Weight Perception, Academic Performance, and Psychological Factors in Chinese Adolescents

Authors

Bin Xie, University of Southern California
Chih-Ping Chou, University of Southern California
Donna Spruijt-Metz, University of Southern California
Kim D. Reynolds, Claremont Graduate UniversityFollow
Florence Clark, University of Southern California
Paula h. Palmer, University of Southern California
Peggy Gallaher, University of Southern California
Ping Sun, University of Southern California
Qian Guo, University of Southern California
Anderson C. Johnson, University of Southern California

Document Type

Article

Department

Community and Global Health (CGU)

Publication Date

2006

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

Abstract

Objective: To investigate weight perception and related psychological factors in Chinese adolescents. Methods: A questionnaire on weight perception, academic performance, stress, hostility, and depression was completed by 6863 middle and high school students. Weight and height were measured. Results: Overweight perception was related to school-related stress and depression in both girls and boys (P<0.01) and to hostility in boys (P<0.01). Perceived over-weight was related to lower GPA in girls only (P<0.05). Conclusions: Distorted weight perception has a detrimental psychological impact on Chinese adolescents. These findings may contribute to the obesity research and to the development of future effective intervention programs in China.

Rights Information

© 2006 American Journal of Health Behavior

Recommended Citation

Xie B, Chou CP, Spruijt-Metz D, Reynolds KD, Clark F, Palmer PH, Gallaher P, Sun P, Guo Q, Johnson CA. Weight Perception, Academic Performance, and Psychological Factors in Chinese Adolescents. American Journal of Health Behavior 30(2):115-124, 2006