The mediation effect of perceived weight stigma in association between weight status and eating disturbances among university students: is there any gender difference?

Journal of Eating Disorders

Research Article

Yi-Ching Lin¹  Yen-Ling Chang²  Jung-Sheng Chen³  Janet D. Latner⁴  Xavier C. C. Fung⁵  Mohsen Saffari⁶  Kamolthip Ruckwongpatr⁷  Chung-Ying Lin⁸  Kerry S. O’Brien⁹ 

[1]Department of Early Childhood and Family Education, National Taipei University of Education, No.134, Sec. 2, Heping E. Rd., Da-an District, 106, Taipei City, Taiwan

[2]Department of Family Medicine, Cardinal Tien Hospital, New Taipei, Taiwan

[3]Department of Medical Research, E-Da Hospital, No. 6, Yida Rd., Yanchao Dist., 82445, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

[4]Department of Psychology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA

[5]Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong

[6]Health Research Center, Life Style Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

[7]Health Education Department, Faculty of Health, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

[8]Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd, 701401, Tainan, Taiwan

[9]Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd, 701401, Tainan, Taiwan

[10]Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 701401, Tainan, Taiwan

[11]Biostatistics Consulting Center, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 701401, Tainan, Taiwan

[12]Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 701401, Tainan, Taiwan

[13]School of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

关键词: Eating behaviors;    Stigma;    Weight control;    Asian;    Young adults;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s40337-022-00552-7

 received in 2021-09-29, accepted in 2022-02-04,  发布年份 2022

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe study aimed to examine the association between perceived weight stigma (PWS), weight status, and eating disturbances. We hypothesized that PWS would partially mediate the association between weight status and eating disturbances among university students.MethodsThe study involved 705 undergraduate students (379 females and 326 males) recruited from Hong Kong and Taiwan Universities (399 Hong Kong; 306 Taiwan participants). Our sample was from one Hong Kong university (located in Kowloon) and five Taiwan universities (three located in Southern Taiwan, one located in Central Taiwan, and one located in North Taiwan). Participants’ mean age was 20.27 years (SD = 1.79). All participants completed a demographic information sheet, the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire-18 (TFEQ-R18), and the PWS questionnaire. PROCESS macro models were used to analyze potential mediations.ResultsWe found a significantly higher PWS scores in a high weight group for females and males. There was a significant difference between weight status and eating disturbances. Moreover, PWS partially mediated the association between weight status and eating disturbances for both genders.ConclusionsPWS is associated with weight status and eating disturbances, making it an important target for health improvement among young adults. Further studies are needed to corroborate such associations in participants from other societies and cultures.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2022. corrected publication 2023

【 图 表 】

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