scholarly journals “I Like My Body; Therefore, I Like Myself”: How Body Image Influences Self-Esteem—A Cross-Sectional Study on Italian Adolescents

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 301-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Gatti ◽  
Chiara Ionio ◽  
Daniela Traficante ◽  
Emanuela Confalonieri

Puberty is a very important process for adolescents. Physiological changes and body modifications lead to great vulnerability. This vulnerability is connected to the adolescent’s perceptions of the uncertainty of outcomes due to the transformation of their infant body into an adult one. This cross-sectional study aims to better understand whether body image perception and satisfaction influence self-esteem in a sample of Italian male and female adolescents. A total of 242 adolescents (120 male and 122 female individuals) aged 11 to 17 years (M= 13.33;SD= 1.7) completed the study measures. Quantitative and qualitative instruments were used. In particular, adolescents completed self-report questionnaires to assess their pubertal status (Pubertal Developmental Scale, Peterson, Crockett, Richards, & Boxer, 1988), their body esteem (Body Esteem Scale, Mendelson, Mendelson, & White, 2001), their body image (Body Image Satisfaction Questionnaire, Rauste-von Wright, 1989), and their self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Rosenberg,1965). Adolescent were also invited to depict themselves to assess their body representations by completing the Drawing Me test (Confalonieri, 2011). Results from MANOVAs confirm that gender and age are two factors that influence body image perception and satisfaction. SEM analyses show that good self-esteem is reached through good body satisfaction following different trajectories in male and female individuals. Data from adolescents’ body representations obtained via drawings confirm that females are more concerned about their body changes and about the appearance of secondary sexual features than males. This research, stressing the influence of various individual factors and highlighting the psychological distress and dissatisfaction of adolescents, especially females, confirms the importance of studying this topic in order to generate preventive measures to help adolescents through this developmental task.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahnaz Ashrafi ◽  
Shahideh Jahanian Sadatmahalleh ◽  
Negin Mirzaei ◽  
Jahangiri ◽  
Samaneh Youseflu

Abstract Background The aim of this study is to assess anxiety, depression, body image, self-esteem, sexual function (SF), and quality of life (QoL) in infertile women in Iran and to compare the results with fertile women (used a condom) and those with tubal ligation (TL) (as control groups). Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out on infertile women, women who had undergone TL (control 1), and women who had used a condom (control 2) (200 women in each group). They were selected from the Royan Institute in Tehran (Iran) and a number of health care centers in Tehran (Iran) from May 2017 to February 2019. The subjects were asked to fill out the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Body Image Concern Inventory (BICI), and Rosenberg’ Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). One-way ANOVA was used to find the statistical differences between the three groups. Results All mean values FSFI were found to be lower in the TL women and the differences between the three groups were statistically significant in all domains. Women with TL had more female sexual dysfunction (FSD) (22.43 ± 5.30 vs 24.79 ± 4.74 vs 28.03 ± 3.29, P˂0.001). There was a significant difference between the three groups in SF-12 scores (76.59 ± 13.14 vs 68.49 ± 14.47 vs 78.87 ± 12.62, P˂0.001). Also, there was a significant difference between the three groups in anxiety, depression, and total scores HADS (P˂0.001). Infertile women had lower body image (P˂0.05) and self-esteem was lower in the TL group (P˂0.05). Conclusions Our findings reveal the adverse effects of TL on the anxiety and depression, sexual life, body image, and QoL of women. It is recommended that the awareness and knowledge of health-care professionals regarding the side-effects of TL in the above-mentioned aspects of women’s lives should be increased and discussed with patients.


Esculapio ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4 (oct 2020 - dec 2020)) ◽  
Author(s):  
Uswah Bokhari ◽  
Uswah Shoaib ◽  
Sana Tariq ◽  
Sehar Khauteja Khan ◽  
Fatima Syed ◽  
...  

Objectives: The current lockdown in the country has led to a sedentary lifestyle because of a shift of daily activities online and a fear of contracting the illness leading to isolation inside homes; Hence an expected change in weight of the general population. This study aims to determine the frequency of weight gain and its impact in adults during the current lockdown of COVID-19. Methods: Participants selected from the ages of 18-25 from different universities of Pakistan were sent questionnaires via WhatsApp, posted online using Microsoft Forms. A total of 157 responses were attained. Results: Among the 157 participants the average weight before the lockdown was 61.95 kgs and after the lockdown was 64.99kgs so there was an increase of 3.016 kgs whereas 18.5% of the sample maintained their weight and 37.6% were reported to have lost weight. The results also depict a 1.6% increase in impairment of body image. Conclusion: We concluded that the Lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a gain in the weight and lowered self-esteem with regard to body image of most young adults in Pakistan due to many factors including higher food intake, lack of exercise and also emotional distress. Key words: Obesity, Weight gain, Lockdown, Body Image. How to Cite: Bokhar U, Shoaib U, Tariq S, Khan S.K, Syed F, Amin B, Ijaz F, Aftab R.K. Frequency of weight gain and its impact in adults during lockdown: a cross sectional study. Esculapio.2020;16(04):110-115.


Author(s):  
Rasa Jankauskiene ◽  
Migle Baceviciene ◽  
Laima Trinkuniene

This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the associations between body appreciation, body functionality and disordered eating in a large adolescent sample of different levels and types of sports practice. Method: The sample consisted of 1412 adolescents (59.8% were girls). The ages ranged from 15 to 18 years old, with a mean age of 16.9 (SD = 0.5) for girls and 17.0 (SD = 0.4) for boys. Participants completed an anonymous questionnaire assessing the nature of sports participation, body appreciation, body functionality, self-esteem, body dissatisfaction, internalisation of sociocultural beauty ideals and disordered eating. A two-way ANOVA was employed to test the differences in body image concerns, body appreciation, perceived physical fitness and disordered eating behaviours in gender groups and groups of different sport types and levels. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to predict disordered eating behaviours of different study variables. Results: Participants of leisure and competitive sports reported greater body appreciation, self-esteem and lower body dissatisfaction compared to non-participants. No differences in body appreciation and disordered eating were observed in adolescents involved in weight-sensitive and less weight-sensitive sports. Body appreciation and body functionality were associated with lower disordered eating in adolescent girls not participating in sports, leisure exercisers and participants of competitive sport as well as in boys participating in competitive sports, controlling for body mass index. Adolescent boys demonstrated greater body appreciation compared to girls. Conclusions: The results of this study support the knowledge of the protective role of positive body image preventing dysfunctional eating in adolescent girls of various sports practice and in competitive sports involved boys. Disordered eating prevention and clinical treatment programs for adolescents of different physical activity might benefit from including education about body appreciation and functionality.


Work ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Maria Piedade Brandão ◽  
Annettte Quinto Romani ◽  
Frantitsek Sudzina ◽  
Inger Glavind Bo ◽  
Bent Egberg Mikkelsen

BACKGROUND: Appropriate body image self-perceptions provide a good help to increase the feeling of personal well-being, thus having an important impact on health. Universities, having an important role in shaping of the future workers, represent an important setting to approach health issues. OBJECTIVE: This study determined to what extent different types of students in higher education (four categories of students were created: “self-secure”, “perfect”, “destructive” and “apologetic”) are likely to adopt different health risk behaviors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study in a sample of students from five European Universities in the 2016/2017 academic year was conducted. Based on the combination of body image perception and body mass index, four types of students were identified: “self-secure” (overweight students with a good self-esteem); “perfect” (underweight students with a good self-esteem); “destructive” (overweight students with a poor self-esteem); “apologetic” (underweight students with a poor self-esteem). RESULTS: The study reveals that the defined types of students differed in terms of risk behavior. When the control was included, the “self-secure” student type had a reduced likelihood of being on a diet (22.3%) and physically active (17.8%) than other students (p <  0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this paper raise concerns about the future because the body dissatisfaction of the college student could be a big impact in long term whether at collective, personally or even professionally.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahnaz Ashrafi ◽  
Shahideh Jahanian Sadatmahalleh ◽  
Negin Mirzaei ◽  
Jahangiri ◽  
Samaneh Youseflu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The aim of this study is to compare anxiety, depression, body image, self-esteem, sexual function (SF), and quality of life (QoL) between infertile women and women with or without tubal ligation (TL).Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 600 women, distributed equally as infertile women, women with or without TL, who met the inclusion criteria. They were selected from the Royan Institute in Tehran (Iran) and a number of health care centers in Tehran (Iran) from May 2017 to February 2019. The subjects were asked to fill out the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Body Image Concern Inventory (BICI), and Rosenberg’ Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). One-way ANOVA was used to find the statistical differences between the three groups.Results: Mean scores of all FSFI domains were found to be lower in the TL women and the differences between the three groups were statistically significant in all domains. Women with TL had more female sexual dysfunction (FSD) (22.43±5.30 vs 24.79±4.74 vs 28.03±3.29, P˂0.001). There was a significant difference between the three groups in SF-12 scores (76.59±13.14 vs 68.49±14.47 vs 78.87±12.62, P˂0.001). Also, there was a significant difference between the three groups in anxiety, depression, and total scores HADS (P˂0.001). Infertile women had lower body image (P˂0.05) and self-esteem was lower in the TL group (P˂0.05).Conclusions: Our findings reveal the adverse effects of TL on the anxiety and depression, sexual life, body image, and QoL of women. It is recommended that the awareness and knowledge of health-care professionals regarding the side-effects of TL in the above-mentioned aspects of women’s lives should be increased and discussed with patients.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 214-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehmet Fatih Üstündağ ◽  
Halil Özcan ◽  
Ece Yazla ◽  
Yüksel Kıvrak ◽  
Esat Fahri Aydın ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Manila Sharma ◽  
Sunil Kumar Singh ◽  
Poornima Tiwari ◽  
Nitesh Chauhan

Background: Body image perception is being shaped by unrealistic ideals portrayed in the media. Body dissatisfaction is one of the most consistent and robust risk factors for eating disorders, low self-esteem, depression, and obesity. Therefore, the objective of the current study is to ascertain the body image perception, abnormal eating attitudes and the role of media among undergraduate students of a medical college in Delhi, India.Methods: Cross-sectional study on 370 undergraduate medical students of Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India selected using stratified random sampling. India. Students completed a self-administered questionnaire which consist of demographic information, perceived body image, Eating Attitudes test (EAT-26) to assess eating attitudes, Socio Cultural Attitude Towards Appearance Questionnaire 3(SATAQ-3) scale for the role of media on body image perception. Data was analyzed using SPSS v21.Results: A total of 370 students (57.6% males and 42.4% females) aged 17-30 years, mean age of 20.30 years±2.02(SD). Abnormal body image perception was seen in 35.4%, 21.1% had abnormal eating attitude (EAT-26≥20), 36.5%, 40.5% agreed to be influenced by models and athletic figures in media respectively, 42.2% accepted that media was their source of information regarding standards of attractiveness, 27.6% felt pressured to be attractive according to SATAQ-3. Males more than females had disordered eating attitudes and felt media pressure to achieve an ideal body image. Significant association was observed between age and perceived body image (p=0.033), gender and EAT-26 score (p=0.039), EAT 26 and perceived body image (p=0.006), general internalization of media and perceived body image (p=0.003), internalization-general, internalization-athlete, media as source of information and EAT-26 score (<0.001, 0.001, 0.003 respectively).Conclusions: The media should take more responsibility to not represent unrealistic ideals of body image concerning both males and females. Educational and preventive efforts at institutional levels should be made to promote a healthy body image and eating behaviours.


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