Relations Between Body-esteem, Depresssgenic Feelings and Behaviors, and Body Mass Index in First Grade Children

Abstract

Research suggests that overweight children may experience unfavorable psychological and social consequences such as lowered self-esteem and depressive symptoms. This study explores the relationship between body-esteem, depression, and BMI in first grade children, and how these factors differ by gender. Data was collected from 607 first grade children (52.6% males) at the beginning of the 2005 school year. Body-esteem was measured using the Body-Esteem Scale (BES) and depressegenic feelings and behaviors were assessed with a measure developed for the current study. BMI was calculated for each child based on measures of height and weight. Correlation analyses by gender revealed a negative correlation between body-esteem and BMI in girls (r = -0.182, p = 0.003) suggesting that, for only girls, as positive feelings about one's body decreases, BMI increases. Initial regression analyses suggested that depressegenic feelings and behaviors and body-esteem predicted BMI in girls (p = 0.001) but not boys. Further research examining the relations between body-esteem, depressegenic feelings and behaviors, and BMI in young children is needed to build on the current study and expand our understanding of overweight and obesity in very young children, so that effective treatment approaches may be developed and implemented.