Adolescent body dissatisfaction as public health issue: Effects on later risky health behaviours

Bornioli, Anna; Lewis-Smith, Helena; Smith, Andrew; Slater, Amy; Bray, Isabelle

Abstract

Aim: Body dissatisfaction is prevalent among teenagers, and may influence the uptake of risky health behaviours. The study assessed the influence of body dissatisfaction on smoking, cannabis use, drug use, self-harm, gambling, and drinking and the mediating role of disordered eating in a population-based sample of British adolescents.

Background: Previous studies found that body dissatisfaction is a risk factor for disordered eating, and that disordered eating predicts risky health behaviours.

Methodology: Participants were 2,634 females and 1,684 males from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort. Logistic regression was used to test if body dissatisfaction at 14 years old predicted the onset of risky health behaviours at 21 years old. Mediation analysis tested the mediating role of disordered eating at 16 years old on each risky health behaviour.

Results: Among females, body dissatisfaction predicted smoking (OR=1.40, 95% CI = 1.14 – 1.71), cannabis use (OR=1.22, 95% CI = 1.03 – 1.45), drug use (OR=1.54, 95% CI = 1.21 – 1.94), self-harm (OR=1.45, 95% CI = 1.37 – 1.86) and high-risk drinking (OR=1.44, 95% CI = 1.12 – 1.85). Disordered eating symptoms had mediating effects on some behaviours. Among males, body dissatisfaction predicted smoking (OR=1.43, 95% CI = 1.14 – 1.80) and no effect of disordered eating was found on any risky health behaviour.

Conclusions: This is the first prospective study to demonstrate that body dissatisfaction in adolescence predicts the occurrence of several risky health behaviours, and elucidates the mediating role of disordered eating. The findings highlight that body dissatisfaction is a public health concern. Early interventions to promote body satisfaction may reduce the prevalence of later risky health behaviours.

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (unpublished)
• Conference Name: South West Public Health Scientific Conference 2019
• Start Date: Mar 19, 2019
• End Date: Mar 19, 2019
• Acceptance Date: Jan 19, 2019
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: mental health, adolescent health, body dissatisfaction, risky health behaviours
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/853692
• Additional Information: Title of Conference or Conference Proceedings : South West Public Health Scientific Conference 2019 Tuesday 19th March 2019 Mercure Bristol Holland House Hotel, Bristol