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Weight perceptions, misperceptions, and dating violence victimization among U.S. adolescents
Tilda Farhat1, Denise Haynie2, Faith Summersett-Ringgold2
1National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA Tilda.Farhat@nih.gov.
Journal of Interpersonal Violence
|July 9, 2014
Summary
Adolescent girls’ perceptions of their weight, not their actual weight status, are linked to dating violence. Overweight Hispanic girls and White girls who perceive themselves as overweight face higher risks.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Adolescent Health
- Psychology
Background:
- Dating violence is a significant public health concern for adolescents.
- Overweight and obese youth may face increased risks of victimization due to peer discrimination and stigma.
- Weight perceptions, rather than actual weight, might influence dating violence risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between weight status, perceived weight, and weight perception accuracy with dating violence victimization among adolescents.
- To examine gender and racial/ethnic differences in these associations.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the 2010 NEXT Generation Health Study, a nationally representative sample of U.S. 10th graders (n=1,983).
- Assessed weight status (measured height/weight), perceived weight, and weight perception accuracy (comparing actual vs. perceived weight).
- Employed gender-stratified regression analyses to examine associations with psychological and physical dating violence victimization.
Main Results:
- Associations between weight indices and dating violence differed significantly by gender.
- Among boys, no significant associations were found.
- Among girls, perceived weight and weight perception accuracy, but not weight status, were significantly associated with dating violence victimization, its type, and frequency. White girls perceiving themselves as overweight and Hispanic girls who are overweight showed increased risk.
Conclusions:
- Weight perception and accuracy are critical factors in understanding dating violence risk among adolescent girls.
- Targeted prevention strategies addressing weight perceptions are needed, particularly for vulnerable racial/ethnic groups.
- Findings highlight the complex interplay between body image, weight stigma, and adolescent dating violence.
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