Body-Image Dissatisfaction as a Predictor of Suicidal Ideation Among Korean Boys and Girls in Different Stages of Adolescence: A Two-Year Longitudinal Study

Abstract 

Purpose

To descriptively examine trends in body dissatisfaction and suicidal ideation during adolescence, and to investigate whether body dissatisfaction at an early stage (Time 1) predicts suicidal ideation at a later stage (Time 2) among boys and girls in different stages of adolescence (early and midadolescence), controlling for Time 1 of relevant variables, including suicidal ideation, depressed mood, and self-esteem.

Methods

Data were obtained from Korea Youth Panel Survey data sets for early adolescents (1380 boys and 1209 girls, Time 1 mean age 10 years) and midadolescents (1429 boys and 1437 girls, Time 1 mean age 15 years) and from follow-up surveys of the same individuals after 2 years. Multivariate logistic analyses were carried out to assess the relationship of Time 1 body dissatisfaction to Time 2 suicidal ideation.

Results

For both genders, body dissatisfaction and suicidal ideation progressively increased until peaking at midadolescence and slightly decreasing thereafter. After controlling for psychological problems and other possible variables, body dissatisfaction prospectively predicted the risk of suicidal ideation in early-adolescent girls and midadolescent boys, but not in early-adolescent boys or midadolescent girls.

Conclusions

The results underscore that programs aimed at adolescents with body dissatisfaction should contain different material according to their gender and stage of adolescence. Such differential interventions may reduce suicide risk in adolescents.

Keywords: Body dissatisfaction, Different stages of adolescence, Gender, Suicidal ideation