Socialization of adolescents’ weight-related behaviors: the roles of best friend and group contagion and adolescent popularity

This study examined two peer relations concepts that may be relevant for understanding weight-related behaviors in adolescents: socialization and popularity. Data from 582 youth in grades 6-8 at an initial time point were used to examine best friend and friendship group socialization of weight-related behaviors, as well as the reciprocal effects of popularity on weight-related behaviors. Measures were administered at two time points and included self-report indices of body dissatisfaction, body-related cognitions, and dieting practices. Sociometric assessments were conducted to examine friendships and two forms of popularity (i.e., preference- and reputation-based). Results suggested that both best friend and friendship group socialization were important predictors of body dissatisfaction, muscle-gaining behaviors, and diet-based exercise, and that gender moderated these processes. Popularity was both an outcome and predictor of weight-related behaviors, and moderated best friend socialization of diet-based exercise. Overall, results were modest and suggest complex processes in peer socialization of weight-related behaviors

Potential mechanisms of peer influence on adolescent girls' disordered eating behavior: an experimental design

This study used an experimental paradigm to examine two factors that may influence the socialization process of peer influence on adolescent females' vulnerability to engage in disordered eating behavior: body-related social comparison and desire to emulate a popular prototype. In the first phase of this study, data were collected to establish local body and dieting norms, as well as to construct study manipulations. In the second phase of the study, subjects participating in the experimental portion were randomly assigned to one of three experimental conditions in which they were exposed to maladpative eating norms by ostensible female peers who were either: 1) thin and of popular peer status; 2) thin and of average peer status; or 3) heavy and of average peer status. Hypotheses were partially supported. Differences emerged in response patterns between 9th and 10th grade participants. Ninth grade participants generally experienced peer influence of disordered eating behaviors. Tenth grade participants, however, did not appear to experience peer influence of disordered eating behaviors. An interaction between body mass index (BMI) and grade was observed such that 9th graders with lower BMI responded significantly more maldaptively in the experimental condition than 10th graders with lower BMI. Results suggest body size was most salient to 9th grade participants' peer influence vulnerability. Peer-led interventions may be particularly effective, but should be tailored to norms within the specific peer context

An experimental examination of peers' influence on adolescent girls' intent to engage in maladaptive weight-related behaviors: Peers' Influence On Weight-Related Behaviors

Social psychological theories provide bases for understanding how social comparison processes may impact peer influence. This study examined two peer characteristics that may impact peer influence on adolescent girls’ weight-related behavior intentions: body size and popularity

High Peer Popularity Longitudinally Predicts Adolescent Health Risk Behavior, or Does It?: An Examination of Linear and Quadratic Associations

Objective In contrast to prior work, recent theory suggests that high, not low, levels of adolescent peer popularity may be associated with health risk behavior. This study examined (a) whether popularity may be uniquely associated with cigarette use, marijuana use, and sexual risk behavior, beyond the predictive effects of aggression; (b) whether the longitudinal association between popularity and health risk behavior may be curvilinear; and (c) gender moderation. Methods A total of 336 adolescents, initially in 10–11th grades, reported cigarette use, marijuana use, and number of sexual intercourse partners at two time points 18 months apart. Sociometric peer nominations were used to examine popularity and aggression. Results Longitudinal quadratic effects and gender moderation suggest that both high and low levels of popularity predict some, but not all, health risk behaviors. Conclusions New theoretical models can be useful for understanding the complex manner in which health risk behaviors may be reinforced within the peer context

Latin American Trans-ancestry INitiative for OCD genomics (LATINO): Study protocol

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a debilitating psychiatric disorder. Worldwide, its prevalence is ~2% and its etiology is mostly unknown. Identifying biological factors contributing to OCD will elucidate underlying mechanisms and might contribute to improved treatment outcomes. Genomic studies of OCD are beginning to reveal long-sought risk loci, but \u3e95% of the cases currently in analysis are of homogenous European ancestry. If not addressed, this Eurocentric bias will result in OCD genomic findings being more accurate for individuals of European ancestry than other ancestries, thereby contributing to health disparities in potential future applications of genomics. In this study protocol paper, we describe the Latin American Trans-ancestry INitiative for OCD genomics (LATINO, https://www.latinostudy.org). LATINO is a new network of investigators from across Latin America, the United States, and Canada who have begun to collect DNA and clinical data from 5000 richly phenotyped OCD cases of Latin American ancestry in a culturally sensitive and ethical manner. In this project, we will utilize trans-ancestry genomic analyses to accelerate the identification of OCD risk loci, fine-map putative causal variants, and improve the performance of polygenic risk scores in diverse populations. We will also capitalize on rich clinical data to examine the genetics of treatment response, biologically plausible OCD subtypes, and symptom dimensions. Additionally, LATINO will help elucidate the diversity of the clinical presentations of OCD across cultures through various trainings developed and offered in collaboration with Latin American investigators. We believe this study will advance the important goal of global mental health discovery and equity

Teaching adolescents about changing bodies: Randomized controlled trial of an Internet puberty education and body dissatisfaction prevention program

This study tested the efficacy of an Internet-based prevention program, Trouble on the Tightrope: In Search of Skateboard Sam, on pubertal knowledge, body esteem, and self-esteem. One hundred ninety participants (mean age 11.6 years) were randomized to either an intervention or attention placebo control condition and were assessed at baseline, after 3 Internet-based sessions, and at 3-month follow-up. Although the primary hypotheses were not supported, exploratory moderator analyses indicated that the intervention was beneficial for select students. Specifically, pubertal status moderated the effects on weight-related body esteem and several domains of self-esteem, resulting in positive effects for participants in the intervention group who had begun puberty. Gender differences were found on self-esteem subscales, indicating more robust effects for girls than boys. Tailored Internet programs based on personal characteristics such as gender and pubertal status may be a fruitful area for future research with adolescents

Peer Influence and Nonsuicidal Self Injury: Longitudinal Results in Community and Clinically-Referred Adolescent Samples

Research suggests that adolescents' engagement in nonsuicidal self-injurious (NSSI) behaviors may be increasing over time, yet little is known regarding distal longitudinal factors that may promote engagement in these behaviors. Data from two longitudinal studies are presented to examine whether NSSI may be associated with peer influence processes. Study 1 included 377 adolescents from a community-based sample; Study 2 included 140 clinically-referred adolescents recruited from a psychiatric inpatient facility. In Study 1, adolescents' NSSI was examined at baseline and one year later. Adolescents' nominated best friend reported their own levels of NSSI. In Study 2, adolescents' NSSI was examined at baseline as well as 9 and 18-months post-baseline. Adolescents' perceptions of their friends' engagement in self-injurious behavior (including suicidality) and depressed mood also were examined at all three time points. Baseline depressive symptoms were measured in both studies; gender and age were examined as moderators of peer influence effects. Results from both studies supported longitudinal peer socialization effects of friends' self-injurious behavior on adolescents' own NSSI for girls, but not for boys, even after controlling for depressive symptoms as a predictor. Study 1 suggested socialization effects mostly for younger youth. Results from Study 2 also suggested longitudinal socialization effects, as well as peer selection effects; adolescents' NSSI was associated with increasing perceptions of their friends' engagement in depressive/self-injurious thoughts and behavior. Findings contribute to the nascent literature on longitudinal predictors of NSSI and to work on peer influence

High peer popularity longitudinally predicts adolescent health risk behavior, or does it? An examination of linear and quadratic associations

Objective In contrast to prior work, recent theory suggests that high, not low, levels of adolescent peer popularity may be associated with health risk behavior. This study examined (a) whether popularity may be uniquely associated with cigarette use, marijuana use, and sexual risk behavior, beyond the predictive effects of aggression; (b) whether the longitudinal association between popularity and health risk behavior may be curvilinear; and (c) gender moderation. Methods A total of 336 adolescents, initially in 10-11th grades, reported cigarette use, marijuana use, and number of sexual intercourse partners at two time points 18 months apart. Sociometric peer nominations were used to examine popularity and aggression. Results Longitudinal quadratic effects and gender moderation suggest that both high and low levels of popularity predict some, but not all, health risk behaviors. Conclusions New theoretical models can be useful for understanding the complex manner in which health risk behaviors may be reinforced within the peer context

Sex as a Moderator of Adolescents\u27 Weight Loss Treatment Outcomes

Purpose: Weight loss treatments targeting adolescents often occur in mixed-sex contexts and produce variable outcomes. Sex considerations may be of particular importance, especially given differences in social relating. This study aggregated data from two randomized controlled trials of a peer-enhanced intervention compared with a standard cognitive-behavioral weight loss intervention to test the hypothesis that adolescent girls may demonstrate greater benefit than boys from a peer-enhanced weight loss intervention. Methods: Participants were 193 adolescents with overweight/obesity (age M = 14.4 years, standard deviation = .99) from two randomized clinical trials comparing a peer-enhanced intervention with an active cognitive-behavioral weight loss intervention. Adolescents\u27 percent over body mass index (percent greater than the 50th percentile for age and sex) was measured at baseline, end of treatment, and approximately 6 months post treatment. Multilevel modeling was used to test hypotheses. Results: Findings suggested different weight change trajectories from baseline to end of treatment, and from end of treatment to follow-up. On average, all participants demonstrated weight loss from baseline to end of treatmentm and there was evidence that adolescent boys in the peer-enhanced condition may have benefited the most. On average, weight was maintained from end of treatment to follow-up. Conclusion: Adolescent males may particularly benefit from weight loss interventions that incorporate a team component to supervised physical activity

The Role of Craving in Emotional and Uncontrolled Eating

This study presents a novel application of the cognitive processing model of alcohol craving (CPMA) from the addictions field to the role of food craving in the well-established restrained eating–overeating relationship associated with binge eating disorder (BED). A community sample (N = 1058, ages 18-66) completed an online survey assessing four core domains: restrained eating, trait food craving, uncontrolled eating, and emotional eating. In accordance with the CPMA, food craving emerged as a significant indirect effect of the association between restrained eating and both uncontrolled and emotional eating. Gender did not significantly moderate any direct or indirect associations, suggesting that gender may not change the pattern of association between restrained eating and different facets of overeating. Results suggest that treatments targeting binge eating behaviors may benefit from 1) explicitly addressing the activation of food craving rather than concentrating on reducing restrained eating and 2) recognizing that food craving may be an important gender-neutral target with the potential to reduce binge and overeating behaviors. Future research should extend these preliminary findings by examining the application of the CPMA to eating behaviors while jointly investigating antecedents and contextual factors