An International Study of Correlates of Women’s Positive Body Image

Positive body image (PBI) has received attention in the recent research literature. Despite this, its role in daily functioning in different cultural contexts, particularly its potential relationship with academic outcomes, is still lacking. This study aimed to offer an international perspective on...

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Main Authors: Sandra Torres, Carolina A. Araújo, Amanda Fitzgerald, Barbara Dooley, Angeliki Leondari, Cátia Miriam Costa, Dorit Olenik-Shemesh, Efthymia Sygkollitou, Josip Burusic, Liesbet Boone, Marijana Šuvak-Martinović, Maritta Välimäki, Minna Anttila, Tali Heiman, Toni Babarović
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-10-01
Series:European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/12/10/107
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author Sandra Torres
Carolina A. Araújo
Amanda Fitzgerald
Barbara Dooley
Angeliki Leondari
Cátia Miriam Costa
Dorit Olenik-Shemesh
Efthymia Sygkollitou
Josip Burusic
Liesbet Boone
Marijana Šuvak-Martinović
Maritta Välimäki
Minna Anttila
Tali Heiman
Toni Babarović
author_facet Sandra Torres
Carolina A. Araújo
Amanda Fitzgerald
Barbara Dooley
Angeliki Leondari
Cátia Miriam Costa
Dorit Olenik-Shemesh
Efthymia Sygkollitou
Josip Burusic
Liesbet Boone
Marijana Šuvak-Martinović
Maritta Välimäki
Minna Anttila
Tali Heiman
Toni Babarović
author_sort Sandra Torres
collection DOAJ
description Positive body image (PBI) has received attention in the recent research literature. Despite this, its role in daily functioning in different cultural contexts, particularly its potential relationship with academic outcomes, is still lacking. This study aimed to offer an international perspective on the association between PBI and body mass index (BMI), perceived academic achievement, and educational aspirations, as well as the mediating role of self-esteem. A cross-national study was conducted in eight European countries with a total of 2653 female university students. Participants completed an online survey measuring PBI (conceptualized as body appreciation), self-esteem, perceived academic achievement and aspirations, and body mass index (BMI). Results revealed differences in PBI between countries (low magnitude). PBI correlated negatively with BMI in all national groups (low-to-moderate magnitude). Mediation analysis showed that self-esteem mediated the association between PBI and academic variables. Findings from this study suggest that building students’ self-esteem and PBI can be a suitable way to boost academic success.
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spelling doaj.art-c270dea62dc643cbb1507cda386b85e92023-11-24T07:23:32ZengMDPI AGEuropean Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education2174-81442254-96252022-10-0112101521153410.3390/ejihpe12100107An International Study of Correlates of Women’s Positive Body ImageSandra Torres0Carolina A. Araújo1Amanda Fitzgerald2Barbara Dooley3Angeliki Leondari4Cátia Miriam Costa5Dorit Olenik-Shemesh6Efthymia Sygkollitou7Josip Burusic8Liesbet Boone9Marijana Šuvak-Martinović10Maritta Välimäki11Minna Anttila12Tali Heiman13Toni Babarović14Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Center for Psychology at University of Porto, University of Porto, 4099-002 Porto, PortugalFaculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Center for Psychology at University of Porto, University of Porto, 4099-002 Porto, PortugalSchool of Psychology, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8 Dublin, IrelandSchool of Psychology, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8 Dublin, IrelandFaculty of Human Sciences, University of Thessaly, 382 21 Volos, GreeceInstituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL), Centro de Estudos Internacionais, 1649-026 Lisboa, PortugalDepartment of Education and Psychology, The Open University of Israel, Ra’anana 4353701, IsraelDepartment of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, GreeceIvo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaDepartment of Developmental, Personal and Social Psychology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, BelgiumDepartment of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Mostar, 88000 Mostar, Bosnia and HerzegovinaXiangya Nursing School, Central South University, Changsha 410013, ChinaDepartment of Nursing Science, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, FinlandDepartment of Education and Psychology, The Open University of Israel, Ra’anana 4353701, IsraelIvo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaPositive body image (PBI) has received attention in the recent research literature. Despite this, its role in daily functioning in different cultural contexts, particularly its potential relationship with academic outcomes, is still lacking. This study aimed to offer an international perspective on the association between PBI and body mass index (BMI), perceived academic achievement, and educational aspirations, as well as the mediating role of self-esteem. A cross-national study was conducted in eight European countries with a total of 2653 female university students. Participants completed an online survey measuring PBI (conceptualized as body appreciation), self-esteem, perceived academic achievement and aspirations, and body mass index (BMI). Results revealed differences in PBI between countries (low magnitude). PBI correlated negatively with BMI in all national groups (low-to-moderate magnitude). Mediation analysis showed that self-esteem mediated the association between PBI and academic variables. Findings from this study suggest that building students’ self-esteem and PBI can be a suitable way to boost academic success.https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/12/10/107positive body imageacademic achievementeducational aspirationsself-esteemfemale university students
spellingShingle Sandra Torres
Carolina A. Araújo
Amanda Fitzgerald
Barbara Dooley
Angeliki Leondari
Cátia Miriam Costa
Dorit Olenik-Shemesh
Efthymia Sygkollitou
Josip Burusic
Liesbet Boone
Marijana Šuvak-Martinović
Maritta Välimäki
Minna Anttila
Tali Heiman
Toni Babarović
An International Study of Correlates of Women’s Positive Body Image
European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education
positive body image
academic achievement
educational aspirations
self-esteem
female university students
title An International Study of Correlates of Women’s Positive Body Image
title_full An International Study of Correlates of Women’s Positive Body Image
title_fullStr An International Study of Correlates of Women’s Positive Body Image
title_full_unstemmed An International Study of Correlates of Women’s Positive Body Image
title_short An International Study of Correlates of Women’s Positive Body Image
title_sort international study of correlates of women s positive body image
topic positive body image
academic achievement
educational aspirations
self-esteem
female university students
url https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/12/10/107
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