Zakaria R, Amor H, Abdellatif B. Body image perceptions and avoidance behaviours among a Moroccan group of adolescents.
Ann Hum Biol 2022;
49:116-123. [PMID:
35499239 DOI:
10.1080/03014460.2022.2072524]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Adolescents are a vulnerable group to the body dissatisfaction that causes unhealthy attitudes and behaviours. It has been shown that many factors affect body image dissatisfaction.
AIM
To describe body image size perception, degree of body dissatisfaction, avoidance behaviours, and their relationship with gender, age, and weight status, and to assess the relationship between body dissatisfaction and avoidance behaviours among a group of Moroccan adolescents.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
This cross-sectional survey was comprised of a sample of 487 adolescents. Stunkard's figure rating scale was used to assess perceptions of current and ideal body image and body dissatisfaction. Body Image Avoidance Questionnaire was employed to assess avoidance behaviours.
RESULTS
Body dissatisfaction was found to be strongly associated with weight status in both male and female adolescents. Avoidance behaviours were positively associated with gender, age, weight status and body dissatisfaction. Indeed, avoidance behaviours were frequently reported among female, young adolescents, those with high BMI z-score and those seeking to lose weight. Adolescents tended to behave under the influence of two factors: clothing and weighing-grooming.
CONCLUSION
Weight status is an important factor which deeply impacts adolescent body dissatisfaction. Adolescents resort to behaviour avoidance and physical appearance control to cope with body dissatisfaction.
Collapse