Sex Differences in Exercise Motivation and Body-Image Satisfaction among College Students

1998 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
pp. 723-732 ◽  
Author(s):  
Billy L. Smith ◽  
Priscilla Handley ◽  
Dee Ann Eldredge
Keyword(s):  
Body Image ◽  
Nursing Students ◽  
Body Dissatisfaction ◽  
Weight Control ◽  
Exercise Motivation ◽  
Body Image Satisfaction ◽  
Exercise Frequency ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Exercising Women ◽  
Reasons For Exercise

The current study was an expansion of one by Cash, Novy, and Grant in 1994, in which responses of 101 female nursing students were examined for associations between reasons for exercise, frequency of exercise, and body-image satisfaction. In the current study, 78 male and 100 female undergraduates between the ages of 18 and 25 years ( M = 21.2, SD=1.9) from various majors completed a demographics/frequency of exercise survey, two body-assessment inventories, and the Reasons for Exercise Inventory of Silberstein, Striegel-Moore, Timko, and Rodin. Contrary to Cash, et al.'s findings, only health and fitness reasons were predictive of women's frequency of exercise, and women's dissatisfaction with specific bodily attributes was not significantly related to any reasons for exercising; however, like women in their sample, the current students who experienced more situational body dissatisfaction exercised for appearance and weight control. Sex comparisons indicated similar dissatisfaction with specific bodily attributes among men and women, but values were not significantly associated with any reasons for exercising. Women reported higher situational body dissatisfaction and exercising for appearance-related reasons more than men. Current participants may represent a more diverse group than previously tested, and the inventory's factor structure may not be generalizable to men and women.

scholarly journals Body Image Themes in Instagram Posts Using Hashtags #rd2be and #nursingstudent

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 244-244
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Metallinos-Katsaras ◽  
Christina Chan ◽  
Basema Habash ◽  
Elizabeth Siu
Keyword(s):  
Body Image ◽  
Nursing Students ◽  
Body Dissatisfaction ◽  
Disordered Eating ◽  
Body Satisfaction ◽  
Body Type ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Funding Sources ◽  
Female Bodies ◽  
Dietetic Students

Abstract Objectives Instagram is an image driven social media platform popular among young adults today. Research on young women suggests that unrealistic portrayals of female bodies may contribute to a poor body image and disordered eating behavior. Nutrition students may feel more pressure to appear thin and fit to lend credibility as a nutrition professional, putting them at higher risk for body dissatisfaction. This study assessed the frequency of body image themes in Instagram posts using the hashtag #rd2be, commonly used by dietetic students, compared to posts using the hashtag #nursingstudent, commonly used by nursing students. Methods A content analysis was conducted on all Instagram posts from randomly selected days in September 2018 and March 2019 that included one of the focal hashtags (#rd2be or #nursingstudent) and represented weekdays and weekends. Images, captions, and other hashtags were reviewed for body image aspects which included body type portrayed in images (thin, average, overweight, fit) and messages in captions and hashtags related to body dissatisfaction (weight, fatness, and muscle) and overall body acceptance. Chi-square was used to test differences in the prevalence of body image attributes between posts using the two hashtags. Results A total 2924 posts were reviewed (1204 with #rd2be and 1720 with #nursingstudent). Body image-related attributes were found in 11.4% of total posts and the prevalence differed between #rd2be posts (22.7%) and #nursingstudent posts (3.5%; P < .001). Posts using #rd2be had almost twice the prevalence of thin bodies (33.6% vs 18.8%, P < .001) and double the fit/muscular bodies (10.6% vs 4.4%; P = .001) than posts using #nursingstudent. More #nursingstudent posts displayed dissatisfaction with body weight (77.0% vs 37.0%, P < .001), body fat (39.3% vs 10.6%, P < .001), and muscle (49.2% vs 16.5%, P < .001) than posts using #rdtobe. Messages regarding overall body satisfaction were more prevalent in #rd2be posts than #nursingstudent (64.1% vs 18.0%, P < .001). Conclusions Findings suggest that while dietetics students may be more mindful of body image issues than nursing students, nutrition students overall may have a higher degree of body satisfaction. Further research is needed to explore possible connections with disordered eating practices. Funding Sources No funding sources.

Diabetes in Urban African Americans. Body Image, Satisfaction With Size, and Weight Change Attempts

1997 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 301-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynda A. Anderson ◽  
Gail R. Janes ◽  
David C. Ziemer ◽  
Lawrence S. Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Body Image ◽  
Body Size ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Body Image Satisfaction ◽  
Weight Group ◽  
Weight Category ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Adult Participants ◽  
Cognitive Perspectives ◽  
Gender Specific

We developed two gender specific sets of body-size silhouettes for evaluating body image in African Americans; 370 clinic-based adult participants with diabetes were queried on body image, perceptions, current efforts to change weight, and psychosocial variables. Comparisons were made by weight group and sex after classification as overweight or not overweight according to body mass index (BMI). Regardless of sex or weight category, perceived current body size was significantly related to BMI. Both men and women who were classified as overweight selected a desired body size that was significantly smaller than their perceived current size. Men, however, were more likely than women to select a larger desired size relative to their current size. Both men and women expected the dietitian to favor a body size smaller than their own desired size alld felt their designated important adult would choose the same desired size that they selected. Given the importance of cognitive perspectives in understanding weight management, it may be useful to incorporate body image measures into both observational and interventional studies.

Predictors of Self-Objectification in New Female Fitness Center Members

2012 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivanka Prichard ◽  
Marika Tiggemann
Keyword(s):  
Body Image ◽  
Disordered Eating ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Female Fitness ◽  
Negative Body Image ◽  
Fitness Center ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Exercising Women ◽  
Reasons For Exercise ◽  
Self Objectification

This study aimed to identify predictors of self-objectification among exercising women. A brief questionnaire incorporating demographic questions and measures of self-objectification was completed by 133 new female fitness center members (aged 16 to 68 years) upon joining a fitness center and 12 months later. Results demonstrated that young women who remained fitness center members had greater self-objectification at 12 months than women who ceased their memberships. Furthermore, both initial age and reasons for exercise predicted subsequent increases in self-objectification. Specifically, being younger, as well as being more motivated by appearance-related reasons to exercise, predicted self-objectification at 12 months. These findings suggest that young women exercising within the fitness center environment may be at an increased risk of developing self-objectification, one of the predictors of negative body image and disordered eating.

Reasons for Exercise Behavior Among American and Chinese College Women

2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zi Yan ◽  
Bonnie Berger ◽  
David Tobar ◽  
Bradley J. Cardinal
Keyword(s):  
College Women ◽  
Physical Attractiveness ◽  
Weight Control ◽  
Chinese Women ◽  
Exercise Behavior ◽  
Exercise Motivation ◽  
American Women ◽  
Exercise Participation ◽  
Reasons For Exercise

The exercise motivation of American and Chinese college women was examined. American women were found to exercise more for fitness, physical attractiveness, and weight control, and the Chinese women more for enjoyment. Women in different stages of exercise behavior expressed different reasons for exercise in terms of enjoyment, fitness, health, mood, and physical attractiveness. Focusing one’s attention on reasons such as enjoyment for Chinese women and fitness, physical attractiveness, and weight control for American women may be important in terms of exercise participation. The long-term exercisers expressed higher levels of motivation in terms of enjoyment, fitness, health, mood, and physical attractiveness.

Critical Factors of Social Physique Anxiety: Exercising and Body Image Satisfaction

2008 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 178-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayşe Altan Atalay ◽  
Tülin Gençöz
Keyword(s):  
Body Image ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
University Students ◽  
Weight Control ◽  
Control Method ◽  
Eating Attitudes ◽  
Anxiety Scale ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
Social Physique Anxiety ◽  
Body Image Satisfaction

AbstractThis study aimed to examine the critical roles of exercising and body image satisfaction on social physique anxiety (SPA) among female university students. For this aim, 118 female university students, 58 of whom exercised regularly, participated in the study. The Social Physique Anxiety Scale, Eating Attitudes Test, and Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale were administered to the participants; their dieting habits were also investigated. Results revealed that approximately half of the participants used at least one unhealthy weight control method in the past 6 months. An analysis of covariance indicated that, after controlling for the effects of abnormal eating behavior, participants who were dissatisfied with their body image and did not participate in a regular exercise activity experienced higher social physique anxiety. However, such a tendency was not found for social anxiety. Thus, these characteristics seem to be specific to social physique anxiety. It was concluded that individuals who have negative view of their appearance were more prone to experience SPA, and they might be avoiding exercise for self presentational purposes. Findings were discussed in the light of literature.

Understanding body image among adults in mid-late life: Considering romantic partners and depressive symptoms in the context of diabetes

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (10-11) ◽  
pp. 1707-1716
Author(s):  
Charlotte H Markey ◽  
Kristin J August ◽  
Jamie L Dunaev
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Body Image ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Body Dissatisfaction ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Romantic Partners ◽  
Late Adulthood ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Psychological Correlates ◽  
The Social

Although our bodies change as we age, there is limited research exploring body image among middle-aged and older adults. This study considered 70 adults with diabetes’ ( Mage = 60.01 years) body image and revealed relatively high levels of body dissatisfaction in this sample. Furthermore, participants’ own and perceptions of their partners’ dissatisfaction with their bodies were moderately associated, and participants’ body dissatisfaction was associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms. These findings highlight the need for further research, exploring the social and psychological correlates of body image among men and women in mid-late adulthood.

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