The relationship between body image and self-esteem among female and male adolescents in a school in Lebanon

النوع : Mémoire

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between body image and self-esteem among Lebanese adolescents. The study also aimed at examining age and gender differences in terms of body image and self-esteem. The sample included 141 students from grades six, seven, eight, nine, and ten from one private school in Beirut. The instrument used to measure body image satisfaction was the Multidimensional Body Self- Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ) designed by Cash (2000). Self-esteem was measured by Harter Self Perception Profile for Adolescents (Harter 1988). Students' ages were obtained from the school's records. The data obtained were analyzed using the SPSS for windows. Students' responses were reported and compared using multiple correlation, analysis of variance, and T tests.Results showed a positive relationship between body image and self-esteem among most of the subscales. In addition, no gender differences were shown on body image, where as males had higher self-esteem than females on the following subscales: Athletic Competence, Physical Appearance, and Romantic Attachment. Also, no significant age differences were detected in terms of variables (the only difference was reported between age group 1 and 3 on Physical Appearance subscale). Based on these results, implications and suggestions for further research were drawn.