Ulakbilge - Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi
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Cilt 5, Sayı 13  2017/5  (ISSN: 2148-0451, E-ISSN: )
Sultan OKUMUŞOĞLU

NO Makale Adı
1492709160 INVESTIGATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP OF BODY IMAGE, SELF ESTEEM, AGE AND BODY MASS INDEX IN DIETING FEMALES

Self esteem is generally described as feelings of self worth, while body image is described as positive cognitions towards individual’s own body. These two concepts are accepted as related with each other. It was claimed that body concept is compose a quite important aspect of self esteem and psychological well being of an individual. It is possible to relate body dissatisfaction, self esteem and dieting efforts with eating disorders and obesity both. Hence related investigations are important in terms of obesity and eating disorders related studies both. Therefore under the light of the related literatüre the aim of this study is investigation of the cognitions of dieting women in terms of body image, self esteem and examination of relationships among body image, self esteem, age and body mass index (BMI). Body Image Scale and Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale have been used for data collection. Participants are 110 women with age range 21-63 (M=38.91). According to findings %10.6 of total variance of body image was explained by BMI and body image has negative correlation with BMI and age. The group with obesity has lower body image satisfaction than the group with normal BMI. An increase in terms of BMI and age is related with decreasing body image satisfaction. No statistically significant difference was found among different BMI groups in terms of self esteem. No statistically significant relationship was found between body image and self concept. When these findings evaluated together, it is possible to say - at least for this sample with mean age 38.9- the expected relationship between body image and self concept is changed as a result of psychological maturation came by age. It is possible to think that the relationship between body image and self concept is declining through age. Investigation of related other factors with future studies is proposed. Since body dissatisfaction, self esteem and dieting efforts are interrelated with eating disorders and obesity both, it can be said that the findings are important in terms of research and treatment regarding eating disorders and obesity.

Keywords: Body Image, Self Esteem, Body Mass Index, Diet, Cognitions