The Role of Communication with Parents about Sexuality in the Dynamics of Body Image Satisfaction among Adolescents

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Title (croatian): Uloga komunikacije s roditeljima o seksualnosti u dinamici adolescentskog zadovoljstva tjelesnim izgledom
• Author: Luka Jurković https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0407-3832; student (Odsjek za sociologiju, Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Hrvatska); student (Department of Sociology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Croatia)
• Author: Goran Koletić https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0976-1685; Odsjek za sociologiju, Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Hrvatska; Department of Sociology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Croatia
• Author: Aleksandar Štulhofer https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5138-3644; Odsjek za sociologiju, Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Hrvatska; Department of Sociology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Croatia
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; (Department of Sociology)
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: SOCIAL SCIENCES; Sociology; Specific Sociologies

Abstract (english)

Body image dissatisfaction among adolescents is a risk factor in developing eating disorders, low self-esteem, and depression. Previous research pointed to a protective role of family communication and support when it comes to body image dissatisfaction. However, little is known about possible links between body image satisfaction and communication with parents about sexuality. The association between parent-adolescent communication about sex and adolescents’ sexual health has been predominantly explored cross-sectionally. The aim of this longitudinal study was to assess the temporal dynamics of the association between body image satisfaction and communication with parents about sexuality among adolescents. Data were collected using a panel-sample of 1,325 high-school sophomores recruited from 14 schools in the Croatian cities of Rijeka and Opatija. The study covered a period of 18 months using four data collection points. The associations were analysed by parallel latent growth curve modelling, an analytical method that enables the assessment of between-person differences over time by estimating within-person latent trajectories of change. The analyses revealed a positive association between communication with parents about sexuality and body image satisfaction at the initial point of analysis and over time, but only among female adolescents. The findings may be beneficial to educational and public health specialists, as well as to parents in improving the psychosocial well-being of adolescents.

Abstract (croatian)

Nezadovoljstvo tjelesnim izgledom u razdoblju adolescencije rizični je čimbenik za razvoj poremećaja hranjenja, niskog samopouzdanja i depresije. Dosadašnja istraživanja ukazuju na zaštitnu ulogu obiteljske komunikacije i podrške spram nezadovoljstva tjelesnim izgledom. Međutim, manje je poznato kakav je odnos između zadovoljstva tjelesnim izgledom i komunikacije s roditeljima o seksualnosti. Postojeći uvidi o povezanosti između obiteljske komunikacije o seksualnosti i seksualnog zdravlja adolescenata temelje se na transverzalnim studijama. Cilj ove studije longitudinalna je analiza povezanosti između zadovoljstva tjelesnim izgledom i komunikacije s roditeljima o seksualnosti među adolescentima. Podaci su prikupljeni metodom ankete na panel-uzorku od 1 325 učenika i učenica iz 14 srednjih škola grada Rijeke i Opatije u četiri točke mjerenja u razdoblju od 18 mjeseci. U svrhu analize povezanosti relevantnih indikatora korištena je analitička metoda paralelnog modeliranja latentnih krivulja rasta koja omogućuje procjenu interindividualnih razlika temeljem individualnih promjena unutar pojedinaca u promatranom vremenskom razdoblju. Utvrđena je pozitivna povezanost između komunikacije s roditeljima o seksualnosti i stupnja zadovoljstva tjelesnim izgledom i u početnoj točki analize i tijekom vremena, ali samo kod adolescentica. Nalazi ovog rada mogu pomoći edukacijskim i javnozdravstvenim stručnjacima, ali i roditeljima, u unaprjeđivanju psihosocijalne dobrobiti adolescenata.

• Keywords (english): adolescents; body image satisfaction; communication with parents about sexuality; parental support
• Keywords (croatian): adolescenti; zadovoljstvo tjelesnim izgledom; komunikacija s roditeljima o seksualnosti; roditeljska podrška
• Language: croatian
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: Revija za sociologiju
• Numbering: vol. 48, no. 3, pp. 275-296
• p-ISSN: 0350-154X
• e-ISSN: 1846-7954
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.5613/rzs.48.3.1
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:131:800588
• Publication: 2018
• Project: Number: 9221; Title (croatian): Prospektivno biopsihosocijalno istraživanje utjecaja seksualno eksplicitnih materijala na socijalizaciju i zdravlje mladih; Acronym: PROBIOPS SEM STUDY; Leader: Aleksandar Štulhofer; Jurisdiction: Croatia; Funding stream: IP
• Document URL: https://hrcak.srce.hr/217639
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2019-10-18 13:46:47