Sequentially mediated effects of weight-related self-stigma and psychological distress in the association between perceived weight stigma and food addiction among Taiwanese university students: A cross-sectional study.
Po-Ching Huang, Chiu-Hsiang Lee, Mark D Griffiths, Kerry S O'Brien, Yi-Ching Lin, Wan Ying Gan, Wai Chuen Poon, Ching-Hsia Hung, Kuo-Hsin Lee, Chung-Ying Lin
Author Information
Po-Ching Huang: Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 1, University Rd., East Dist., Tainan, 701401, Taiwan.
Chiu-Hsiang Lee: Department of Nursing, Chung Shan Medical University, No. 110, Sec. 1, Jianguo N. Rd., South Dist., Taichung, 402306, Taiwan.
Mark D Griffiths: International Gaming Research Unit, Psychology Department, Nottingham Trent University, 50 Shakespeare Street, Nottingham, NG1 4FQ, UK.
Kerry S O'Brien: School of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts, Monash University, 20 Chancellors Walk, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia.
Yi-Ching Lin: Department of Early Childhood and Family Education, National Taipei University of Education, No. 134, Sec. 2, Heping E. Rd., Da'an Dist., Taipei, 106320, Taiwan. ylin11@mail.ntue.edu.tw.
Wan Ying Gan: Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Wai Chuen Poon: Sunway University Business School, Sunway University, Selangor Darul Ehsan, No. 5, Jalan Universiti, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia.
Ching-Hsia Hung: Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 1, University Rd., East Dist., Tainan, 701401, Taiwan.
Kuo-Hsin Lee: Department of Emergency Medicine, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, No.1, Yida Rd, Yanchao District, Kaohsiung City, 824, Taiwan. peter1055@gmail.com.
Chung-Ying Lin: Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 1, University Rd., East Dist., Tainan, 701401, Taiwan. cylin36933@gmail.com.
BACKGROUND: Weight-related stigma has negative physiological and psychological impacts on individuals' quality of life. Stigmatized individuals may experience higher psychological distress and therefore increase the potential risk to develop obesity and/or food addiction. The present study examined the associations and mediated effect between perceived weight stigma, weight-related self-stigma, and psychological distress in explaining food addiction among Taiwanese university students. METHODS: All participants (n = 968) completed an online survey which included the Perceived Weight Stigma Questionnaire, Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire, Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-21, and Yale Food Addiction Scale Version 2. RESULTS: After controlling for demographic variables, significant associations were found in the paths from (1) perceived weight stigma to weight-related self-stigma ([Formula: see text] = 0.23), psychological distress ([Formula: see text] = 0.35), and food addiction ([Formula: see text] = 0.23); (2) weight-related self-stigma to psychological distress ([Formula: see text] = 0.52) and food addiction ([Formula: see text] = 0.59); and (3) psychological distress to food addiction ([Formula: see text] = 0.59) (all p-values < 0.001). The mediation model showed the sequential mediated effect of weight-related self-stigma and psychological distress in the association between perceived weight stigma and food addiction. CONCLUSIONS: The results provide novel insights that weight-related self-stigma and psychological distress sequentially mediated the relationship between perceived weight stigma and food addiction among Taiwanese university students. The findings of the present study could be implemented into interventions that aim to reduce food addiction derived from weight-related stigma. Future studies should consider group analysis to consider confounding factors or other populations to provide more evidence regarding the mechanism of weight-related stigma.
