ABSTRACT

Previous research found conflicting results regarding how body image of adolescents varies across age and gender. Also, recent studies suggest that boys’ superiority in body satisfaction might be overestimated. The present study examines the role of age and gender in the relation between appearance esteem, weight esteem, body mass index and body ideal internalisation. 250 girls and 226 boys, aged 15 – 20 (M = 17.37, SD = 1.65), filled in measures of appearance esteem, weight esteem, body ideal internalization and body mass index (BMI). The results show that boys have a higher appearance and weight esteem, compared to girls. Regarding age effects, the only significant variation was found in girls appearance esteem, body ideal internalization such as elder adolescent girls had higher appearance esteem, and lower thin ideal internalization compared to younger adolescent girls. More, in girls’ sample, body ideal internalization moderated the relation between weight and appearance esteem. This implies that the attitude toward the perfect body promoted in media should be considered when analyzing appearance esteem development.

KEYWORDS: appearance esteem, weight esteem, body ideal internalization

PAGES: 189-200