A descriptive study to assess the perception of body image and its impact on self-esteem among adolescents of Rayat Bahra International School Mohali, Punjab

Abstract

Background: The perception and attitudes individuals hold towards their bodies and looks are termed as body image. Adolescents' self-perception of their looks is vital for the development of self-esteem and is acknowledged as a key predictor of self-worth. Insufficient body image perception in adolescents has been associated with physical and psychological problems. In contemporary society, the increasing emphasis on the ideal body image compels teenagers and young adults to either loss or gain weight to attain this standard. Materials and Methods: A quantitative research approach and descriptive research design were used to conduct the study. The sample consisted of 200 adolescents, and a convenient sampling technique was used for data collection. The Body Self Image Questionnaire and the Rosenberg self-esteem scale were used to assess the body image Perception and self-esteem. Result: The result revealed that Body self-image satisfaction was quite good among adolescents in some domains of body image. Moving towards self- esteem, the study findings revealed that positive correlation is observed between some domains of body self- image satisfaction and self -esteem that are height dissatisfaction (r=.060, p=.400), Fatness evaluation (r=.302, p=.000), negative effect (r=.175, p=.013) and social dependence (r=.263, p=.000) and negative for overall appearance evaluation (r=-.282, p=.000), Health fitness influence (r=-.135, p=.056), investment in ideals (r=-.175, p=.012), Health fitness evaluation (r=-.336, p=.000), Attention to grooming (r=-.537, p=.000). Conclusion: Study findings revealed that body image perception has some impact on self-esteem among adolescents of Rayat Bahra International School, Mohali, Punjab.