Weight-Based Teasing, Internalizing and Externalizing Behavioral Problems in Adolescents.

Kainaat Yousaf, Afsheen Masood, Aqsa Abdual Gaffar, and Aiza Javaid

Abstract

This research aimed to investigate the relationship between weight-based teasing and internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems in adolescents. This is a cross-sectional study, using a non-probability purposive sampling strategy. A total of 200 educated adolescents were sampled, with ages ranging from 11-19 years. Weight-based teasing was positively correlated with internalizing behavioral problems (r = .80**, p < .01), and weight-based teasing was positively predicting internalizing behavioral problems (β = .84**, p < .01). Gender and institute affiliation differences were also found (p < .01). The findings suggest that an increase in weight-based teasing is associated with increased internalizing behavioral problems in adolescents. Females exhibited more internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems as compared to males, whereas private institutes have more internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems as compared to government institutes. This study highlights the need for gender and context-specific interventions to mitigate the negative impact of weight-based teasing on adolescents' mental health.