who are prone to peer harassment, may also act as perpetrators of bullying. Prevention strategies should address the particular needs of these populations; targeted programming may be appropriate.

Predicting termination type from client-therapist agreement on the severity of the presenting problem.

Discrepancies between clients and therapists in their perceptions of the severity of the clients presenting problem were tested for their utility in predicting both premature and mutual termination. Eight problem types were examined, and analyses were conducted within a survival analysis framework. Across the majority of problem types, results indicated that greater discrepancies between clients and therapists lowered the odds of mutual termination; however, greater discrepancies did not in turn increase the odds of premature termination. Interaction tests of client-therapist discrepancy with a variable that changes over time, accruing number of sessions, offer some qualifications. In particular, in the case of two problem types--depression and family-of-origin--when large discrepancies occurred, the likelihood of premature termination maintained at an equal rate throughout treatment, whereas when discrepancies were moderate or absent, the likelihood of premature termination diminished. Implications for clinicians and researchers point to enhancement of the therapeutic alliance as a means of reducing the probability of premature termination and increasing the probability of mutual termination. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved).