Reciprocal relations between body satisfaction and self-esteem: A large 13-year prospective study of adolescents

Lars Wichstrøm; Tilmann von Soest

doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2015.12.003

Reciprocal relations between body satisfaction and self-esteem: A large 13-year prospective study of adolescents

J Adolesc. 2016 Feb:47:16-27. doi: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2015.12.003. Epub 2015 Dec 20.

Authors

Lars Wichstrøm¹, Tilmann von Soest²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway. Electronic address: lars.wichstrom@svt.ntnu.no.
² Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway; Norwegian Social Research (NOVA), Norway.

PMID: 26713411
DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2015.12.003

Abstract

Previous research has demonstrated that body satisfaction and self-esteem are highly correlated in adolescence, but reasons are poorly understood. We tested three explanations: (i) the two constructs are actually one; (ii) the correlation is explained by a third factor; (iii) there are prospective relationships between body satisfaction and self-esteem. A population based sample of Norwegian adolescents (n = 3251) was examined four times over a 13-year period. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that body satisfaction and self-esteem were separate constructs and the correlation between them was not attenuated when adjusting for 3rd variables. Autoregressive cross-lagged analysis showed reciprocal relations between body satisfaction and self-esteem. The prospective relationship between body satisfaction during adolescence and self-esteem in late adolescence and emerging adulthood was stronger than at later stages.

Keywords: Adolescent; Body satisfaction; Prospective; Reciprocal; Self-esteem.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Body Image / psychology*
Child
Female
Humans
Male
Norway
Prospective Studies
Psychology, Adolescent
Self Concept*
Young Adult