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Do friends share similar body image and eating problems? The role of social networks and peer influences in early adolescence
journal contribution
posted on 2007-07-01, 00:00 authored by Delyse HutchinsonDelyse Hutchinson, R M RapeeThis study examined the role of friendship networks and peer influences in body image concern, dietary restraint, extreme weight loss behaviours (EWLBs) and binge eating in a large community sample of young adolescent females. Based on girls' self-reported friendship groups, social network analysis was used to identify 173 friendship cliques. Results indicated that clique members shared similar scores on measures of dieting, EWLB and binge eating, but not body image concern. Average clique scores for dieting, EWLB and binge eating, were also correlated significantly with clique averages on measures of perceived peer influence, body mass index and psychological variables. Multiple regression analyses indicated that perceived peer influences in weight-related attitudes and behaviours were predictive of individual girls' level of body image concern, dieting, EWLB use and binge eating. Notably, an individual girl's dieting and EWLB use could be predicted from her friends' respective dieting and EWLB scores. Findings highlight the significance of the peer environment in body image and eating problems during early adolescence.
History
Journal
Behaviour research and therapyVolume
45Issue
7Pagination
1557 - 1577Publisher
ElsevierLocation
Amsterdam, The NetherlandsPublisher DOI
ISSN
0005-7967Language
engPublication classification
C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2006, Published by Elsevier Ltd.Usage metrics
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No categories selectedKeywords
AdolescentBody ImageBulimiaChildFeeding BehaviorFeeding and Eating DisordersFemaleHumansInterpersonal RelationsPeer GroupPsychology, AdolescentPsychology, ChildSocial SupportWeight LossSocial SciencesPsychology, ClinicalPsychologyeating disturbancespeer influencesocial networksearly adolescenceWEIGHT-LOSS BEHAVIORSRISK-FACTORSDIETARY RESTRAINTSELF-ESTEEMTHIN-IDEALDISORDERSGIRLSPREVALENCEDEPRESSIONONSET
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