Weight stigma is associated with body mass index among college students in Taiwan: the mediated role of internalized weight stigma

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

研究成果: Article同行評審

5 引文 斯高帕斯(Scopus)

摘要

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.

原文English
文章編號365
期刊BMC psychology
11
發行號1
DOIs
出版狀態Published - 2023 12月

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • 一般心理學

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