The Self-Esteem Attributed by Self Perception of Body Image in Community Adolescents

Yang, Jae Won; Jang, Won Seok; Joung, Yoo Sook; Hong, Sungdo D

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Obesity is associated with a range of adverse health impacts on physical and psychosocial aspects. Psychosocial effects may include body image disturbance, negative self-perception and peer problem. We investigated the association between self perception of body image, real body mass index (BMI), and self-esteem in middle school students and explored factors that most attribute to self-esteem.
METHODS
We randomly selected 477 middle school students ot 13 to15 years old. Informations on weight, height and BMI were colleted. Subjective perception of body image, wished body image, depression scales and self-esteem scales were checked by the participants. Subjects were divided into three groups according to their BMI values. Underweight, normal-weight and overweight groups were identified and compared with demographic data and several scales.
RESULTS
Mean BMI of participants was within the normal range. Male students perceived their body images to be underweight, but female students perceived their body image to be overweight (x2=15.140, p=0.010). Wished body images were in counter directions. Male students wanted to gain weight, but female students wanted to lose weight (x2=39.432, p<0.001). In male students, overweight group had lower scores in total self-esteem, athletic competence and physical appearance than normal weight and underweight groups. In female students, overweight group had lower scores in physical appearance than normal weight and underweight groups. Self perception of body image was the most important factor in their total, athletic competence and physical appearance self-esteem.
CONCLUSION
The self-esteem of early adolescents attributed to the self perception of body image and not by BMI or parent's perception of their child's body image.