Trajectories of body dissatisfaction among South Korean youth: Findings from a nationally representative sample

The present study aimed to identify qualitatively different classes of growth trajectories of body dissatisfaction and to investigate the antecedents associated with the classes. The survey included a nationally representative sample of 2844 Korean children who started Grade 4 (younger cohort) and 3449 adolescents who began Grade 8 (older cohort) at baseline. Participants completed self-report surveys across five or six measurement periods separated by 1 year each. General growth mixture modeling was used and results revealed several distinct longitudinal patterns. Findings from this study clearly suggest the importance of early intervention efforts. Interventions aimed at boosting autonomy may be valuable in reducing body dissatisfaction among children. The findings also highlight the critical importance of parent–child connectedness and friendship closeness in the success of the intervention.