Gender Differences in Body Weight Perception, Body Image Satisfaction, and Self-Esteem Among Normal-Weight Adolescents in South Korea

Background/Purpose

South Korean adolescents have been exposed to Western body image ideals (i.e., muscular male body and slender female body) through various sociocultural channels. According to the previous literature, the discrepancy between socially idealized and self-perceived body images lowers body image satisfaction (BIS), which negatively influences the level of global self-esteem in adolescence. Western researchers have reported that many normal-weight girls perceive themselves to be overweight and have low BIS and self-esteem. Recent studies have also suggested that boys’ perception of being underweight as well as overweight has detrimental effects on their BIS and self-esteem. Yet, few research has been conducted regarding body weight perception, BIS, and self-esteem among normal-weight Korean adolescents. Moreover, no study has analyzed gender differences in their relationships.

This study aims to examine gender differences in the influence of body weight perception through BIS on self-esteem among normal-weight Korean adolescents. We hypothesized that (1) overweight perception would be negatively associated with BIS for both genders, (2) underweight perception would be negatively associated with BIS only for boys, and (3) BIS would mediate the association between body weight perception and self-esteem.

Methods

This study analyzed the cross-sectional data from a nationally representative sample of middle school students (grade 7~9, n=3254; 47.4% girls) who participated in the 2010 Korean Adolescent Health Survey. The researchers only utilized the normal-weight sample (self-reported BMI 5^th~85^th percentile, n=2518; 46.8% girls).

Body weight perception was originally measured by a 5-point self-rated scale. The researchers created two dummy variables, overweight perception (1=”fat” or “very fat”, n=725) and underweight perception (1=”thin” or “very thin”, n=573). BIS was measured by a one-item measure for which the responses ranged from 1=”not at all satisfied” to 4=”very satisfied”. Self-esteem was measured by five positive items of the Rosenberg’s self-esteem scale (Cronbach’s α=.882).

Multi-group analysis in structural equation modeling was conducted with AMOS 21. Grade, family SES, parental emotional support, academic achievement, peer relationships were included as exogenous variables.

Results

The measurement model of self-esteem showed good fit indices (CFI=.965, TLI=.951, RMSEA=.079), and its factor loadings were statistically equivalent for both genders (Dχ²=6.305, Ddf=4, p=.177). The structural model also showed acceptable fit indices (CFI=.944, TLI=.888, RMSEA=.051).

The estimation results indicated that (1) overweight perception was negatively associated with BIS for both genders at p<.001 level (β_boys=-.368, β_girls=-.407), and (2) underweight perception was negatively associated with boys’ BIS (β_boys=-.134, p<.001) but positively with girls’ BIS (β_girls=.120, p<.001). (3) BIS is positively associated with self-esteem for both genders at p<.001 level (β_boys=.121, β_girls=.101). While direct effects of body weight perception on self-esteem were not significant, bootstrap results showed that the full mediation effect of BIS was significant at p<.01 level for both genders.

Conclusion/Implications

The findings suggest the importance of body weight perception on adolescents’ psychological well-being even for those who are actually normal-weight. This study highlights the need for social interventions that promote Korean youths’ healthier body images. Also, the findings of gender difference emphasize the need for gender perspectives when studying adolescents and promoting their healthy development.