Abstract:

The physical body plays an important role in conveying identity, experiencing pleasure, emotions, and self-expression of individuals. Misconceptions about the body image are common among adolescents and are a major factor in several serious illnesses. Therefore, this study assessed body image satisfaction and self-esteem among university students. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 419 respondents using the purposive sampling technique. A self-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential at 0.05 level of significance. The study revealed that 89.3% of respondents were between the age of 16-25 years, with a mean age of 22 years. 42.0% of the respondents stated that they were satisfied with their overall body, 33.7% said they were very satisfied and only 3.1% were very dissatisfied. Findings on the level of self-esteem revealed that 49.8% had a moderate level of self-esteem, 26.3% had a high level and 23.9% had a low level of self-esteem. The factors influencing body image satisfaction as identified by respondents were social media (60.4%), comments from family and peers (76.6%), past experiences (58.2%), perceived flaws or defects in appearance (65.2%), societal expectations of gender (61.8%), physical and hormonal changes associated with age (71.4%). A significant association was found between self-esteem and body image satisfaction among the respondents with p-value = 0.002<0.05. The results of this study showed that the majority of the respondents were satisfied with their body image and had good self-esteem. However, some of the respondents were dissatisfied with their body image and had poor self-esteem.

References:

[1].      Hardie, A., Oshiro, K. F., & Dixon, M. A. 2022, Understanding body image perceptions of former female athletes: A qualitative analysis. Body Image, 43, 393–407. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.10.001

[2].      Abera, W., 2021, Body Image Perception as a Predictor of Self-Esteem among High School Adolescent Students: A Study in Ghion Secondary School, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. Quality in Primary Care, 29(10), 5632. https://www.primescholars.com/articles/body-image-perception-as-a-predictor-of-selfesteem-among-high-school-adolescent-students-a-study-in-ghion-secondary-scho-100566.html%0Ahttps://www.primescholars.com/abstract/body-image-perception-as-a-predictor-of-se

[3].      Zainal, N. H., Romziman, N. S., Aminuddin, B. A., Syed Idros, S. A. K., & Salem Wajih, W. A., 2021, The Relationship of Body Image Perception, Self-esteem and Academic Performance in University of Cyberjaya (UoC) Undergraduates. Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 17(5), 33–39.

[4].      Keshk, M. M., Fahim, H. I., Hassan, A. M., Boulos, D. N., & Sector, P., 2019, Body image perception and self-esteem among university students in cairo. Egyptian Journal of Community Medicine, 37(1), 82-96.

[5].      Chae, H., 2022, Factors associated with body image perception of adolescents. Acta Psychologica, 227, 103620. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2022.103620

[6].      Niswah, I., Rah, J. H., & Roshita, A., 2021, The Association of Body Image Perception With Dietary and Physical Activity Behaviors Among Adolescents in Indonesia. Food and Nutrition Bulletin, 42(1_suppl), S109–S121. https://doi.org/10.1177/0379572120977452

[7].      Linardon, J., Tylka, T. L., Burnette, C. B., Shatte, A., & Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, M.,2022, Understanding the role of positive body image during digital interventions for eating disorders: Secondary analyses of a randomized controlled trial. Body Image, 43, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.08.003

[8].      Virk, A., & Singh, P., 2020, A study on relationship between body-image and self-esteem among medical undergraduate students. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 7(2), 636. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20200441

[9].      Quittkat, H. L., Hartmann, A. S., Düsing, R., Buhlmann, U., & Vocks, S., 2019, Body Dissatisfaction, Importance of Appearance, and Body Appreciation in Men and Women Over the Lifespan. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00864

[10].     Rilwan, Y., Daniel, A., & Thomas, H., 2021, Body image, self-esteem and health behaviour among senior high school students in Offinso Municipality of Ashanti Region, Ghana. Journal of Physical Education and Sport Management, 12(1), 11–18. https://doi.org/10.5897/JPESM2021.0358

[11].     Silva, L. P. R. da, Tucan, A. R. de O., Rodrigues, E. L., Del Ré, P. V., Sanches, P. M. A., & Bresan, D., 2019, Dissatisfaction about body image and associated factors: a study of young undergraduate students. Einstein (São Paulo), 17(4).

[12].     Lôbo, I. L. B., Mello, M. T. de, Oliveira, J. R. V. de, Cruz, M. P., Guerreiro, R. de C., & Silva, A., 2020, Body image perception and satisfaction in university students. Revista Brasileira de Cineantropometria & Desempenho Humano, 22. https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-0037.2020v22e70423

[13].     Goicochea, E. A., Coloma-Naldos, B., Moya-Salazar, J., Rojas-Zumaran, V., Moya-Espinoza, J. G., & Contreras-Pulache, H., 2022, Physical Activity and Body Image Perceived by University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(24), 16498. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416498

[14].     Ketata, N., Ben Ayed, H., Baklouti, M., Trigui, M., Yaich, S., Abdelmoula, M., Feki, H., & Damak, J., 2021, Self-esteem and university students: Findings from a multi-center study. European Journal of Public Health, 31(Supplement_3). https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckab165.593

[15].     Ike O.O., 2023, Life Orientation and Depression among Undergraduate Students: The Moderating Role of Self Esteem. Psychology & Psychological Research International Journal, 8(3), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.23880/pprij-16000346

[16].     Alghamdi, S. A., Aljaffer, M. A., Alahmari, F. S., Alasiri, A. B., Alkahtani, A. H., Alhudayris, F. S., & Alhusaini, B. A., 2023, The impact of low self-esteem on academic achievement and the behaviors related to it among medical students in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Medical Journal, 44(6), 613–620. https://doi.org/10.15537/smj.2023.44.6.20230055

[17].     Çimke, S., & Gürkan, D. Y.,2023, Factors affecting body image perception, social media addiction, and social media consciousness regarding physical appearance in adolescents. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 73, e197-e203.

[18].     Marks, R. J., De Foe, A., & Collett, J.,2020, The pursuit of wellness: social media, body image and eating disorders. Children and youth services review, 119, 105659.

[19].     Huang, Q., Peng, W., & Ahn, S., 2021, When media become the mirror: A meta-analysis on media and body image. Media psychology, 24(4), 437-489.

[20].     Tenkorang, S., & Okyere, C. O., 2022, Factors Influencing Body Image Perception of University Students in Ghana. Technium Social Sciences Journal, 27, 492–501. https://doi.org/10.47577/tssj.v27i1.552

[21].      Latiff, A. Ab., Muhamad, J., & Rahman, R. A., 2018, Body image dissatisfaction and its determinants among young primary-school adolescents. Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences, 13(1), 34–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtumed.2017.07.003