The relationship between depression and self-esteem in obese children and adolescents

The present study examined whether obese youngsters show lower self-evaluations and more depressive symptoms in comparison with their nonobese peers. If depressive symptoms can be identified within the obese group, the question arises whether these symptoms can be explained by a negative self-concept. A total of 151 children and adolescents between 9 and 17 years (75 obese, 76 nonobese) and their parents completed measures concerning the presence of depressive symptoms, their perceived competencies, and behavior. Analyses revealed significantly lower self-evaluations for the obese youngsters on the athletic domain of the self-esteem. Regarding the global depression score as measured with a self-screening questionnaire, no overall difference between obese and nonobese children and adolescents was found. Parents of obese youngsters, however, reported significantly more emotional and behavioral disturbances with their children and adolescents. Regression analyses showed that 42% of the total variance of the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI; Kovacs, 1992) could be explained by the presence of low self-evaluations.