Association between body satisfaction and depressive symptoms in early adolescents

YOU Lijun; ZUO Xiayun; YU Chunyan; LIAN Qiguo; FANG Yuhang; TU Xiaowen; LOU Chaohua

doi:10.11852/zgetbjzz2023-1131

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Chinese Journal of Child Health Care ›› 2024, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (7) : 713-717. DOI: 10.11852/zgetbjzz2023-1131

Original Articles

Association between body satisfaction and depressive symptoms in early adolescents

YOU Lijun¹, ZUO Xiayun², YU Chunyan², LIAN Qiguo², FANG Yuhang², TU Xiaowen², LOU Chaohua^1,2

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Abstract

Objective To explore the association between body satisfaction and depressive symptoms among early adolescents in Shanghai, in order to provide evidence for the promotion of mental health among adolescents. Methods A total of 1 704 students from grade 6 to 8 in 3 junior middle schools in Shanghai were recruited into this study from November to December in 2017 by stratified cluster sampling method.Data were collected by anonymous self-administered electronic questionnaire, and the body satisfaction scale and depressive symptom scale were used to collect the body satisfaction and depressive symptoms of the subjects. Results The average score of body satisfaction was 23.03±4.68, ranging from 7 to 35.There were significant differences in body satisfaction score among adolescents with different genders, education level of primary caregivers and perceived academic performance (P<0.05).The average score of depressive symptoms in adolescents was 15.94±5.05, ranging from 6 to 30.There were statistically significant differences in depressive symptoms score among adolescents with different genders, age, whether they were the only child, whether they were separated from their parents and perceived academic performance (P<0.05).Multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that body satisfaction was negatively correlated with scores of depressive symptoms and the association was statistically significant (β=-0.35, P<0.05).There was significant difference in the associations between body satisfaction and depressive symptom scores in adolescents of different genders (boys:β=-0.30, girls:β=-0.40), and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion There is a significant negative association between body satisfaction and depressive symptoms in early adolescence, improving body satisfaction may help reduce depressive mood in adolescents.

Key words

body satisfaction / depressive symptoms / mental health / adolescents

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YOU Lijun, ZUO Xiayun, YU Chunyan, LIAN Qiguo, FANG Yuhang, TU Xiaowen, LOU Chaohua. Association between body satisfaction and depressive symptoms in early adolescents[J]. Chinese Journal of Child Health Care. 2024, 32(7): 713-717 https://doi.org/10.11852/zgetbjzz2023-1131

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