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