Relationship between body mass index and quality of life among Malaysian young adults: sequential mediated effects of perceived weight stigma and weight-related self-stigma

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Gan, WY, Huang, Y-T, Hou, W-L, Tung, SEH, Poon, WC, Siaw, Y-L, Bevan, N, Griffiths, MD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8880-6524, Chen, J-S, Lin, I-C, Huang, R-Y and Lin, C-Y, 2025. Relationship between body mass index and quality of life among Malaysian young adults: sequential mediated effects of perceived weight stigma and weight-related self-stigma. Journal of Health Psychology. ISSN 1359-1053

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/13591053251358460

Abstract

The present cross-sectional study examined how perceived weight stigma (PWS) and weight-related self-stigma (WRSS) may sequentially mediate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and quality of life (QoL) among Malaysian young adults. Malaysian university students (n = 1044; mean age = 21.3 years) self-reported their height/weight and completed the Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire, Perceived Weight Stigma Scale, and World Health Organization Quality of Life–BREF. Sequential mediation analyses assessed direct/indirect effects of BMI on QoL domains (including physical, psychological, social, and environmental) and overall QoL, with PWS and WRSS as mediators. Higher BMI (i) positively related to PWS (r = 0.150, p < 0.01) and WRSS (r = 0.469, p < 0.01); and (ii) negatively related to psychological QoL (r = −0.105, p < 0.01) and general health (r = −0.148, p < 0.01). Sequential mediation analyses showed significantly negative indirect effects of BMI on all QoL domains via PWS and WRSS. Therefore, PWS and WRSS are important factors in the relationship between BMI and QoL among Malaysian young adults.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Journal of Health Psychology
Creators:	Gan, W.Y., Huang, Y.-T., Hou, W.-L., Tung, S.E.H., Poon, W.C., Siaw, Y.-L., Bevan, N., Griffiths, M.D., Chen, J.-S., Lin, I.-C., Huang, R.-Y. and Lin, C.-Y.
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Date:	29 August 2025
ISSN:	1359-1053
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1177/13591053251358460 DOI 40879519 PubMed ID 2490657 Other
Rights:	Accepted for publication in Journal of Health Psychology. Reuse is restricted to non-commercial and no derivative uses.
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Jonathan Gallacher
Date Added:	02 Sep 2025 12:18
Last Modified:	02 Sep 2025 12:18
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/54273