The impact of social appearance anxiety and peer bullying on eating behaviors in Syrian migrant adolescents

BACKGROUND: Migration may increase psychosocial vulnerability in adolescents and affect body image and eating behaviors through appearance-based social interactions. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effects of social appearance anxiety, teasing perception and sociodemographic characteristics on the eating behaviors of Syrian migrant adolescents. METHODS: A total of 600 adolescents aged 12-18 residing in the Reyhanlı district of Hatay, Türkiye participated (mean age: 15.94 ± 1.48 years; 47.2% female and 52.8% male). Data were collected using the Social Appearance Anxiety Scale, the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire for Adolescents, and the Perception of Teasing Scale, along with anthropometric measurements. RESULTS: Female adolescents had significantly higher levels of social appearance anxiety than males. Social appearance anxiety was negatively associated with both emotional and uncontrolled eating. Adolescents who were dissatisfied with their physical appearance had higher emotional eating scores (β= -0.109, p < 0.05). A lower number of main meals was significantly associated with increased emotional, uncontrolled, and cognitive restraint eating behaviors (p < 0.01). Likewise, not consuming snacks was linked to higher emotional and uncontrolled eating tendencies (p < 0.01). Additionally, lower maternal education level was related to unhealthy eating behaviors. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that eating behaviors in migrant adolescents are shaped not only by physiological needs but also by psychosocial and environmental factors. Interventions should focus on promoting positive body image, regular eating patterns, and parental education, while school-based programs targeting peer bullying may help reduce psychosocial risks associated with disordered eating.