Association with Self-Perception for Obesity and Mental Health among Korean Adolescent.
- Author:
In Cheol HWANG
1
;
Kyoung Shik LEE
;
Dong Kyun PARK
;
Eun Young JUNG
;
Chung Hyun CHOI
;
Seong Jin CHO
;
Seung Min BAE
Author Information
1. Department of Family Medicine, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Incheon, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Obesity;
Self-Perception;
Mental Health;
Adolescent
- MeSH:
Adolescent;
Aged;
Body Mass Index;
Body Weight;
Depression;
Health Surveys;
Humans;
Logistic Models;
Mental Health;
Nutrition Surveys;
Obesity;
Self Concept;
Suicidal Ideation;
Surveys and Questionnaires
- From:Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
2011;22(2):112-119
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: Obesity has been linked to various psychological problems as well as medical complications, especially among adolescents. Previous studies have suggested an association between body weight and depression or self-esteem ; however, there has been little evidence on self-perception of weight and mental health. The aim of this study was to examine the association of perceptional weight status with mental health in Korean adolescents. METHODS: This study was based on data obtained from the third Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (2005). The study sample consisted of 583 adolescents (268 boys, 315 girls) aged 12-18 years, who had completed the health survey, the health examination, and the nutritional survey. Participants were divided into two groups based on the actual or perceptional weight status: non-obese and obese. Questionnaires for stress, depressive mood, and suicidal thoughts were utilized as mental health indicators. RESULTS: The agreement between actual and perceptional weight status was moderate (kappa value, 0.585 ; p<0.01). The influencing factors for the discrepancy between actual and perceptional weight status were body mass index of subjects and their parents' education. The obese group was likely to have higher stress levels and more experience of depressive mood or suicidal ideation in regard to both actual and perceptional weight status. A multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that girls who had perceived themselves as obese were more likely to have an experience of depressive mood than other girls (unadjusted OR, 4.98 ; adjusted OR, 5.15). CONCLUSION: An experience of depressive mood was significantly associated with the perception of weight status and not actual weight status in Korean female adolescents.
