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Peer Victimization in Overweight Adolescents and Its Effect on Their Self-Esteem and Peer Difficulties

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  • David Álvarez-García

    (Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Plaza Feijóo, s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Spain)

  • Andrea Núñez

    (Department of Psychology, University of Almería. Ctra, Sacramento s/n, 04120 Almería, Spain)

  • María del Carmen Pérez-Fuentes

    (Department of Psychology, University of Almería. Ctra, Sacramento s/n, 04120 Almería, Spain)

  • José Carlos Núñez

    (Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Plaza Feijóo, s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Spain
    Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Technical and Artistic University of Paraguay, Mayor Sebastián Bullo, s/n, Asunción 1628, Paraguay)

Abstract

This study has three objectives: to examine whether adolescents who perceive themselves as overweight differ from others in terms of offline victimization at school, cybervictimization, self-esteem, and difficulties relating to peers; to examine the possible effects of offline and cybervictimization on self-esteem and difficulties relating to peers; and to examine the possible moderating role of perceiving oneself as overweight on those effects. Previously validated questionnaires were applied to a sample of 3145 adolescents in Asturias (Spain). Descriptive, inferential, correlational, and structural equation analyses were performed. Adolescents who perceived themselves as overweight reported being victims of both offline victimization and most forms of cybervictimization to a greater extent than those who did not perceive themselves as overweight. They also reported lower self-esteem and more peer difficulties (shyness or social anxiety). In both groups of adolescents, victimization and cybervictimization were correlated with each other, both types of victimization had direct, negative effects on self-esteem, and self-esteem in turn had a direct, negative effect on peer difficulties. Furthermore, offline victimization had a direct, positive effect on peer difficulties. Perceiving oneself as overweight moderated the effect of self-esteem on peer difficulties. In adolescents perceiving themselves as overweight, low self-esteem was a stronger risk factor of peer difficulties than in the rest of the adolescents. With high overall self-esteem there were no significant differences in peer difficulties between the adolescents perceiving themselves as overweight and the rest of the adolescents.

Suggested Citation

  • David Álvarez-García & Andrea Núñez & María del Carmen Pérez-Fuentes & José Carlos Núñez, 2019. "Peer Victimization in Overweight Adolescents and Its Effect on Their Self-Esteem and Peer Difficulties," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2019:i:1:p:16-:d:299293
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rasa Jankauskiene & Migle Baceviciene, 2019. "Body Image Concerns and Body Weight Overestimation Do Not Promote Healthy Behaviour: Evidence from Adolescents in Lithuania," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-14, March.
    2. José Antonio Piqueras & Victoria Soto-Sanz & Jesús Rodríguez-Marín & Carlos García-Oliva, 2019. "What is the Role of Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms in Adolescent Suicide Behaviors?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-13, July.
    3. Mingli Liu & Lang Wu & Qingsen Ming, 2015. "How Does Physical Activity Intervention Improve Self-Esteem and Self-Concept in Children and Adolescents? Evidence from a Meta-Analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(8), pages 1-17, August.
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