Abstract
Objective: To assess how sociodemographic and activity behaviors contribute to adolescent body mass index (BMI). Methods: One hundred and thirteen adolescents (M = 17 years; 42% Caucasian, 56% African American) were assessed on BMI. Teens reported activity levels and caregivers reported socioeconomic status (SES). Results: Adolescents from lower SES backgrounds, and from minority groups, had higher BMI (r = -.26, p < .01 and t(110) = -3.01, p < .01). Formal statistical mediation tests revealed that sedentary behaviors significantly mediated the association between SES and BMI (Z = 2.31, p < .05), whereas physical activity significantly mediated the race-BMI association (Z = 2.32, p < .05). Conclusions: Interventions targeting teen BMI could benefit by aiming to decrease sedentary behavior in low SES teens and increase physical activity in teens from minority groups.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 250-259 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Journal of pediatric psychology |
| Volume | 32 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Apr 2007 |
Funding
This research was supported by the William T. Grant Foundation, the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, and the Human Early Learning Partnership. The authors thank Elizabeth Glass, Louise Berdan, David Langer, Lauren Mueller, Yvonne Raphaelson, and Rebecca Saliman for help with data collection.
Keywords
- Adolescence
- BMI
- Physical activity
- Sedentary behaviors
- Sociodemographics
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
- Developmental and Educational Psychology