Is friendship network weight status associated with one's own psychological well-being? It depends on one's own weight status

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2016

Abstract

Drawing on multiple theoretical perspectives (e.g., social comparison theory, reward theory, evolutionary theory), the present research examined the relations of self and friendship network weight status to body satisfaction, self-esteem, and depression. A diverse, population-based sample of adolescents completed measures of well-being and were measured for height and weight. Boys had greater self-esteem if their male friendship networks' weight status mismatched, versus matched, their own weight status (d =.23). Conversely, boys had greater body satisfaction if their female friendship networks' weight status matched, versus mismatched, their own weight status (d =.18). For girls, the relations of male and female friendship networks' weight status with well-being did not vary by one's own weight status. Evolutionary theory appears to best explain the observed patter of results, and clinicians may want to consider friends' weight status when dealing with adolescents' body satisfaction issues.

Publication Title

Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology

Volume

35

Issue

5

First Page

401

Last Page

424

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1521/jscp.2016.35.5.401

ISSN

07367236

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