College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

Winter 3-21-2025

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Antonio Polo, PhD

Second Advisor

Jocelyn Carter, PhD

Abstract

Latina girls are at a high risk of depressive symptoms and self-injurious thoughts and behaviors. This study builds on the Perfectionism Social Disconnection Model to identify factors that may influence the development of these internalizing problems (Hewitt et al., 2006). Perceived pressure to be thin, perfectionistic self-presentation, and loneliness have all been linked to internalizing problems, including depressive symptoms in youth. This study focuses on Latina girls, specifically, and the ways that these variables combine to affect their well-being. This study highlights the relation between pressure to be thin and both depressive symptoms and self-injurious thoughts and behaviors and explores the mediating role of perfectionistic self-presentation and the moderating role of loneliness. Participants include 381 Latina 5th through 7th-grade girls (Mage = 11.2) drawn from eight Chicago Public Schools. Results showed that perfectionistic self-presentation significantly accounts for the relation between perceived pressure to be thin and both depressive symptoms (b = .05, SE = .01, p < .001, 95% CI [.03, .07]) and self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (b = .33, SE = .12, p < .001, 95% CI [.11, .57]). Loneliness moderates this mediational effect on depression (b = -.01, SE = .01, 95% CI [-.03, -.002]) as well as on self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (b = -.07, SE = .05, 95% CI [-.20, -.002]). However, contrary to the hypothesis, stronger mediation effects were found among those with lower loneliness. These results contribute to a deeper understanding of the unique challenges faced by Latina girls, particularly the ways in which social pressures and peer contexts in schools may influence their maladjustment.

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