The relationship between negative affect, stress and body image in adolescent girls

Abstract

Abstract

In recent decades, concerns about body image and dissatisfaction with it, especially significant increase in adolescents (Mousa, Mashal, Al-Domi HA, Jibril MA, 2010). According to studies, concerns about body image dissatisfaction has become a global phenomenon (Swami, Smith, 2012).

The aim of the study was to determine differences of body image satisfaction in adolescent girls with regard to stress and negative affect. The respondents were 80 adolescents from Kaunas city, who were enrolled in grades 8 and 10 (mean age =15.57 years;). Respondents completed the The Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ), PANAS-X Negative Affect scale and Reeder Stress inventory.

The results of this study showed that participants with higher stress were more dissatisfied with their body areas and less satisfied with their appearance compared to those who reported feeling less stressed. Girls with higher negative affect were more dissatisfied with their body areas, tended to invest less in their appearance, they also thought they weight is bigger, furthermore were more concerned with their weight and in general were less satisfied with their appearance.

The result of the present study demonstrate that as well as examining negative affect, it is also important to investigate other emotional components, which could be related to body image dissatisfaction, such as perceived stress.