School absenteeism and impairment associated with weight bullying

Bibliographic Data

ID21444320
AuthorsJanet A Lydecker (0000-0001-6425-514X, Department of Psychiatry Yale University School of Medicine New Haven Connecticut USA, corresponding author), Julia Winschel (Department of Psychiatry Yale University School of Medicine New Haven Connecticut USA), Kelsey Gilbert (Department of Psychiatry Yale University School of Medicine New Haven Connecticut USA), Elizabeth W Cotter (0000-0002-8713-8090, Department of Health Studies American University Washington District of Columbia USA)
Year2023
Volume95
Issue7
Pages1478-1487
Publication date2023-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Adolescence (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0140-1971 • E-ISSN: 1095-9254
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/jad.12220
PMID37487590
OpenAlexW4385188408
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited50

INTRODUCTION: Many children experience weight-based bullying (WB), when individuals are treated poorly or demeaned because of weight. WB has negative mental and physical health consequences. The current study examined how children's experiences of different forms of WB (verbal, social, physical, cyber) were associated with impaired functioning in school, social life, and family life. METHODS: Data were collected in Spring 2021. Participants (N = 224) were parents of a school-aged child and lived in the United States. Sixty percent of parents were mothers and 72% of parents self-identified as White. They completed surveys regarding weight, eating, and bullying. RESULTS: Social and cyber WB were associated with clinically significant impairment for both children and parents. Children who experienced social and physical WB were more likely to skip school, whereas physical and cyber WB were associated with skipping a particular class. All forms of bullying were associated with skipping gym class. Social and cyber WB were associated with isolating. Cyber WB was associated with all disordered eating behaviors. In addition, physical WB was associated with binge eating, social WB was associated with purging, and verbal WB was associated with secretive eating. DISCUSSION: Victims of WB experience impairment in school, social life, and family life, absenteeism, and disordered eating. It is essential to develop approaches to address WB in its various forms to identify strategies for reducing and preventing WB across various levels of influence, including peer groups, schools, and families.

Absenteeism · Developmental psychology · Disordered eating · Eating disorders · Mental health · Psychiatry · Clinical Psychology · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Eating Disorders and Behaviors · Obesity and Health Practices · Psychology · Social Psychology

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