The Effect of Gender and Body Image Satisfaction on Sexual Function in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer Treated with Radiotherapy/Chemoradiotherapy

Aims: The study was was conducted to determine the changes in sexual functions and the effect of gender and body image satisfaction on sexual function in patients with head and neck cancer who received radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy after starting treatment. Methods: Forty three patients who underwent radiotherapy, radiotherapy (RT) or chemoradiotherapy (CRT) due to the diagnosis of head and neck cancer between October 2019 and March 2020 were included in the descriptive and correlational study. Research data were collected using the Structured Information Form, Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale and Body Image Satisfaction Scale at two different times, before and 6 weeks after the start of treatment. Results: Most of the patients participating in the study were male (55.8%) and married (74.4%). In the study, 69.8% of the patients had disease stages 1 and 2, and 65.1% of the patients had cancer in the pharynx and larynx. It was determined that 72.1% of the patients did not have a sexual problem before the diagnosis, and 90.7% of them had sexual problems after the diagnosis. There was a significant difference between the mean Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale scores of the patients before and after 6 weeks of RT/CRT (p<0.01); gender and Body Image Satisfaction Scale score significantly affected Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale score (R2=0.656, p<0.01). Conclusion: The treatment process in patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer undergoing RT/CRT causes sexual problems and worsening in sexual functions. Gender and body image satisfaction affect sexual function by 66%.

Risk and relationship of eating disorders with body image, stress and self-esteem among university students

Background: The study was conducted to find the prevalence rates of eating disorders, body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem and levels of stress in the students of JSSAHER and to also find out the relationship between the same with eating disorders.Methods: A survey was conducted among 160 participants and they were asked to fill out questionnaires containing EAT-26, PSS-4, Rosenberg self-esteem scale and contour drawing scale which assesses risk of eating disorder, stress, self-esteem and Body image satisfaction respectively. The data was analyzed.Results: It was found that the 16.9% of the participants were prone to eating pathologies. Among 160 students 60% were not satisfied by their bodies, 37.5% reported high levels of stress and 20% had low self-esteem. A statistically significant association was found between eating disorders risk and body dissatisfaction whereas no significant association was found between stress and self-esteem with eating disorders in our study.Conclusions:This study showcases that eating disorders are an upcoming issue and that more research is required to find the etiological factors which lead and predispose people to eating disorders in India.

Body image dissatisfaction in adolescent girls in puberty

The aim of this study was to analyze body image satisfaction among girls from different pubertal groups using two assessment instruments. The sample consisted of 82 adolescent girls, aged 11 to 14 years, divided into two groups: pre- and post-menarche. The Kakeshita’s Body Image Scale (BIS) and Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) were used to assess body image dissatisfaction. For comparisons of anthropometric variables between pubertal groups, Student's t-test was used for independent samples. Comparisons between BMI classifications, body image satisfaction and desire for body image change were performed using chi-square and binomial tests for both groups. For the comparison between the instruments, the Kappa coefficient (K) was calculated. The results showed that, for BIS, more than 81% of adolescents showed dissatisfaction, being higher among adolescents in post-menarche. For BSQ, the prevalence of body dissatisfaction was lower, but the results did not confirm those previously observed. In both instruments (BIS and BSQ), there were no differences between groups. However, the study indicated a tendency for post-menarche girls to show greater dissatisfaction in relation to pre-menarche adolescents, while the instruments used do not show agreement in the results.

Nutritional Status and Body Image Satisfaction among Adolescent Girls

Background: Adolescence is a phase of accelerated growth and major physical changes take place in the body. Nutritional status during the crucial period of adolescence could be a potential predictor of body image perception. Objectives: The study aimed at assessing the nutritional status and body image satisfaction among adolescent girls. Methods: Descriptive study was conducted among 135 adolescent girls of selected school, Kochi selected through random sampling method. Tools used were structured questionnaire for demographic data, BMI for age growth chart (5-19 years) Z score according to WHO and nutritional history to assess nutritional status and body image satisfaction was assessed by modified version (SF-14) of Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ). Data was analyzed using SPSS version. Results: Majority (63.7%) of them having normal nutritional status, 17.8 % of them were mild thinness, 8.9% were overweight 7.4% of them were showing severe thinness and only 2.2 % of them were obese. Among that majority (57.8%) had mild concern, 8.9% of them having moderate concern and 2.2% of them having marked concern regarding the body image irrespective of their BMI. And also there was highly statistically significant (p=.000) association between nutritional status and body image satisfaction. Interpretation and Conclusion: Though majority of study groups satisfied about their body image few girls felt moderate to marked concern with their nutritional status. Raising awareness of body image size and increasing body satisfaction with weight status should be established by good receptions of healthy lifestyle among girls. Keywords: nutritional status, body image satisfaction, adolescent girls.

Black Beauty: Womanist Consciousness as a Protective Factor in Black Women’s Body Image Satisfaction

Black American women are exposed to mainstream beauty standards, which may have implications for body image satisfaction. Given that beauty standards are often based on idealized depictions of White women’s physical features, scholars have called for body image research that extends beyond body type/weight (e.g., skin tone/hair) to better examine the experiences of Black women. In examining body image satisfaction and protective factors (e.g., ethnic identity), empirical research has yet to attend to these experiences at the intersection of race/ethnicity and gender. The current study used an online survey to examine whether womanist consciousness (WC) was a protective factor for Black American women ( N = 211). Findings indicated that after controlling for ethnic identity, higher womanist consciousness significantly predicted higher body satisfaction with historically racially defined features (e.g., skin tone/hair) and lower self-ideal discrepancy. Darker skin tone was linked to higher body importance and higher ethnic identity level. Last, increased frequency of wearing hair weaves was associated with lower body satisfaction while more frequently wearing Afrocentric hair styles/textures was associated with higher body satisfaction.

On Redefining the Body Image Satisfaction Questionnaire: A Preliminary Test of Multidimensionality

The aim of the present study was to examine the Body Image Satisfaction Questionnaire (BISQ) as a multidimensional instrument, designed to measure individuals’ body image satisfaction. A sample of 790 Portuguese healthy adults (female = 399; male = 391) aged 18 and 49 years old (M = 28.61, SD = 7.97) completed the BISQ. Exploratory factor analysis of the BISQ provided initial psychometric validity for a five-factor model assessing five dimensions of body image, namely, face, upper torso, lower torso, lower body, and overall body appearance. Confirmatory factor analysis supported this five-correlated model, in which a bifactor model provided the best fit to the data, defining a body image satisfaction factor and five specific factors. The BISQ clearly distinguished between various dimensions of body image satisfaction and showed satisfactory psychometric quality through factor analyses. This measure may have a broad application for research and practice, as a tool for capturing individual body image satisfaction.

Are explicit and implicit affective attitudes toward different body shape categories related to the own body-satisfaction in young women? The role of mindfulness, self-compassion and social media activity

Implicit and explicit attitudes influence our behavior. Accordingly, it was the main goal of the paper to investigate if those attitudes are related to body image satisfaction. 134 young women between 18 and 34 years completed an explicit affective rating and an implicit affective priming task with pictures of women with different BMIs. Because it is well known that mindfulness, self-compassion and social media activity influence body image satisfaction, these variables were registered as well. The results confirmed an explicit positive affective bias toward pictures of slim women and a negative bias toward emaciated and obese body pictures. It adds to the literature that the explicit positive bias does not hold true for the strongest form of underweight, suggesting that instead of dividing different body shapes into two groups, different gradings of under- and overweight should be considered. Concerning the affective priming task, no significant differences between the different pictures could be carved out. Implicit and explicit affective attitudes were not related to the body satisfaction of the participating women. In line with former studies, body satisfaction was predicted by the actual-ideal weight discrepancy, the BMI, aspects of mindfulness and self-compassion. This study indicates that implicit and explicit affective attitudes toward underweight and overweight women are unrelated to the participants’ body satisfaction.

Factors Associated With Body Image Satisfaction Among Palestinian University Female Students, Cross-Sectional Study

Background Eating disorders and body dysmorphic disorder are linked to poor body image. People with these diseases commonly lack the ability to objectively assess body shape, size, or attractiveness. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between body image, eating disorders, lifestyle, social pressure, and social media engagements in female university students in Palestine. Method: A sample of 905 female undergraduate students from Palestinian universities was included in the study. Arabic validated Body Appreciation Scale (BAS-2) was used to measure body satisfaction. Early screening of eating disorders was conducted using the Arabic validated A-SCOFF tool. One-way ANOVA, independent t-test, Chi-square, Spearman rho correlation test, and simple linear regression tests were used to evaluate the relationships between study variables. Results The sample had a high level of body image satisfaction, with a mean score of 4.22 ± 0.74. It was found that eating disorders (p < .001), higher BMI (p < .001), following models or celebrities on social media (p < .01), following models or celebrities nutritional advice (p < .05), family and friends pressure (p < .001), dieting (p < .001), and daily phone hours (p < .01) were associated with lower body satisfaction. While physical activity (p < .05) was associated with higher body satisfaction. Conclusion Body image among female university students is influenced by lifestyle, social pressure, and social media. To promote awareness about the impact of these variables on body dissatisfaction, which can lead to eating disorders, educational and supporting programs must be undertaken.