Domestic violence and body image dissatisfaction among adolescents in the Bolsa Família Program treated at a basic health unit

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between physical and psychological family violence against adolescents and dissatisfaction with body image. METHODS: This study assessed dissatisfaction with body image using the Body Area Scale ; psychological violence against adolescents using the Psychological Violence Scale against Adolescents; and physical violence between parents and adolescents using the Conflict Tactics Scales Form R (CTS-1). A total of 201 adolescents aged 10 to 19 years enrolled in a Family Assistance Program of a Health Center in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were analyzed. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to estimate associations between family violence (physical and psychological) and dissatisfaction with body image. The associations between the variables were expressed as odds ratios and their respective confidence intervals (95%) estimated via logistic regression. RESULTS: Psychological violence was associated with body image dissatisfaction only for female adolescents (OR = 4.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.37 to 12.86). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that it is important to implement education and health policies to inform the public about the harmful effects of psychological violence during adolescence.