%0 Journal Article %J J Psychosom Res %D 2010 %T The association between obesity, depression, and educational attainment in women: the mediating role of body image dissatisfaction. %A Gavin, Amelia R %A Simon, Greg E %A Ludman, Evette J %K Adult %K Aged %K Body Image %K Body Weight %K Depression %K Depressive Disorder %K Educational Status %K Female %K Health Status %K Health Surveys %K Humans %K Logistic Models %K Middle Aged %K Obesity %K Prospective Studies %K Psychiatric Status Rating Scales %K Surveys and Questionnaires %K Women %X

OBJECTIVE: We examine the mediating role of body image dissatisfaction (BID) on the association between obesity and depression and the variation of this association as a function of years of education among a population-based sample of women aged 40-65 years.

METHODS: A series of sample-weighted logistic regression models were used to estimate the associations between obesity, BID, and depression, stratified by educational attainment. Data were obtained from a structured telephone interview of 4543 female health plan enrollees, including self-reported height and weight, the Patient Health Questionnaire assessment of depression, and a single-item measure of BID.

RESULTS: Among those with <16 years of education, in both the unadjusted and adjusted models, obesity and BID were significantly associated with depression. Similarly, among those with ≥ 16 years of education, obesity and BID were significantly associated with depression in the unadjusted models. However, in the adjusted model, only BID was associated with depression. A formal test for mediation suggests that the association between obesity and depression was mediated by BID regardless of level of education.

CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that BID-mediated the obesity-depression association. In addition, obesity and BID may be salient risk factors for depression among middle-aged women as a function of the level of education.

%B J Psychosom Res %V 69 %P 573-81 %8 2010 Dec %G eng %N 6 %R 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2010.05.001