The interplay between friendship quality and emotion regulation in the prediction of weight-related concerns among adolescent girls

<p>Adolescent girls are especially vulnerable to weight-related concerns such as body dissatisfaction, disordered eating, and body surveillance. These issues are often linked to difficulties in emotion regulation (ER) and the quality of friendships. This study explored how ER and friendship quality, both independently and interactively, predict these weight-related issues. A sample of 106 girls aged 11–21 completed questionnaires on ER, friendship quality, body dissatisfaction, objectified body consciousness, and disordered eating behaviors. Results from hierarchical regression analyses showed that greater ER difficulties were significantly associated with increased body dissatisfaction, emotional eating, and restrained eating. Additionally, negative friendship quality predicted emotional eating. Interaction effects revealed that friendship discord could either exacerbate or buffer the effects of ER difficulties on restraint eating and objectified body consciousness. These findings highlight the roles of interpersonal (friendship) and intrapersonal (emotion regulation) factors in understanding adolescent girls’ vulnerability to weight-related issues and inform potential interventions.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2025

Author dc:creator

• Ganesan Shanthi, Vasavi

Contributors dc:contributor

• Chong Man Chow, Ph.D.
• Eamonn Arble, Ph.D.

• friendship
• body dissatisfaction
• eating behaviors
• emotion regulation
• Clinical Psychology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.emich.edu/theses/1316

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.emich.edu:theses-2647