Study of factors related to female adolescents’ body appreciation

Abstract

Introduction: Adolescence is a time of not only physiological but also psychological changes, which period, especially for girls, could be challenging. Girls’ satisfaction with their bodies decreases, and negative self-image increases which may lead to eating disorders, depression and adoption of health damaging behaviors. The aim of our study was to investigate the role of health factors in body appreciation among adolescent girls.
Methods:The sample consisted of 454 high school students in Szeged and Hódmezővásárhely (aged between 14-20 years, mean=16.3, SD=1.1). Self-administered questionnaire was used as a method of data collection.
Results: Our findings suggest that the presence of eating disorders and obesity in family members, present and past dieting, smokingand drinking all contribute to low level of body appreciation. However, those who pay attention to what they eat, who engage in sports regularly, who perceive their health as good/excellent possess a higher level of body appreciation. Those who have lower BMI scores and perceive themselves slimmer also have a higher level of body appreciation.
Conclusion:The results highlight that health protective behaviors like engaging in sports regularly, perceiving one’s own health state better, perceiving one’s body as slim, having low or normal level of BMI scores and paying attention to healthy eating all contribute to higher level of body appreciation. Most programs focusing on the enhancement of body image may target on risk factors; however it would be important to emphasize protective factors of positive body image, to strengthen one’s own resources and to develop other protective factors. The aim of future studies could be the exploration of other protective factors of positive body image and to investigatetheir relationship.