TY - JOUR
T1 - Expectancies, self-esteem, knowledge, and adolescent weight reduction behavior
AU - Thombs, Dennis L.
AU - Mahoney, Colleen A.
AU - McLaughlin, Michele L.
PY - 1998
Y1 - 1998
N2 - The aims of the current study were to assess the factor structure of weight loss expectancy and to explain weight reduction behavior among teenagers. An anonymous questionnaire was administered to a sample of 599 adolescents. Principal components analysis identified four weight loss expectancy factors, which were labeled social confidence, adult approval, self-worth, and negative consequences. Results from regression analyses indicated that dieting frequency, diet pill use, and purging were best explained by different subsets of predictors. Overall, self-esteem, gender, and specific expectancy and knowledge variables accounted for most of the variance in measures of dieting frequency diet pill use, and purging. The findings suggest that weight management education for teenagers should emphasize self-esteem enhancement. However, curriculum planning must also address the anticipated psychosocial rewards of weight loss and attend to gender-specific concerns.
AB - The aims of the current study were to assess the factor structure of weight loss expectancy and to explain weight reduction behavior among teenagers. An anonymous questionnaire was administered to a sample of 599 adolescents. Principal components analysis identified four weight loss expectancy factors, which were labeled social confidence, adult approval, self-worth, and negative consequences. Results from regression analyses indicated that dieting frequency, diet pill use, and purging were best explained by different subsets of predictors. Overall, self-esteem, gender, and specific expectancy and knowledge variables accounted for most of the variance in measures of dieting frequency diet pill use, and purging. The findings suggest that weight management education for teenagers should emphasize self-esteem enhancement. However, curriculum planning must also address the anticipated psychosocial rewards of weight loss and attend to gender-specific concerns.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0039449849&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/s0022-3182(98)70287-0
DO - 10.1016/s0022-3182(98)70287-0
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0039449849
SN - 1499-4046
VL - 30
SP - 107
EP - 113
JO - Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior
JF - Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior
IS - 2
ER -