The Effect of Weight Stigma on Adolescent Health: Mediating and Moderating Roles of Social Support and Personality...

Weight stigma is a common psychosocial stressor among adolescents and an important determinant of mental and physical well-being. However, the mechanisms through which it affects health outcomes remain insufficiently understood. This study explored the mediating and moderating roles of personality traits and perceived social support in the relationship between weight stigma and health outcomes in adolescents. A cross-sectional self-report study was conducted with 1,011 high school students (59.64% female; M_age = 16.50 years, SD_age = 1.10), using validated measures of weight stigma, Big Five personality traits, perceived social support, mental health (anxiety, depression, stress), and somatization. Mediation and moderation were tested using path analysis models, controlling for gender and BMI. Results showed that weight stigma directly predicted higher anxiety, depression, stress, and somatization. Positive indirect effects of weight stigma on health outcomes were observed through neuroticism, family support, and teacher support. Frequent stigmatization predicted lower levels of perceived social support and higher neuroticism, which in turn predicted poorer health outcomes. Moderation analyses showed that higher neuroticism and extraversion increased the effects of weight stigma on anxiety, while extraversion buffered its effects on somatization. Interestingly, while family support generally serves as a protective factor against somatization, higher levels of support were associated with a stronger effect of weight stigma on somatization. These findings emphasize the complex interplay between weight stigma, individual traits, and social context, supporting a biopsychosocial understanding of adolescent health. Furthermore, they emphasize the need for a comprehensive prevention and intervention approach to support this vulnerable population.