Body image : can body dissatisfaction predict social anxiety?
Authors
Krzempek, Karolina
Issue Date
2012
Degree
BA (Hons) in Psychology
Publisher
Dublin Business School
Rights holder
Rights
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Abstract
The present study examines the relationship between age, self-esteem, body esteem and social anxiety, separately for male and female sample. Research used cross-sectional correlational design. 128 individuals participated in the study, those were divided on a male sample (60) and a female sample (68) in order to obtain a better understanding of male body image and female body image. Majority of the participants were between the age 18 and 25. Independent sample t-test found significant gender difference on BMI scale indicating that females had lower BMI than males. Moreover, Pearson R correlation coefficient found significant positive correlation between in upper body strength, physical condition and self-esteem in a male sample. Correspondingly, sexual attractiveness and weight concerns were positively associated with self-esteem in a female sample. Moreover, standard multiple linear regression found that age, self-esteem and sexual attractiveness predict social anxiety in a female sample, with the sexual attractiveness as the strongest predictor. Although, the body esteem, age and self-esteem did not predict social anxiety in a male sample. Thus suggesting that body image influence on social anxiety is more complicated than it was predicted. Author keywords: Body image, body satisfaction, social anxiety