Skip to main content

Advertisement

Springer Nature Link
Log in

Weight-Based Victimization Among Adolescents in the School Setting: Emotional Reactions and Coping Behaviors

  • Empirical Research
  • Published:
Journal of Youth and Adolescence Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Weight-based victimization is a frequent experience for adolescents, but little is known about their emotional reactions and coping strategies in response to weight-based teasing and bullying. The present study examined the ways that adolescents cope with experiences of weight-based victimization at school. An initial sample of 1,555 students from two high schools in central Connecticut completed a comprehensive battery of self-report measures to assess their experiences of weight-based teasing and bullying at school, affective responses to these experiences, and coping strategies used to deal with incidents of weight-based victimization. Only those students who reported experiencing weight-based victimization (N = 394) were included for the purposes of the present study. Of this sub-sample, 56% were females, 84% were Caucasian, and the mean age was 16.4 years. Weight-based victimization resulted in 40–50% of adolescents feeling sad and depressed, worse about themselves, bad about their body, angry, and some feeling afraid. Gender differences emerged with respect to how boys and girls react to experiences of weight-based victimization. However, structural equation model estimates demonstrated that both boys and girls who reported negative affect in response to weight-based victimization were more likely to use coping strategies of avoidance (e.g., avoiding gym class), increased food consumption, and binge eating. Binary logistic regressions showed that the odds of students skipping school or reporting that their grades were harmed because of weight-based teasing increased by 5% per teasing incident, even after controlling for gender, age, race, grades, and weight status. To our knowledge, this study is the first systematic examination of affective reactions and coping strategies among overweight adolescents in response to weight-based victimization. These findings can inform efforts to assist overweight youth to cope adaptively with weight-based victimization.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agresti, A. (2002). Categorical data analysis. Hoboken: Wiley.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Ashmore, J. A., Friedman, K. E., Reichmann, S. K., & Musante, G. J. (2008). Weight-based stigmatization, psychological distress, & binge eating behavior among obese treatment-seeking adults. Eating Behaviors, 9, 203–209. doi:10.1016/j.eatbeh.2007.09.006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Blowers, L. C., Loxton, N. J., Grady-Flesser, M., Occhipinti, S., & Dawe, S. (2003). The relationship between sociocultural pressure to be thin and body dissatisfaction in preadolescent girls. Eating Behaviors, 4, 229–244. doi:10.1016/S1471-0153(03)00018-7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Buhs, E., Ladd, G., & Herald, S. (2006). Exclusion and victimization: Processes that mediate the relation between peer group rejection and children’s classroom engagement and achievement? Journal of Educational Psychology, 98, 1–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark, R., Anderson, N. B., Clark, V. R., & Williams, D. R. (1999). Racism as a stressor for African Americans: A biopsychosocial model. American Psychologist, 54, 805–816.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eisenberg, M., Neumark-Sztainer, D., Haines, J., & Wall, M. (2006). Weight-teasing and emotional well-being in adolescents: Longitudinal findings from Project EAT. Journal of Adolescent Health, 38, 675–683.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eisenberg, M. E., Neumark-Sztainer, D., & Story, M. (2003). Associations of weight-based teasing and emotional well-being among adolescents. Archives of Pediatric Adolescent Medicine, 157, 733–738.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Enders, C. K. (2010). Applied missing data analysis. New York, NY: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Epel, E., Lapidus, R., McEwen, B., & Brownell, K. (2001). Stress may add bite to appetite in women: A laboratory study of stress-induced cortisol and eating behavior. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 26, 37–49. doi:10.1016/S0306-4530(00)00035-4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Evans, P. C. (2003). “If only I were thin like her, maybe I could be happy like her”: The self-implications of association a thin female ideal with life success. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 27, 209–214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Faith, M. S., Leone, M. A., Ayers, T. S., Moonseong, H., & Pietrobelli, A. (2002). Weight criticism during physical activity, coping skills, and reported physical activity in children. Pediatrics, 110, e23–e31.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fox, C. L., & Farrow, C. V. (2009). Global and physical self-esteem and body dissatisfaction as mediators of the relationship between weight status and being a victim of bullying. Journal of Adolescence, 32, 1287–1301. doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2008.12.006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Geier, A. B., Foster, G. D., Womble, L. G., McLaughlin, J., Borradaile, K. E., & Nachmani, J. (2007). The relationship between relative weight and school attendance among elementary school children. Obesity, 15, 2157–2161. doi:10.1038/oby.2007.256.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Glew, G., Fan, M.-Y., Katon, W., Rivara, F., & Kernic, M. (2005). Bullying, psychosocial adjustment, and academic performance in elementary school. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, 159, 1026–1031.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goodman, E., Hinden, B. R., & Khandelwal, S. (2000). Accuracy of teen and parental reports of obesity and body mass index. Pediatrics, 106, 52–58.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Graham, J. W., Olchowski, A. E., & Gilreath, T. D. (2007). How many imputations are really needed? Some practical clarifications of multiple imputation theory. Preventative Science, 8, 206–213. doi:10.1007/s11121-007-0070-9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griffiths, L. J., & Page, A. S. (2008). The impact of weight-related victimization on peer relationships: The female adolescent perspective. Obesity, 16, S39–S45. doi:10.1038/oby.2008.449.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Griffiths, L. J., Wolke, D., Page, A. S., Horwood, J. P., & Team, A. S. (2006). Obesity and bullying: Different effects for boys and girls. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 91, 121–125. doi:10.1136/adc.2005.072314.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Haines, J., Neumark-Sztainer, D., Eisenberg, M. E., & Hannan, P. J. (2006). Weight teasing and disordered eating behaviors in adolescents: Longitudinal findings from project EAT (Eating Among Teens). Pediatrics, 117, 209–215. doi:10.1542/peds.2005-1242.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haines, J., Neumark-Sztainer, D. R., Hannan, P. J., van den Berg, P., & Eisenberg, M. E. (2008). Longitudinal and secular trends in weight-related teasing during adolescence. Obesity, 16, S18–S23. doi:10.1038/oby.2008.447.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Haines, J., Neumark-Sztainer, D. R., Wall, M., & Story, M. T. (2007). Personal, behavioral and environmental risk and protective factors for adolescent overweight. Obesity, 15, 2748–2760. doi:10.1038/oby.2007.327.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hayden-Wade, H. A., Stein, R. I., Ghaderi, A., Saelens, B. E., Zabinski, M. F., & Wilfey, D. E. (2005). Prevalence, characteristics, and correlates of teasing experiences among overweight children vs. non-overweight peers. Obesity Research, 13, 1381–1392. doi:10.1038/oby.2005.167.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Herbozo, S., Tantleff-Dunn, S., Gokee-Larose, J., & Thompson, J. K. (2004). Beauty and thinness messages in children’s media: A content analysis. Eating Disorders, 12, 21–34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Janssen, I., Craig, W. M., Boyce, W. F., & Pickett, W. (2004). Associations between overweight and obesity and bullying behaviors in school-aged children. Pediatrics, 113, 1187–1193.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, D. C., Newman, J. B., & Bautista, S. (2005). A three-factor model of teasing: The influence of friendship, gender, and topic on expected emotional reactions to teasing during early adolescence. Social Development, 14, 421–439. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9507.2005.00309.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jung, J., & Peterson, M. (2007). Body dissatisfaction and patterns of media use among preadolescent children. Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal, 36, 40–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Juvonen, J., Nishina, A., & Graham, S. (2000). Peer harassment, psychological adjustment, and school functioning in early adolescence. Journal of Educational Psychology, 92, 349–359.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan, D. (2000). Structural equation modeling: Foundation and extensions. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keery, H., Boutelle, K., van den Berg, P., & Thompson, J. K. (2005). The impact of appearance-related teasing by family members. Journal of Adolescent Health, 37, 120–127.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kostanski, M., & Gullone, E. (2007). The impact of teasing on children’s body image. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 16, 307–319.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krukowski, R. A., West, D. S., Perez, A. P., Bursac, Z., Phillips, M. M., & Raczynski, J. M. (2009). Overweight children, weight-based teasing and academic performance. International Journal of Pediatric Obesity, 4, 274–280. doi:10.3109/17477160902846203.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Latner, J., & Stunkard, A. J. (2003). Getting worse: The stigmatization of obese children. Obesity Research, 11, 452–456.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Libbey, H. P., Story, M. T., Neumark-Sztainer, D. R., & Boutelle, K. N. (2008). Teasing, disordered eating behaviors, and psychological morbidities among overweight adolescents. Obesity, 16, S24–S29. doi:10.1038/oby.2008.455.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Long, J. S. (1997). Regression models for categorical and limited dependent variables. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Must, A., & Strauss, R. S. (1999). Risks and consequences of childhood and adolescent obesity. International Journal of Obesity, 23(Supplement 2), S2–S11.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Muthen, L. K., & Muthen, B. O. (1998–2010). Mplus user’s guide (6th edn.). Los Angeles, CA: Muthen & Muthen.

  • Neumark-Sztainer, D., Falkner, N., Story, M., Perry, C., Hannan, P. J., & Mulert, S. (2002). Weight-teasing among adolescents: Correlations with weight status and disordered eating behaviors. International Journal of Obesity, 26, 123–131. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0801853.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Neumark-Sztainer, D., Story, M., & Faibisch, L. (1998). Perceived stigmatization among overweight African-American and Caucasian adolescent girls. Journal of Adolescent Health, 23, 264–270.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Neumark-Sztainer, D. R., Wall, M. M., Haines, J., Story, M., Sherwood, N. E., & Van den Berg, P. (2007). Shared risk and protective factors for overweight and disordered eating in adolescents. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 33, 359–369. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2007.07.031.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ogden, C. L., Carroll, M. D., Curtin, L. R., Lamb, M. M., & Flegal, K. M. (2010). Prevalence of high body mass index in US children and adolescents, 2007–2008. JAMA, 303, 242–249. doi:10.1001/jama.2009.2012.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ogden, C. L., Kuczmarski, R. J., Flegal, K. M., Mei, Z., Guo, S., Wei, R., et al. (2002). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2000 growth charts for the United States: Improvements to the 1977 National Center for Health Statistics version. Pediatrics, 109, 45–60. doi:10.1542/peds.109.1.45.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ong, A. D., Fuller-Rowell, T., & Burrow, A. L. (2009). Racial discrimination and the stress process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 96, 1259–1271. doi:10.1037/a0015335.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pearce, M. J., Boergers, J., & Prinstein, M. J. (2002). Adolescent obesity, overt and relational peer victimization, and romantic relationships. Obesity Research, 10, 386–393. doi:10.1038/oby.2002.53.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Puhl, R. M., & Brownell, K. D. (2006). Confronting and coping with weight stigma: An investigation of overweight and obese adults. Obesity, 14, 1802–1815. doi:10.1038/oby.2006.208.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Puhl, R. M., & Latner, J. D. (2007). Stigma, obesity, and the health of the nation’s children. Psychological Bulletin, 133, 557–580. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.133.4.557.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Puhl, R. M., Luedicke, J., & Heuer, C. In the trenches: Nature and extent of weight-based victimization experienced by overweight adolescents at school. Journal of Adolescence. Under review.

  • Puhl, R. M., Luedicke, J., & Heuer, C. Weight-based victimization toward overweight adolescents: Observations and reactions of peers. Journal of School Health (in press).

  • Raghuveer, G. (2010). Lifetime cardiovascular risk of childhood obesity. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 91(suppl), 1514S–1519S.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ricciardelli, L. A., & McCabe, M. P. (2001). Dietary restraint and negative affect as mediators of body dissatisfaction and bulimic behavior in adolescent girls and boys. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 39, 1317–1328.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rubin, D. B. (1987). Multiple imputation for nonresponse in sample surveys. New York, NY: Wiley.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Rukavina, P. B., & Li, W. (2008). School physical activity interventions: Do not forget about obesity bias. Obesity Reviews, 9, 67–75. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.133.4.557.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, D., Gorman, A., Nakamoto, J., & Toblin, R. (2005). Victimization in the peer group and children’s academic functioning. Journal of Educational Psychology, 97, 425–435.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shepherd, H., & Ricciardelli, L. A. (1998). Test of Stice’s dual pathway model: Dietary restraint, and negative affect as mediators of bulimic behavior. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 36, 345–352.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Spitzer, B. L., Henderson, K. A., & Zivian, M. T. (1999). Gender differences in population versus media body sizes: A comparison over four decades. Sex Roles, 40, 545–565.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Storch, E. A., Milsom, V. A., DeBraganza, N., Lewin, A. B., Geffken, G. R., & Silverstein, J. H. (2007). Peer victimization, psychosocial adjustment, and physical activity in overweight and at-risk-for-overweight youth. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 32, 80–89. doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsj113.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Strauss, R. S., & Pollack, H. A. (2003). Social marginalization of overweight children. Archives of Pediatric Adolescent Medicine, 157, 746–752.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taras, H., & Potts-Datema, W. (2005). Obesity and student performance at school. Journal of School Health, 75, 291–295. doi:10.1111/j.1746-1561.2005.tb07346.x.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Totura, C., Green, A., Karver, M., & Gesten, E. (2009). Multiple informants in the assessment of psychological, behavioral, and academic correlates of bullying and victimization in middle school. Journal of Adolescence, 32, 193–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yach, D., Stuckler, D., & Brownell, K. D. (2006). Epidemiologic and economic consequences of the global epidemics of obesity and diabetes. Nature Medicine, 12, 62–66.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a grant from the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity. The authors would like to thank Chelsea Heuer for her assistance in measurement development and data collection.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity, Yale University, 309 Edwards Street, New Haven, CT, 06520-8369, USA

    Rebecca M. Puhl & Joerg Luedicke

Authors
  1. Rebecca M. Puhl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Joerg Luedicke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rebecca M. Puhl.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Puhl, R.M., Luedicke, J. Weight-Based Victimization Among Adolescents in the School Setting: Emotional Reactions and Coping Behaviors. J Youth Adolescence 41, 27–40 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-011-9713-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-011-9713-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation