Associations between overweight and mental health problems among adolescents, and the mediating role of victimization
Abstract Background Evidence has not been conclusive on whether adolescent overweight is associated with mental health, possibly caused by indirect, yet untested associations. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the association between overweight or obesity and mental health problems...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2019-05-01
|
| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-019-6832-z |
| _version_ | 1818158506868473856 |
|---|---|
| author | Cornelia Leontine van Vuuren Gusta G. Wachter René Veenstra Judith J. M. Rijnhart Marcel F. van der Wal Mai J. M. Chinapaw Vincent Busch |
| author_facet | Cornelia Leontine van Vuuren Gusta G. Wachter René Veenstra Judith J. M. Rijnhart Marcel F. van der Wal Mai J. M. Chinapaw Vincent Busch |
| author_sort | Cornelia Leontine van Vuuren |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Evidence has not been conclusive on whether adolescent overweight is associated with mental health, possibly caused by indirect, yet untested associations. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the association between overweight or obesity and mental health problems among adolescents, and to determine whether victimization plays a mediating role in these associations. Methods Self-reported data on mental health and victimization and objectively measured Body Mass Index data were used, using three cohorts (2010–2011 until 2012–2013) and an interval between the measurement waves of two years later. We performed a multi-level mediation analysis with a two-level structure to incorporate the clustering of the measurements within individuals. The study population consisted of 13,740 secondary school students, 13–14 years old at the first measurement moment, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Results Compared to their normal-weight peers, adolescents with overweight or obesity reported psychosocial problems and suicidal thoughts more often. Victimization was a significant mediator in the relationship between having overweight, and psychosocial problems (indirect effect OR: 2.3; 95% CI 1.5, 3.7 and direct effect OR: 1.4; 95% CI 1.2, 1.7) or suicidal thoughts (indirect effect OR: 2.1; 95% CI 1.4, 3.2 and direct effect OR: 1.3; 95% CI 1.1, 1.5). The associations between obesity, and psychosocial problems (indirect OR: 6.2; 95% CI 2.8, 14.7 and direct effect OR: 1.4; 95% CI 1.0, 2.0), or suicidal thoughts (indirect OR: 4.5; 95% CI 2.3, 9.1 and direct effect OR: 1.5; 95% CI 1.1, 2.0) were even stronger. Conclusions Overweight and obesity were significantly associated with mental health problems in adolescents, and victimization played a mediating role in this association. Victimization and mental health should be integrated into prevention programs that address healthy weight development. Moreover, overweight should be given more attention in programs to prevent victimization and promote adolescent mental health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T15:31:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6c2e263651b644f3b3dacf8122c622f6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T15:31:11Z |
| publishDate | 2019-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-6c2e263651b644f3b3dacf8122c622f62022-12-22T01:00:03ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582019-05-0119111010.1186/s12889-019-6832-zAssociations between overweight and mental health problems among adolescents, and the mediating role of victimizationCornelia Leontine van Vuuren0Gusta G. Wachter1René Veenstra2Judith J. M. Rijnhart3Marcel F. van der Wal4Mai J. M. Chinapaw5Vincent Busch6Department of Epidemiology, Health Promotion and Healthcare Innovation, Public Health Service (GGD) AmsterdamDepartment of Epidemiology, Health Promotion and Healthcare Innovation, Public Health Service (GGD) AmsterdamDepartment of Sociology, Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences, University of GroningenDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, location VU University Medical CenterDepartment of Epidemiology, Health Promotion and Healthcare Innovation, Public Health Service (GGD) AmsterdamDepartment of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, P.O. BOX 7057, 1007 MBDepartment of Epidemiology, Health Promotion and Healthcare Innovation, Public Health Service (GGD) AmsterdamAbstract Background Evidence has not been conclusive on whether adolescent overweight is associated with mental health, possibly caused by indirect, yet untested associations. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the association between overweight or obesity and mental health problems among adolescents, and to determine whether victimization plays a mediating role in these associations. Methods Self-reported data on mental health and victimization and objectively measured Body Mass Index data were used, using three cohorts (2010–2011 until 2012–2013) and an interval between the measurement waves of two years later. We performed a multi-level mediation analysis with a two-level structure to incorporate the clustering of the measurements within individuals. The study population consisted of 13,740 secondary school students, 13–14 years old at the first measurement moment, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Results Compared to their normal-weight peers, adolescents with overweight or obesity reported psychosocial problems and suicidal thoughts more often. Victimization was a significant mediator in the relationship between having overweight, and psychosocial problems (indirect effect OR: 2.3; 95% CI 1.5, 3.7 and direct effect OR: 1.4; 95% CI 1.2, 1.7) or suicidal thoughts (indirect effect OR: 2.1; 95% CI 1.4, 3.2 and direct effect OR: 1.3; 95% CI 1.1, 1.5). The associations between obesity, and psychosocial problems (indirect OR: 6.2; 95% CI 2.8, 14.7 and direct effect OR: 1.4; 95% CI 1.0, 2.0), or suicidal thoughts (indirect OR: 4.5; 95% CI 2.3, 9.1 and direct effect OR: 1.5; 95% CI 1.1, 2.0) were even stronger. Conclusions Overweight and obesity were significantly associated with mental health problems in adolescents, and victimization played a mediating role in this association. Victimization and mental health should be integrated into prevention programs that address healthy weight development. Moreover, overweight should be given more attention in programs to prevent victimization and promote adolescent mental health.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-019-6832-zOverweightObesityMental health problemsBullying victimizationYouth |
| spellingShingle | Cornelia Leontine van Vuuren Gusta G. Wachter René Veenstra Judith J. M. Rijnhart Marcel F. van der Wal Mai J. M. Chinapaw Vincent Busch Associations between overweight and mental health problems among adolescents, and the mediating role of victimization BMC Public Health Overweight Obesity Mental health problems Bullying victimization Youth |
| title | Associations between overweight and mental health problems among adolescents, and the mediating role of victimization |
| title_full | Associations between overweight and mental health problems among adolescents, and the mediating role of victimization |
| title_fullStr | Associations between overweight and mental health problems among adolescents, and the mediating role of victimization |
| title_full_unstemmed | Associations between overweight and mental health problems among adolescents, and the mediating role of victimization |
| title_short | Associations between overweight and mental health problems among adolescents, and the mediating role of victimization |
| title_sort | associations between overweight and mental health problems among adolescents and the mediating role of victimization |
| topic | Overweight Obesity Mental health problems Bullying victimization Youth |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-019-6832-z |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT cornelialeontinevanvuuren associationsbetweenoverweightandmentalhealthproblemsamongadolescentsandthemediatingroleofvictimization AT gustagwachter associationsbetweenoverweightandmentalhealthproblemsamongadolescentsandthemediatingroleofvictimization AT reneveenstra associationsbetweenoverweightandmentalhealthproblemsamongadolescentsandthemediatingroleofvictimization AT judithjmrijnhart associationsbetweenoverweightandmentalhealthproblemsamongadolescentsandthemediatingroleofvictimization AT marcelfvanderwal associationsbetweenoverweightandmentalhealthproblemsamongadolescentsandthemediatingroleofvictimization AT maijmchinapaw associationsbetweenoverweightandmentalhealthproblemsamongadolescentsandthemediatingroleofvictimization AT vincentbusch associationsbetweenoverweightandmentalhealthproblemsamongadolescentsandthemediatingroleofvictimization |