Journal Article

The Impact of Teasing on Children’s Body Image

Gullone, Eleonora, Kostanski, Marion

2007

Overview

Being teased about one's physical appearance in childhood has been found to have a strong impact on the way in which adolescent and adult women perceive their bodies. Teasing is also strongly related to self-esteem in children. However, little is known about the impact of teasing on the development of body image in childhood. Through a quantitative study of the experience of being teased and body image satisfaction in a group of 431 primary aged children, we examined the prevalence, type and impact of teasing on children's perceived body image satisfaction. The results of our study indicated that many children, especially those who are over or underweight experience being teased. This experience does have a negative impact on children's body image. This is especially significant for young girls and boys who are overweight. Underweight young boys also suffer negatively from this experience. It is important for parents and others to understand that what may be perceived as friendly banter with their children may not necessarily be innocuous. Further research exploring the concept and construct of teasing in childhood is warranted.

• Publisher: Springer,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Adolescents / Body / Body Composition / Body image / Body Weight / Boys / Bullying / Child Development / Child psychology / Childhood / Children / Children & youth / Elementary School Students / Experience / Females / Gender Differences / Girls / Grade 11 / Grade 6 / Human body / Incidence / Intermediate Grades / Males / Obesity / Peer Influence / Peer relationships / Perception / Personal appearance / Physical appearance / Primary groups / Psychology / Quantitative analysis / Satisfaction / Self Concept / Self Esteem / Self image / Selfesteem / Teasing / Underweight / Women / Young Children