آزمایش الگویی از پیش بینی و عواقب ناشی از نارضایتی از بدن

A cross-sectional study, testing a model of predictors and consequences of body dissatisfaction, was undertaken in Taiwan from December 30, 2006 to January 10, 2007. Two hundred and thirty-two female college students enrolled at a major university completed the self-administered questionnaire. Analytical results revealed that body dissatisfaction among respondents increased with BMI (β = .32, p < .001), perceptions of how others viewed their bodies (β = .38, p < .001), and upward social comparisons (β = .17, p < .01). Body dissatisfaction also markedly influenced respondent weight-loss intentions (β = .51, p < .001). Results imply that medical, psychological and social factors must be considered by school health educators wishing to understand the causes and consequences of body dissatisfaction among female college students.

Obesity/overweight has been stigmatized culturally and this stigmatization is not excluded in Taiwan (Tsou & Liu, 2006). Studies conducted in different countries have found that individuals who are obese are perceived as self-indulgent, lethargic, and slovenly (Ogden, 1992), which, in turn, may affect their interpersonal relationships (Harris, 1990) and perceptions of physical attractiveness (Chang, Liou, Sheu, & Chen, 2004). These aforementioned negative consequences of obesity/overweight are of particular concern among females. Ku's (2003) cross-sectional study on young females in Taiwan found that 91.2% of respondents reported that they were dissatisfied with their body figures. It is not surprising that a qualitative study conducted by Chang et al. (2004) concluded that a slimmer figure was preferred among females in Taiwan.