Body, emotions, and hormones: A systematic review of body dissatisfaction, emotion regulation, and puberty in adolescence

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dc.contributor.authorMuscolino, Isabella
dc.contributor.authorDockray, Samantha
dc.contributor.authorDempsey, Maria
dc.contributor.authorTomei, Eleonora
dc.date.accessioned2026-09-07T15:10:01Z
dc.date.available2026-09-07T15:10:01Z
dc.date.issued2026-07-30
dc.description© 2026, the Author(s). Journal of Adolescence published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Foundation for Professionals in Services to Adolescents. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution‐NonCommercial‐NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non‐commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.
dc.description.abstractObjective: Body dissatisfaction often arises from a discrepancy between perceived and ideal body images, posing a risk for psychological issues like depression and eating pathologies, particularly during adolescence. Puberty's rapid physical changes may exacerbate the feeling of dissatisfaction, additionally pubertal changes also influence cognitive processes, such as emotion regulation. This study aimed to map the relationships of puberty, emotion regulation, and body dissatisfaction to advance a developmentally informed theory of body dissatisfaction and enhance possibilities for future intervention. Method: Searches for English language publications between 2000 and 2025 were conducted in five databases (Ebsco, Jstor, Proquest, Sciencedirect, Scopus). After removal of duplicate records, a total of 3658 studies were identified. Studies were included if they involved participants aged 6–18 and addressed associations of at least two of: emotion regulation, body dissatisfaction, and puberty/pubertal hormones. Following title and abstract screening, 259 studies were full text screened, resulting in 103 studies suitable for data extraction. Results: Findings indicate a relationship between body dissatisfaction, emotion regulation, and puberty. The strength of the correlation varies, partly influenced by pubertal stage. Positive body image predicted positive emotional responses to pubertal onset, while increased negative affect was associated with greater body dissatisfaction. If pubertal development is more advanced at an earlier age, negative effects on psychological well-being persist into adolescence. Conclusion: This review highlights the need for a developmentally informed theoretical framework to understand how puberty can pre-empt or exacerbate body image concerns, particularly in the presence of emotion dysregulation. This systematic review provides preliminary evidence supporting an interplay between puberty, emotion regulation, and body dissatisfaction in adolescence.en
dc.format.extent38
dc.format.extent835687
dc.identifier.authororcidMuscolino, Isabella
dc.identifier.authororcidDockray, Samantha§0000-0002-0804-8362
dc.identifier.authororcidDempsey, Maria§0000-0002-7001-0568
dc.identifier.authororcidTomei, Eleonora
dc.identifier.citationMuscolino, I, Dockray, S, Dempsey, M & Tomei, E 2026, 'Body, emotions, and hormones: A systematic review of body dissatisfaction, emotion regulation, and puberty in adolescence', Journal of Adolescence, pp. 1-38. https://doi.org/10.1002/jad.70238
dc.identifier.doi10.1002/jad.70238
dc.identifier.endpage38
dc.identifier.issn0140-1971
dc.identifier.journaltitleJournal of Adolescence
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0002-7001-0568/work/226051371
dc.identifier.startpage1
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10468/19183
dc.identifier.urlhttps://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105045973693
dc.language.isoeng
dc.rightscc_by_nc_nd
dc.subjectAdolescence
dc.subjectAdolescent well-being
dc.subjectBody dissatisfaction
dc.subjectBody image
dc.subjectEmotion regulation
dc.subjectPubertal development
dc.subject[AppliedPsychology]
dc.subjectPediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health
dc.subjectSocial Psychology
dc.subjectDevelopmental and Educational Psychology
dc.subjectPsychiatry and Mental Health
dc.titleBody, emotions, and hormones: A systematic review of body dissatisfaction, emotion regulation, and puberty in adolescenceen
dc.typeReview article (Peer reviewed)
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