The culture of the ideal body: body satisfaction level among students of different age groups - a comparative study

Abstract

The aim of this study is to identify the influence of the age group in the general body satisfaction level of teenagers of a public school in the city of de Juiz de Fora. One hundred and fifty four students participated of the survey. They were between 10 and 18 years old and divided into three groups: Group 1, from 10 to 12 years old; Group 2, from 13 to 15; and Group 3, from 16 to 18. The Satisfaction Level per Body Part questionnaire was the tool used (LOLAND, 1998). Among the three groups studied (G1, G2 and G3), the lowest satisfaction level – or lowest score – was found in Group 3 when compared with groups 1 and 2. Nevertheless, there was a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) between G2 and G3 (see Table 2). When analyzed in comparison with the gender variable, the data concerning body satisfaction for the different groups showed a significant difference (p<0.05) only for the females, and this difference did not change between groups 2 and 3, G3 having the lowest score. For the males, there was no significant correlation between the age range and body satisfaction variables. However, a trend toward a higher dissatisfaction was also observed in group containing the older males (G3). From the data assessment, a trend toward lower levels of body satisfaction was observed in older teenagers. Studies with larger populations would help to corroborate the findings of this study as well as establish relationships between the body satisfaction level and other variables other than age group.