Body image perception and satisfaction in university students

Abstract Body image represents the mental perception of body shapes and is a multifactorial structure that includes psychological, physical and emotional elements. The discrepancy between the subjective perception of body image and the desire for the ideal body type can interfere with the feeling of satisfaction and trigger the desire for changes in appearance, directly interfering with mental health and general well-being. Men and women may differ in body image satisfaction due to the different social influences and beauty standards imposed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the subjective perception of body image and satisfaction with body shapes among men and women. The sample consisted of 100 college students of both genders. Subjective perception of body image and satisfaction were measured through self-assessment, through scale figure silhouettes. There was a significant difference in the subjective perception of body image in the comparison between genders, and women presented greater discrepancy between the real and the perceived image. In the analysis of satisfaction with body image there were no differences between genders and both presented high percentage of dissatisfaction. In addition, 46.2% of men would like to decrease their body shapes, 53.8% would increase them. As for women, 76.1% would like to decrease their body dimensions and 23.9% to increase them. The strong pressures imposed by society and the standards set by the prevailing media in determining body image dissatisfaction or self-assessment negatively, regardless of gender.

摘要：身体意象（Body image）指个体对自身体型的心理感知，是一种包含心理、生理与情感维度的多因素结构。身体意象的主观感知与理想体型期望之间的偏差，会干扰个体的满足感，并催生外观改造诉求，直接损害心理健康与整体幸福感。由于所处社会环境的影响与既定审美标准存在差异，男性与女性在身体意象满意度上可能表现出不同特征。本研究旨在评估男性与女性群体的身体意象主观感知及体型满意度。本研究的研究对象为100名不同性别的在校大学生。研究通过人体轮廓图量表与自我评估的方式，对身体意象主观感知及体型满意度进行测量。不同性别间的身体意象主观感知存在显著差异，女性的实际体型与感知体型之间的偏差程度更高。对身体意象满意度的分析显示，不同性别间无显著差异，且两类群体均表现出较高比例的不满意情况。此外，46.2%的男性希望缩减自身体型，53.8%的男性则希望增大体型；女性群体中，76.1%希望缩减身体围度，仅23.9%希望增大体型。无论性别如何，社会施加的强大压力与主流媒体设定的审美标准，均会对身体意象不满或自我评估产生负面影响。