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Smoking Behaviour and Dietary Restraint in Young Adolescent Women: The Role of Physical Self-Perceptions

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Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relationship among BMI, smoking consumption, dietary restraint, smoking to control weight, physical self-perception and self-esteem in young female adolescents.

Methods: 702 grade 9 students (14–15 yrs old) completed self-reported validated measures in classroom settings.

Results: 26.7 % of students had smoked in the last 30 days. Cigarette consumption was low with only 13% smoking one or more cigarettes a day. MANOVA revealed smokers had higher dietary restraint and lower perceptions of physical appearance, conditioning, and self-esteem. A similar pattern emerged for those girls classified as using smoking to control weight. Multiple regression found dietary restraint was predicted by higher BMI, and lower body appearance and self-esteem.

Conclusions: The data provided converging evidence that girls with low self-perceptions are more likely to engage in health-compromising behaviours. Smoking behaviours and dietary restraint were also linked. However, the small effect sizes for smoking behaviours warrants caution.

Résumé

Objectif: Étudier le lien entre l’IMC, la consommation de tabac, les restrictions alimentaires, le tabagisme comme méthode de contrôle du poids, l’image corporelle et l’estime de soi chez les jeunes adolescentes.

Méthode: 702 élèves de 9e année (14 à 15 ans) ont rempli un questionnaire autoadministré en classe.

Résultats: 26,7 % des élèves avaient fumé au cours des 30 jours précédents. Cette consommation était faible: seules 13 % des répondantes avaient fumé quotidiennement une cigarette ou plus. Une analyse de variance à plusieurs variables a révélé que les fumeuses s’imposaient des restrictions alimentaires plus élevées et avaient des perceptions plus négatives de leur apparence physique et de leur conditionnement et une moindre estime de soi. Nous avons dégagé une tendance semblable chez les filles disant fumer pour contrôler leur poids. Par régression multiple, nous avons constaté que les restrictions alimentaires s’accompagnaient d’un IMC supérieur et d’une apparence physique et d’une estime de soi inférieures.

Conclusions: Les données tendent à montrer que les filles qui ont une piètre image corporelle sont plus susceptibles d’adopter des comportements nuisibles pour la santé. Le tabagisme et les restrictions alimentaires seraient également liés. Toutefois, la faible ampleur de l’effet du tabagisme incite à la prudence.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Peter Crocker

  2. University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada

    Nanette Kowalski, Kent Kowalski, Karen Chad, Louise Humbert & Shannon Forrester

Authors
  1. Peter Crocker
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  2. Nanette Kowalski
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  3. Kent Kowalski
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  4. Karen Chad
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  5. Louise Humbert
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  6. Shannon Forrester
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Correspondence to Peter Crocker.

Additional information

This research was supported by a grant from the Saskatchewan Heart & Stroke Foundation

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Crocker, P., Kowalski, N., Kowalski, K. et al. Smoking Behaviour and Dietary Restraint in Young Adolescent Women: The Role of Physical Self-Perceptions. Can J Public Health 92, 428–432 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404533

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