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Trajectories of Body Dissatisfaction and Dietary Restriction in Early Adolescent Girls: A Latent Class Growth Analysis

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Abstract

Clarifying the trajectories of body image and eating concerns in adolescents is critical. We examined longitudinal patterns of development of body dissatisfaction and dietary restriction among early adolescent girls within a sociocultural framework. A sample of 259 school girls (M age = 12.76 years, SD = 0.44) reported on sociocultural influences, body dissatisfaction and dietary restriction at baseline, 8, and 14 months. A subsample provided height and weight. Analyses identified four trajectories of body dissatisfaction: low, moderate-increasing, moderate-decreasing, and high. Three trajectories of dietary restriction emerged: low, moderate, and high. Baseline and 8-month sociocultural variables and BMI differed between the trajectories. A subgroup of girls displays high levels of body image and eating concerns by early adolescence. Sociocultural variables influence these trajectories.

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Author Contributions

SAM and SJP designed and conducted the data collection, CD participated in the data collection, RR conceived of the present study, conducted the analyses and drafted the manuscript; MM participated in the analyses and interpretation of the data; SJP, SAM, CD and MM helped to draft the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Psychology, 404 INV, Northeastern University, 360, Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Rachel F. Rodgers

  2. Laboratoire de Stress Traumatique, EA 4560, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France

    Rachel F. Rodgers

  3. School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia

    Siân A. McLean, Mathew Marques, Candice J. Dunstan & Susan J. Paxton

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  1. Rachel F. Rodgers
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  2. Siân A. McLean
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  5. Susan J. Paxton
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Correspondence to Rachel F. Rodgers.

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Rodgers, R.F., McLean, S.A., Marques, M. et al. Trajectories of Body Dissatisfaction and Dietary Restriction in Early Adolescent Girls: A Latent Class Growth Analysis. J Youth Adolescence 45, 1664–1677 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-015-0356-3

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