Exploring the relationship of body image with self-esteem, anxiety, and depression among female medical undergraduate students: A cross-sectional study from North India
Background: Dissatisfaction with body image is common both among adolescents and young adults, especially females, which leads to an increased risk of various psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, substance use disorder, and eating disorders. Aim: The aim of the study was to find the as...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Telangana Journal of Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/tjp.tjp_2_24 |
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| Summary: | Background:
Dissatisfaction with body image is common both among adolescents and young adults, especially females, which leads to an increased risk of various psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, substance use disorder, and eating disorders.
Aim:
The aim of the study was to find the association between body image and self-esteem, anxiety, and depression in undergraduate female medical students.
Materials and Methods:
This cross-sectional, observational study was conducted on female undergraduate (MBBS) students after permission from the institute ethics committee. Informed written consent was taken from all participants. A total of 184 students participated in the study, but only 164 were included, as 20 students had incomplete forms. Body image was assessed using a Body Image Questionnaire (BIQ), self-esteem was assessed using a Rosenberg’s self-esteem questionnaire, whereas anxiety and depression were assessed by a clinician using Hamilton’s Anxiety Rating Scale and Hamilton’s Depression Rating Scale.
Results:
We found that 35% of female students had low self-esteem. 27.4% of them had anxiety and 19.5% suffered from depression. The majority of 4th-year students had a low body image, followed by 1st-year students. Students with low self-esteem had a poorer body image, as suggested by a higher BIQ score (61.34 ± 4.22). Similarly, students with severe anxiety and severe depression had a higher BIQ score and a poorer body image compared to those with moderate and mild anxiety and depression. All these findings were statistically significant (P < 0.05). On applying multiple regression analysis, body image was found to be significantly associated (P < 0.05) with self-esteem and depression.
Conclusion:
Students with poor body image had lower self-esteem and a significant level of anxiety and depression. |
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| ISSN: | 2772-8706 2455-8559 |