Longitudinal Associations between Teasing and Health-related Quality of Life among Treatment-seeking Overweight Youth

Abstract

Overweight and obese children and adolescents frequently experience teasing. This investigation examined the longitudinal associations between teasing and pediatric health-related quality of life. Structural equation modeling was used to examine these associations in a sample of treatment-seeking overweight youth. Results from this study indicate that levels of teasing are inversely associated with quality of life, a correlation which remained stable over fifteen months. Complimenting the existing literature, study findings are suggestive of a directional relationship, with diminished quality of life predicting subsequent higher levels of teasing. This finding contrasts with previous cross-sectional studies which have inferred an opposite predictive direction (i.e., teasing predicts subsequent quality of life). Study results revealed no significant differences in this association for youths participating in an intervention which briefly addressed teasing when compared to controls. Results are suggestive of the potential for interventions designed to improve health-related quality of life to reduce teasing experiences for overweight youth.