Weight stigma is associated with body mass index among college students in Taiwan: the mediated role of internalized weight stigma
Abstract Background Weight stigma is an issue often studied in Western countries; however, such information is scarce in Asian studies. Methods This study aimed to examine the role of internalized weight stigma as a mediator in the relationship between perceived weight stigma and changes in body mas...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2023-11-01
|
| Series: | BMC Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01414-w |
| _version_ | 1797636640761446400 |
|---|---|
| author | Yi-Ching Lin Chung-Ying Lin Mohsen Saffari Meng-Che Tsai Yun-Hsuan Chang Carol Strong Ji-Kang Chen Yi-Ping Hsieh Yung-Ning Yang Janet D. Latner |
| author_facet | Yi-Ching Lin Chung-Ying Lin Mohsen Saffari Meng-Che Tsai Yun-Hsuan Chang Carol Strong Ji-Kang Chen Yi-Ping Hsieh Yung-Ning Yang Janet D. Latner |
| author_sort | Yi-Ching Lin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Weight stigma is an issue often studied in Western countries; however, such information is scarce in Asian studies. Methods This study aimed to examine the role of internalized weight stigma as a mediator in the relationship between perceived weight stigma and changes in body mass index (BMI). The data were collected through a longitudinal online survey with two phases (n = 974; Phase 1: August and September 2021; Phase 2: November and December 2021). The Perceived Weight Stigma Scale (PWSS), Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire (WSSQ), and Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale − 21 (DASS-21) were administered to assess perceived weight stigma, internalized weight stigma, and psychological distress. Hierarchical regressions were used to examine the proposed model, and Hayes’ Process Macro was used to test a mediation model. Results The changes in perceived weight stigma and internalized weight stigma were significantly and positively associated with changes in BMI. There were significant and positive associations between perceived weight stigma, internalized weight stigma and psychological distress over time. Change in internalized weight stigma was found to be a significant mediator in the association of change in perceived weight stigma with change in BMI for the entire sample (unstandardized coefficient = 0.04; 95% CI = 0.02, 0.06), female subgroup (unstandardized coefficient = 0.05; 95% CI = 0.02, 0.08), and male subgroup (unstandardized coefficient = 0.03; 95% CI = 0.01, 0.06). Change in perceived weight stigma also had significant effects on change in BMI for the entire sample and the female subgroup, but not for the male subgroup. Conclusion Because perceived weight stigma may significantly impact changes in BMI through internalized weight stigma, treatment strategies to ameliorate self-stigma may enhance the results of weight-reduction programs. Such treatment strategies should be considered for inclusion in weight-loss interventions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T12:36:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c09c045c9be849798a758d725e4c8e2c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-7283 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T12:36:56Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-c09c045c9be849798a758d725e4c8e2c2023-11-05T12:32:46ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832023-11-0111111210.1186/s40359-023-01414-wWeight stigma is associated with body mass index among college students in Taiwan: the mediated role of internalized weight stigmaYi-Ching Lin0Chung-Ying Lin1Mohsen Saffari2Meng-Che Tsai3Yun-Hsuan Chang4Carol Strong5Ji-Kang Chen6Yi-Ping Hsieh7Yung-Ning Yang8Janet D. Latner9Department of Early Childhood and Family Education, National Taipei University of EducationInstitute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung UniversityHealth Research Center, Life Style Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, National Cheng Kung UniversityInstitute of Gerontology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung UniversityDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung UniversityDepartment of Social Work, Chinese University of Hong KongDepartment of Social Work, College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines, University of North DakotaDepartment of Pediatrics, E-DA Hospital, I-Shou UniversityDepartment of Psychology, University of Hawaii at ManoaAbstract Background Weight stigma is an issue often studied in Western countries; however, such information is scarce in Asian studies. Methods This study aimed to examine the role of internalized weight stigma as a mediator in the relationship between perceived weight stigma and changes in body mass index (BMI). The data were collected through a longitudinal online survey with two phases (n = 974; Phase 1: August and September 2021; Phase 2: November and December 2021). The Perceived Weight Stigma Scale (PWSS), Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire (WSSQ), and Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale − 21 (DASS-21) were administered to assess perceived weight stigma, internalized weight stigma, and psychological distress. Hierarchical regressions were used to examine the proposed model, and Hayes’ Process Macro was used to test a mediation model. Results The changes in perceived weight stigma and internalized weight stigma were significantly and positively associated with changes in BMI. There were significant and positive associations between perceived weight stigma, internalized weight stigma and psychological distress over time. Change in internalized weight stigma was found to be a significant mediator in the association of change in perceived weight stigma with change in BMI for the entire sample (unstandardized coefficient = 0.04; 95% CI = 0.02, 0.06), female subgroup (unstandardized coefficient = 0.05; 95% CI = 0.02, 0.08), and male subgroup (unstandardized coefficient = 0.03; 95% CI = 0.01, 0.06). Change in perceived weight stigma also had significant effects on change in BMI for the entire sample and the female subgroup, but not for the male subgroup. Conclusion Because perceived weight stigma may significantly impact changes in BMI through internalized weight stigma, treatment strategies to ameliorate self-stigma may enhance the results of weight-reduction programs. Such treatment strategies should be considered for inclusion in weight-loss interventions.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01414-wPerceived weight stigmaInternalized weight stigmaChanges in BMIPsychological distressCollege studentsObesity |
| spellingShingle | Yi-Ching Lin Chung-Ying Lin Mohsen Saffari Meng-Che Tsai Yun-Hsuan Chang Carol Strong Ji-Kang Chen Yi-Ping Hsieh Yung-Ning Yang Janet D. Latner Weight stigma is associated with body mass index among college students in Taiwan: the mediated role of internalized weight stigma BMC Psychology Perceived weight stigma Internalized weight stigma Changes in BMI Psychological distress College students Obesity |
| title | Weight stigma is associated with body mass index among college students in Taiwan: the mediated role of internalized weight stigma |
| title_full | Weight stigma is associated with body mass index among college students in Taiwan: the mediated role of internalized weight stigma |
| title_fullStr | Weight stigma is associated with body mass index among college students in Taiwan: the mediated role of internalized weight stigma |
| title_full_unstemmed | Weight stigma is associated with body mass index among college students in Taiwan: the mediated role of internalized weight stigma |
| title_short | Weight stigma is associated with body mass index among college students in Taiwan: the mediated role of internalized weight stigma |
| title_sort | weight stigma is associated with body mass index among college students in taiwan the mediated role of internalized weight stigma |
| topic | Perceived weight stigma Internalized weight stigma Changes in BMI Psychological distress College students Obesity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01414-w |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yichinglin weightstigmaisassociatedwithbodymassindexamongcollegestudentsintaiwanthemediatedroleofinternalizedweightstigma AT chungyinglin weightstigmaisassociatedwithbodymassindexamongcollegestudentsintaiwanthemediatedroleofinternalizedweightstigma AT mohsensaffari weightstigmaisassociatedwithbodymassindexamongcollegestudentsintaiwanthemediatedroleofinternalizedweightstigma AT mengchetsai weightstigmaisassociatedwithbodymassindexamongcollegestudentsintaiwanthemediatedroleofinternalizedweightstigma AT yunhsuanchang weightstigmaisassociatedwithbodymassindexamongcollegestudentsintaiwanthemediatedroleofinternalizedweightstigma AT carolstrong weightstigmaisassociatedwithbodymassindexamongcollegestudentsintaiwanthemediatedroleofinternalizedweightstigma AT jikangchen weightstigmaisassociatedwithbodymassindexamongcollegestudentsintaiwanthemediatedroleofinternalizedweightstigma AT yipinghsieh weightstigmaisassociatedwithbodymassindexamongcollegestudentsintaiwanthemediatedroleofinternalizedweightstigma AT yungningyang weightstigmaisassociatedwithbodymassindexamongcollegestudentsintaiwanthemediatedroleofinternalizedweightstigma AT janetdlatner weightstigmaisassociatedwithbodymassindexamongcollegestudentsintaiwanthemediatedroleofinternalizedweightstigma |