WORDS MATTER: IMPACTS OF FAMILY WEIGHT TEASING, PARENTAL ENCOURAGEMENT TO DIET, AND BODY WEIGHT PERCEPTION ON ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION

Abstract

Family weight teasing and parental encouragement to diet has been linked to numerous adverse outcomes such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and unhealthy weight control behaviors (UWCBs) which has also been linked to negative mental health outcomes--may also shape this relationship in significant ways. This paper explored the relationship between family weight teasing, paternal encouragement to diet, and maternal encouragement to diet and levels of anxiety and depression in a sample of emerging adults. It also examined BWP as a potential moderating variable in these relationships. Family weight teasing was found to be significantly associated with anxiety and depression when controlling for all other variables. Paternal encouragement to diet was linked to depression in correlational analyses. BWP was not found to moderate any of the relationships. Clinical implications and future research directions are discussed.