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Adolescent binge/purge and weight loss behaviors: associations with developmental assets.

Publication ,  Journal Article
French, SA; Leffert, N; Story, M; Neumark-Sztainer, D; Hannan, P; Benson, PL
Published in: J Adolesc Health
March 2001

PURPOSE: To study associations between binge/purge and weight loss behaviors and "developmental assets" among adolescent girls and boys. METHODS: The Search Institute's Profile of Student Life: Attitudes and Behaviors self-report questionnaire was administered to 48,264 girls and 47,131 boys in grades 6 through 12 at schools in 213 cities or towns across the United States. The 156-item questionnaire measured 40 "developmental assets," or protective factors associated with successful adolescent development. Developmental assets were examined using multiple logistic regression among students who reported binge/purge behaviors, weight loss behavior, both, or neither. RESULTS: Developmental assets related to positive identity were the strongest discriminators of binge/purge and weight loss behaviors in both girls and boys. Girls who reported binge/purge and weight loss behaviors were about half as likely to report feeling a sense of purpose [odds ratio (OR) = 0.45, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.40, 0.50] and high self-esteem (OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.49, 0.61), compared with girls not reporting either of these behaviors. Among boys the ORs were: sense of purpose OR = 0.53 (95% CI = 0.46, 0.61) and self-esteem OR = 0.76 (95% CI = 0.65, 0.88). Assets related to values about abstinence from alcohol, drugs, or sex ("restraint") were also significant correlates. Girls and boys who reported these values were less likely to report binge/purge and weight loss behaviors, compared with those who did not report these values (girls: OR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.50, 0.63; boys: OR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.70, 0.97). CONCLUSIONS: Internal assets such as self-esteem, sense of purpose, and values related to abstinence from alcohol and sex appear to be protective against unhealthy eating behaviors and may reflect a general resilience that buffers against a broad range of health risk behaviors.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Adolesc Health

DOI

ISSN

1054-139X

Publication Date

March 2001

Volume

28

Issue

3

Start / End Page

211 / 221

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Weight Loss
  • United States
  • Social Values
  • Social Support
  • Sex Factors
  • Self Concept
  • Risk
  • Public Health
  • Psychology, Adolescent
  • Personality Development
 

Citation

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ICMJE
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French, S. A., Leffert, N., Story, M., Neumark-Sztainer, D., Hannan, P., & Benson, P. L. (2001). Adolescent binge/purge and weight loss behaviors: associations with developmental assets. J Adolesc Health, 28(3), 211–221. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1054-139x(00)00166-x
French, S. A., N. Leffert, M. Story, D. Neumark-Sztainer, P. Hannan, and P. L. Benson. “Adolescent binge/purge and weight loss behaviors: associations with developmental assets.J Adolesc Health 28, no. 3 (March 2001): 211–21. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1054-139x(00)00166-x.
French SA, Leffert N, Story M, Neumark-Sztainer D, Hannan P, Benson PL. Adolescent binge/purge and weight loss behaviors: associations with developmental assets. J Adolesc Health. 2001 Mar;28(3):211–21.
French, S. A., et al. “Adolescent binge/purge and weight loss behaviors: associations with developmental assets.J Adolesc Health, vol. 28, no. 3, Mar. 2001, pp. 211–21. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/s1054-139x(00)00166-x.
French SA, Leffert N, Story M, Neumark-Sztainer D, Hannan P, Benson PL. Adolescent binge/purge and weight loss behaviors: associations with developmental assets. J Adolesc Health. 2001 Mar;28(3):211–221.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Adolesc Health

DOI

ISSN

1054-139X

Publication Date

March 2001

Volume

28

Issue

3

Start / End Page

211 / 221

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Weight Loss
  • United States
  • Social Values
  • Social Support
  • Sex Factors
  • Self Concept
  • Risk
  • Public Health
  • Psychology, Adolescent
  • Personality Development