The Impact of BMI on Self-Concept in Adolescents with Pubertal Gynecomastia
Introduction: Physiological changes in the body may result in anxiety and impaired self-concept during adolescence. Although temporary, pubertal gynecomastia (PG) may cause negative emotions that interrupt the development of self-concept by causing a physical appearance that does not fit the male ge...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Galenos Publishing House
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Güncel Pediatri |
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| Online Access: | https://www.guncelpediatri.com/articles/the-impact-of-bmi-on-self-concept-in-adolescents-with-pubertal-gynecomastia/doi/jcp.2025.67790 |
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| author | Nazan Kaymaz Özlem Kara Tolga Kasap Mehmet Erdem Uzun Hande Şirin |
| author_facet | Nazan Kaymaz Özlem Kara Tolga Kasap Mehmet Erdem Uzun Hande Şirin |
| author_sort | Nazan Kaymaz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Physiological changes in the body may result in anxiety and impaired self-concept during adolescence. Although temporary, pubertal gynecomastia (PG) may cause negative emotions that interrupt the development of self-concept by causing a physical appearance that does not fit the male gender. This paper aimed to identify whether the self-concept level of adolescents with PG is moderated by their anthropometrics.
Materials and Methods: This case-control study included adolescent males, with pubertal stage assessed using the Marshall and Tanner criteria. PG was diagnosed by palpation of a subareolar glandular disc. Anthropometric measurements were obtained by trained pediatric endocrinology clinic staff, and self-concept was evaluated using the Piers-Harris Children’s Self-Concept Scale (PHCSCS). To specify relationships correlation and regression analysis were examined.
Results: The study included 38 adolescents with PG and 61 age- and pubertal stage-matched controls. BMI was significantly higher in the PG group, and self-concept scores declined with increasing BMI (p=0.044; r=-0.437, p=0.006). PG subjects at Tanner Stage 3 were shorter than controls (p=0.03) and had lower happiness and behavior subscale scores (p=0.01; p=0.04). PG duration was negatively correlated with total self-concept (r=-0.400, p=0.013) and the subscales of happiness (r=-0.456), behavior (r=-0.334), and physical appearance (r=-0.354).
Conclusion: Adolescents with PG demonstrated lower self-concept, particularly in relation to higher BMI, shorter stature at mid-puberty, and prolonged symptom duration. These findings highlight the need for early psychosocial support in affected individuals. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-820dd1ca6f314d0ebe24a43ae40bc0c0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1308-6308 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Galenos Publishing House |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Güncel Pediatri |
| spelling | doaj-art-820dd1ca6f314d0ebe24a43ae40bc0c02025-08-22T11:59:39ZengGalenos Publishing HouseGüncel Pediatri1308-63082025-08-01232869110.4274/jcp.2025.67790The Impact of BMI on Self-Concept in Adolescents with Pubertal GynecomastiaNazan Kaymaz0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3962-4799Özlem Kara1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0915-5546Tolga Kasap2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1046-7638Mehmet Erdem Uzun3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4311-2670Hande Şirin4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2159-523Xİstinye University, Liv Hospital, Clinic of Pediatrics, İstanbul, TürkiyeUniversity of Health Science Türkiye, Bursa Yüksek İhtisas Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Pediatric Endocrinology, Bursa, TürkiyeÇanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Çanakkale, TürkiyeUniversity of Health Science Türkiye, Bursa Yüksek İhtisas Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Bursa, TürkiyeUniversity of Health Science Türkiye, Bursa Yüksek İhtisas Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Bursa, TürkiyeIntroduction: Physiological changes in the body may result in anxiety and impaired self-concept during adolescence. Although temporary, pubertal gynecomastia (PG) may cause negative emotions that interrupt the development of self-concept by causing a physical appearance that does not fit the male gender. This paper aimed to identify whether the self-concept level of adolescents with PG is moderated by their anthropometrics. Materials and Methods: This case-control study included adolescent males, with pubertal stage assessed using the Marshall and Tanner criteria. PG was diagnosed by palpation of a subareolar glandular disc. Anthropometric measurements were obtained by trained pediatric endocrinology clinic staff, and self-concept was evaluated using the Piers-Harris Children’s Self-Concept Scale (PHCSCS). To specify relationships correlation and regression analysis were examined. Results: The study included 38 adolescents with PG and 61 age- and pubertal stage-matched controls. BMI was significantly higher in the PG group, and self-concept scores declined with increasing BMI (p=0.044; r=-0.437, p=0.006). PG subjects at Tanner Stage 3 were shorter than controls (p=0.03) and had lower happiness and behavior subscale scores (p=0.01; p=0.04). PG duration was negatively correlated with total self-concept (r=-0.400, p=0.013) and the subscales of happiness (r=-0.456), behavior (r=-0.334), and physical appearance (r=-0.354). Conclusion: Adolescents with PG demonstrated lower self-concept, particularly in relation to higher BMI, shorter stature at mid-puberty, and prolonged symptom duration. These findings highlight the need for early psychosocial support in affected individuals.https://www.guncelpediatri.com/articles/the-impact-of-bmi-on-self-concept-in-adolescents-with-pubertal-gynecomastia/doi/jcp.2025.67790adolescentpubertal gynecomastiabody mass indexbody heightself-concept |
| spellingShingle | Nazan Kaymaz Özlem Kara Tolga Kasap Mehmet Erdem Uzun Hande Şirin The Impact of BMI on Self-Concept in Adolescents with Pubertal Gynecomastia Güncel Pediatri adolescent pubertal gynecomastia body mass index body height self-concept |
| title | The Impact of BMI on Self-Concept in Adolescents with Pubertal Gynecomastia |
| title_full | The Impact of BMI on Self-Concept in Adolescents with Pubertal Gynecomastia |
| title_fullStr | The Impact of BMI on Self-Concept in Adolescents with Pubertal Gynecomastia |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Impact of BMI on Self-Concept in Adolescents with Pubertal Gynecomastia |
| title_short | The Impact of BMI on Self-Concept in Adolescents with Pubertal Gynecomastia |
| title_sort | impact of bmi on self concept in adolescents with pubertal gynecomastia |
| topic | adolescent pubertal gynecomastia body mass index body height self-concept |
| url | https://www.guncelpediatri.com/articles/the-impact-of-bmi-on-self-concept-in-adolescents-with-pubertal-gynecomastia/doi/jcp.2025.67790 |
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