Body Image Perception and its Relationship to Self-Esteem and Sociability (The Case of Students at two Secondary Schools of Bahir Dar Town) ,

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Date

2006-07

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Addis Ababa University

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between body image, self-esteem and sociability of adolescent girls; and how adolescent girls perceive their physical appearance. Participants were 284 female students at two secondary schools of Bahir Dar town with the age range between 13-21 years; who completed questionnaires. Additional 18 participants were selected for focus group discussion by dividing them into two sub groups. Systematic random sampling was used to select participants. The questionnaire contained measures of body Image perception (satisfaction), self-esteem and sociability scales. Results show that; there is a strong positive relationship between body image satisfaction and self-esteem; there is also a positive relationship between body image satisfaction and sociability. The proposed finding also indicated that as opposed to the hypothesis, based on different researchers; i.e. the ideal body image is to be thin; here it would appear that there is a greater acceptance of larger body size in school girls and that, for adolescents, being over weight may not be associated with social pressure or negative attitudes as in the case in the western culture. This study also shows that most of the adolescent girls are dissatisfied with their physical appearance; they show a great deal of preoccupation with their appearance. And the adolescent girls perceive that others are more beautiful than themselves. They also perceive that; their friends, classmates', peers and families undermine them in rating their physical appearance. In particular, our findings highlight the need for future research of a prospective nature incorporating psychological, socio-cultural, and maturational factors.

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Body Image Perception and its Relationship

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