Associations between friends' disordered eating and muscle-enhancing behaviors.

ABSTRACT: Dieting, unhealthy weight control and muscle-enhancing behaviors are common among adolescents: friends are a probable source of influence on these behaviors. The present study uses data provided by nominated friends to examine associations between friends' disordered eating and muscle-enhancing behaviors and participants' own behaviors in a diverse sample of American youth. Male and female adolescents (mean age = 14.4) completed surveys and identified their friends from a class roster; friends' survey data were then linked to each participant. Participants (N = 2126) who had at least one nominated friend were included in the analytic sample. Independent variables were created using the same weight control and muscle-enhancing behaviors reported by nominated friends, and were used in logist

SUBMITTER: Eisenberg ME 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3509792 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature