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

Objective: 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.