Perkins Jessica M, Wesley Perkins H, Craig David W
Department of Health Policy, Harvard University, 14 Story St. 4th Floor, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA,
Prev Sci. 2015 Jan;16(1):70-9. doi: 10.1007/s11121-014-0458-2.
Previous research has revealed pervasive misperceptions of peer norms for a variety of behaviors among adolescents such as alcohol use, smoking, and bullying and that these misperceptions are predictors of personal behavior. Similarly, misperception of peer weight norms may be a pervasive and important risk factor for adolescent weight status. Thus, the comparative association of actual and perceived peer weight norms is examined in relation to personal weight status. Secondary school students in 40 middle and high schools (n = 40,328) were surveyed about their perceptions of the peer weight norm for same gender and grade within their school. Perceived norms were compared to aggregate self-reports of weight for these same groups. Overestimation of peer weight norms by more than 5 % occurred among 26 % of males and 20 % of females (by 22 and 16 lb on average, respectively). Underestimation occurred among 38 % of males as well as females (by 16 and 13 lb on average, respectively). Personal overweight status based on body mass index (BMI) was much more prevalent among respondents who overestimated peer weight norms as was personal underweight status among respondents who underestimated norms. Perception of the peer norm was the strongest predictor of personal BMI among all personal and school variables examined for both male and female students. Thus, reducing misperceived weight norms should be given more attention as a potential avenue for preventing obesity and eating disorders.
先前的研究表明，青少年对诸如饮酒、吸烟和欺凌等多种行为的同伴规范存在普遍误解，并且这些误解是个人行为的预测因素。同样，对同伴体重规范的误解可能是青少年体重状况的一个普遍且重要的风险因素。因此，研究了实际和感知到的同伴体重规范与个人体重状况的比较关联。对40所中学的中学生（n = 40328）进行了调查，询问他们对学校内同性别和同年级同伴体重规范的看法。将感知到的规范与这些相同群体的总体体重自我报告进行比较。26%的男性和20%的女性对同伴体重规范的高估超过了5%（平均分别高估22磅和16磅）。38%的男性和女性存在低估情况（平均分别低估16磅和13磅）。在高估同伴体重规范的受访者中，基于体重指数（BMI）的个人超重状况更为普遍，而在低估规范的受访者中，个人体重过轻状况更为普遍。在对男女生进行调查的所有个人和学校变量中，对同伴规范的感知是个人BMI最强的预测因素。因此，作为预防肥胖和饮食失调的潜在途径，应更多地关注减少对体重规范的误解。
