Weight- and race-based bullying: Health associations among urban adolescents. (April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rosenthal, Lisa; Earnshaw, Valerie A; Carroll-Scott, Amy; Henderson, Kathryn E; Peters, Susan M; McCaslin, Catherine; Ickovics, Jeannette R
• Is Part Of: Journal of health psychology. Volume 20:Number 4(2015:Apr.)
• Page Start: 401
• Page End: 412
• Publication Date: 2015-04
• Subjects: bullying -- emotional symptoms -- health -- race -- weight; Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; 613.019
• DOI: 10.1177/1359105313502567
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-1053

Abstract

Stigma-based bullying is associated with negative mental and physical health outcomes. In a longitudinal study, surveys and physical assessments were conducted with mostly Black and Latino, socioeconomically disadvantaged, urban students. As hypothesized, greater weight- and race-based bullying each was significantly indirectly associated with increased blood pressure and body mass index, as well as decreased overall self-rated health across 2 years, through the mechanism of more negative emotional symptoms. Results support important avenues for future research on mechanisms and longitudinal associations of stigma-based bullying with health. Interventions are needed to reduce stigma-based bullying and buffer adolescents from adverse health effects.