Author:
Huang Po-Ching,Lee Chiu-Hsiang,Griffiths Mark D.,O’Brien Kerry S.,Lin Yi-Ching,Gan Wan Ying,Poon Wai Chuen,Hung Ching-Hsia,Lee Kuo-Hsin,Lin Chung-Ying
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Weight-related stigma has negative physiological and psychological impacts on individuals’ quality of life. Stigmatized individuals may experience higher psychological distress and therefore increase the potential risk to develop obesity and/or food addiction. The present study examined the associations and mediated effect between perceived weight stigma, weight-related self-stigma, and psychological distress in explaining food addiction among Taiwanese university students.
Methods
All participants (n = 968) completed an online survey which included the Perceived Weight Stigma Questionnaire, Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire, Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-21, and Yale Food Addiction Scale Version 2.
Results
After controlling for demographic variables, significant associations were found in the paths from (1) perceived weight stigma to weight-related self-stigma ($$\beta$$
β
= 0.23), psychological distress ($$\beta$$
β
= 0.35), and food addiction ($$\beta$$
β
= 0.23); (2) weight-related self-stigma to psychological distress ($$\beta$$
β
= 0.52) and food addiction ($$\beta$$
β
= 0.59); and (3) psychological distress to food addiction ($$\beta$$
β
= 0.59) (all p-values < 0.001). The mediation model showed the sequential mediated effect of weight-related self-stigma and psychological distress in the association between perceived weight stigma and food addiction.
Conclusions
The results provide novel insights that weight-related self-stigma and psychological distress sequentially mediated the relationship between perceived weight stigma and food addiction among Taiwanese university students. The findings of the present study could be implemented into interventions that aim to reduce food addiction derived from weight-related stigma. Future studies should consider group analysis to consider confounding factors or other populations to provide more evidence regarding the mechanism of weight-related stigma.
Funder
Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Behavioral Neuroscience,Psychiatry and Mental health,Nutrition and Dietetics
Cited by
4 articles.
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