Eating behaviors, body image, perfectionism, and self-esteem in a sample of Portuguese girls

Abstract

Objective: Eating disorders are an increasingly prevalent health problem among adolescent girls. It is well known that biological, psychosocial, and family-related factors interact in the development of this group of disorders. However, the mechanisms underlying the interaction between these variables are still poorly understood, especially in Portuguese adolescents. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between eating behaviors, body dissatisfaction, self-esteem, and perfectionism in a sample of Portuguese girls. Method: A community sample of 575 Portuguese girls attending secondary school, answered selfreport questionnaires including data on weight, height, and the Portuguese versions of the Contour Figures Rating Scale, the Child and Adolescent Perfectionism Scale, the Children Eating Attitudes Test, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. SPSS version 20.0 for Windows was used for statistical analyses.Results: High scores in the Children Eating Attitudes Test were associated with significantly higher levels of body dissatisfaction (r = 0.339), socially prescribed perfectionism (r = 0.175), self-oriented perfectionism (r = 0.211), and low self-esteem (r = -0.292) (all p o 0.001). Self-oriented perfectionism partially mediated the relation between body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behaviors. Conclusion: In this sample, dysfunctional eating behaviors appeared to correlate strongly with body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem, and perfectionism in girls. These themes should be addressed among female adolescents in the community.

Subiektywna i obiektywna ocena ciała studentek pielęgniarstwa Pomorskiego Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Szczecinie

“…Czynniki mające duży wpływ na rozwój jednostki to m.in. silnie stymulujący wizerunek znanych osób w mediach i poszczegól-nych kulturach [2]. To, w jaki sposób ludzie postrzegają swoje ciało, kreowane jest już na przełomie wczesnego dzieciń-stwa, gdzie największy wpływ na postrzeganie własnej osoby przypisywany jest rodzicom [3].…”

Valoración de la autoestima y la imagen corporal en adolescentes de Cáceres

“…[7] La relación entre autoestima y la insatisfacción corporal en los adolescentes es bastante fuerte, y el peso que tiene la apariencia física en el autoconcepto es de suma importancia en esta etapa, especialmente cuando el nivel de autoestima es bajo. [8] B. Imagen corporal: La adolescencia es el periodo más crítico, al estar marcada por una serie de cambios que afectan a los aspectos físicos, sexuales, cognitivos y emocionales que contribuyen a una mayor preocupación por el aspecto físico, especialmente a las chicas. La insatisfacción corporal se define como una evaluación subjetiva negativa del cuerpo físico.…”

Autopercepción de la imagen corporal y conductas alimentarias de riesgo en estudiantes universitarios de medicina en Xalapa, Veracruz, México (2014)

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