Prospective Associations of Appearance-Related Teasing With Eating Disorder Psychopathology, Eating-Related Psychosocial Impairment, and Psychological Distress in Chinese Adults: Both Teasing Victimization and Perpetration Matter

Objective: This study examined prospective associations of weight and muscularity teasing, including both victimization and perpetration, with thinness- and muscularity-oriented eating disorder (ED) psychopathology, eating-related psychosocial impairment, and psychological distress. Method: An online sample of 799 Chinese adults (400 men and 399 women) participated in this longitudinal study with two waves of data collection at baseline (T1) and 6 months later (T2). Analyses were conducted separately by gender. Univariable and multivariable longitudinal analyses based on linear regressions were used to examine the prospective links between weight and muscularity teasing experiences at T1 and outcome variables at T2, adjusting for covariates and outcome variables at T1. Results: Univariable analyses revealed that, for both men and women, all teasing experiences at T1 (except for muscularity teasing perpetration in men) were prospectively associated with one or more outcome variables at T2. Multivariable analyses revealed that for men, weight and muscularity teasing victimization at T1 were independently linked to greater eating-related psychosocial impairment and/or psychological distress at T2. For women, weight teasing perpetration at T1 was independently linked to higher thinness-oriented ED psychopathology and greater psychological distress at T2. Discussion: Findings suggest that both victimization and perpetration of weight and muscularity teasing were prospectively associated with one or more outcome variables, including ED psychopathology, eating-related psychosocial impairment, and psychological distress. Future research and interventions should address both victimization and perpetration in appearance-related teasing to enhance our understanding and mitigate its adverse effects on eating behaviors and mental health.