How Dietary Choices and Nutritional Knowledge Relate to Eating Disorders and Body Esteem of Medical Students? A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study

Eating disorders and body image concerns are increasingly prevalent issues among young individuals, with medical students being particularly vulnerable due to heightened stress levels. This study enrolled 879 medical students to investigate these concerns. The KomPAN questionnaire was utilized to assess dietary habits and knowledge, the Body Esteem Scale (BES) to evaluate body satisfaction, and The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) to identify eating disorders. A higher level of nutritional knowledge was found to be statistically significantly associated with attempts at excessive calorie restriction among women (β = 0.0864) and negatively among men (β = -0.2039). Moreover, it was negatively associated with self-control of food intake only among men (β = -0.2060). Furthermore, a higher BMI was associated with attempts of excessive calorie restriction in both women and men (β = 0.1052 and β = 0.1656, respectively) and negatively with self-control of food intake (β = -0.0813 and β = -0.1453, respectively). A higher BMI was associated with poorer body esteem across all variables in both genders, except for upper body strength among men. Nutritional knowledge did not correspond with any of these variables, while dietary quality was positively associated with physical condition in women and with physical condition, physical attractiveness, and upper body strength in men. Our study findings suggest that dietary interventions could be improved by considering gender-based behavioral differences and focusing on portion control for individuals with a higher BMI. Caution is warranted in extrapolating the results to the general population due to the specific nature of the study population.

Why Should Diabetic Women Be Active?-The Role of Personality, Self-Esteem, Body-Esteem, and Imagery

Diabetes is one of the fastest spreading diseases in the 21st century. The aim of the study is twofold: (1) to find differences in personality traits, self-esteem, body-esteem, and imagery between healthy women and women with diabetes; (2) to verify whether there are differences in the analyzed factors among women with diabetes who engage in sports compared to those who do not. We used 3 questionnaires: Imagination in Sport-short form, Self-Esteem Scale (SES), and BFIS Personality, which were tested online. We found that women with diabetes were characterized by significantly higher neuroticism, lower extraversion, and higher conscientiousness (marginally significant). We also found that women with diabetes who practice sport rated their bodies more highly in terms of sexual attractiveness and made better use of imagined affirmations than women without diabetes who were not active. Our study provides new insights into diabetics in terms of women navigating the disease.

Intra- and Interpersonal Dimensions of Orthorexia: Preliminary Development and Validation of an Intra- and Interpersonal Effects Scale for Orthorexia

Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is a disorder characterized by dietary restrictions and an obsessive focus on "healthy" eating. The present study analyzes two aspects of ON. One related to the inner experiences of the individual (intrapersonal). The other concerns the impact of ON on interpersonal relationships (interpersonal). The developed scale was named the Intra- and Interpersonal Effects Scale of Orthorexia (IIESO). The analysis showed an average correlation between the INTER and INTRA factors (r = 0.46). Both the INTER and INTRA scales correlated strongly with both subscales of the TOS but weakly with the ORTO-R score. Females obtained higher scores on the INTER scale (p < 0.01), while no differences were shown for the INTRA subscale or the overall scale score (p < 0.01). Subjects using supplements had higher mean scores on the INTER and INTRA subscales and for the total score. Among the analyzed results, the greatest strength effect was shown for the total score on the IIESO scale (INTER+INTRA) and the TOS scale. The questionnaires used to date have not distinguished between behaviors from interpersonal and intrapersonal perspectives. Research on these dimensions could expand our knowledge of the disorder and refine diagnostic criteria.

The Moderating Effect of Body Appreciation on the Relationship between Self-Esteem and Life Satisfaction

BACKGROUND

Although positive associations between life satisfaction, self-esteem, and body image have previously been established, differences in these variables by gender and age have yielded mixed results. Moreover, little is known about the interplay between self-esteem and body appreciation on life satisfaction. This study aims to investigate the moderating effect of body appreciation on the relationship between self-esteem and life satisfaction, considering disparities between females and males and also between emerging adults (before the age of thirty) and older adults.

METHODS

A cross-sectional online survey was performed in Poland with a sample of 449 adults aged between 18 and 75 (M = 30.41, SD = 12.72), including 68% of women. The survey included the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and Body Appreciation Scale (BAS-2).

RESULTS

Men scored higher than women in terms of life satisfaction and self-esteem, while older participants (age > 30) scored higher than younger individuals (age ≤ 30) in terms of life satisfaction, self-esteem, and body appreciation. The study confirmed positive and moderate correlations between life satisfaction, self-esteem, and body appreciation. The interactive effect of self-esteem and body appreciation on life satisfaction was also found by controlling for age and gender.

CONCLUSIONS

Some intervention programs focused on increasing levels of self-esteem and body appreciation should be implemented, especially among women and emerging adults, to improve their well-being.

Eating Disorders Risk Assessment and Body Esteem among Amateur and Professional Football Players

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to assess the risk of eating disorders and attitudes toward one's own body among football players at amateur and professional levels.

METHODS

The study included 90 players from football clubs located in the Upper Silesia Metropolitan Area, participating in the 4th and 5th leagues in Poland. A survey questionnaire was used to conduct the study, which consisted of a metric section, an Eating Attitudes Test, and Body Esteem Scale questionnaires. The players were divided into two groups according to their sports level.

RESULTS

Results showed that 24.4% of players were overweight, while 75.6% had a normative body weight. Approximately 16.7% met the criteria indicating susceptibility to an eating disorder. Body Esteem Scale interpretations revealed moderate body appraisal among players.

CONCLUSIONS

Both amateur and professional athletes showed no significant difference in eating disorder risk, but professionals rated their bodies higher. Social media use, particularly on Twitter and Instagram, is correlated with eating disorders, with longer daily use associated with lower body ratings.

Weight biases, body image and obesity risk knowledge in the groups of nursing students from Poland and Nigeria

Each population may have its own specific characteristics and cultural differences, which can affect perceptions of one's body, obesity, and the development of weight-related biases. The goal of our study is to (I) examine weight biases among incoming nursing students from two distinct cultures; (II) determine whether the cultural differences may be reflected in the levels of fat phobia, attitudes, and behaviors related to overweight and obesity; (III) adapt the Fat Phobia Scale and translate it into Polish. The study includes 119 Nigerian students and 120 Polish students. The following tools are used-ORK-10, ATOP, BAOP, BES and FPh. The results indicates that Nigerian students have significantly (p < 0.01) less knowledge about the risks associated with overweight and obesity. In contrast, they have a significantly (p < 0.01) more positive body image than the Polish students. Among Nigerian students, men have more positive body image in comparison to women (p = 0.01). An inverse relationship is observed in the group of Polish students, among whom women had a more positive body image than men did (p = 0.01). There are no statistically significant differences in fatphobic attitudes among the studied groups. It has been observed, that culture may be related to weight biases.

I Don't Want to Be Thin! Fear of Weight Change Is Not Just a Fear of Obesity: Research on the Body Mass Anxiety Scale

Anxiety is one of the psychological factors associated with body weight experienced by people attempting to live up to expectations of an ideal body shape. The stigma of excessive or too low body weight and the stigmatization of people because of it is becoming a widespread problem with negative psychological and social consequences. One effect of the strong social pressure of beauty standards dependent on low body weight is the development of eating disorders and negative societal attitudes toward overweight or obese people. Research conducted to date has mainly focused on one dimension of weight-related anxiety-the fear of getting fat. Ongoing research has also revealed the other side of weight-related anxiety-fear of weight loss. Therefore, the purpose of the present project was to develop a two-dimensional scale to diagnose the level of weight-related anxiety and to preliminarily test the psychometric properties of the emerging constructs. Results: the BMAS-20 weight-related anxiety scale in both Polish and English versions was developed and its psychometric properties were confirmed. The components of body weight-change anxiety that emerged were: anxiety about getting fat and anxiety about losing weight. It was found that both AGF and ALW may have a protective function related to awareness of the negative consequences of poor eating and the health risks associated with it. Above-normal levels of anxiety may be a predictor of psychopathology. Both AGF and ALW are associated with symptoms of depression.

Body Esteem and Self-Efficacy of Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

The diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus provokes a change in a pregnant woman's lifestyle, which may affect her well-being and precipitate a sense of loss of self-control over her own body. The perception of "body image" is not only physical appearance and physical attractiveness but also the emotional attitude to the body and beliefs about it. The aim of the study was to analyze the factors affecting body esteem and analyze the relationship between body esteem and self-efficacy in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus. The study was conducted in the period from April 2019 to January 2021 among 287 women with gestational diabetes mellitus with the use of the following research tools: Body Esteem Scale (BES) and Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES). The explanatory variables for the sexual attractiveness variable were age (β = 0.252; p = 0.006) and education (β = 0.334; p = 0.007), for the weight concern variable were age (β = 0.161; p = 0.005), BMI (β = 0.334; p = 0.005), and education (β = 0.252; p = 0.033), for the physical condition variable, were age (β = 0.096; p = 0.004) and education (β = 0.213; p = 0.006). Positive correlations were found between self-efficacy and body esteem in the aspects of sexual attractiveness (p = 0.350), weight concern (p = 0.296), and physical condition (p = 0.286). Positive correlations were found between self-efficacy and body esteem in the aspects of sexual attractiveness (p = 0.350), weight concern (p = 0.296), and physical condition (p = 0.286). Older women who had better education and a lower BMI rated their bodies better. In women with gestational diabetes mellitus, high self-efficacy determines a better perception of their bodies in all areas: sexual attractiveness, weight concern, and physical condition.

The Role of Social Media in Internalizing Body Knowledge-A Cross-Sectional Study among Women with Different Food Preferences

Virtual spaces, such as social media, give people a platform to exchange their opinions, experiences, and knowledge. Social media's ubiquitous usefulness has led to people relying, in whole or in part, on the information they learn online. As a result, a person's perception of his or her own body and their self-worth has started to be influenced by what other people think of them and by the information found on social media. Modern people's lifestyle, particularly their eating habits and exercise habits, exhibits a similar tendency. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationships occurring between factors related to the use and internalization of body image knowledge contained in social media and the factors shaping self-assessment and self-esteem in women following a vegetarian diet. An authority-validated questionnaire was used to determine the level of use and attitudes of respondents toward social media, e.g., SATAQ and BES. Associations about the potential negative impacts of the knowledge provided by social media on the development of body image and self-esteem were shown. It is interesting to observe that women who practice vegetarianism have less pressure on their appearance. This may be because vegetarianism is a lifestyle that is currently actively promoted online. Education is required on the connection between the use and internalization of social media knowledge and the development of healthy self-esteem and body evaluation.

Bridging the gap between body image and paranoia-like thoughts

A feeling of vulnerability is believed to be one of the foundations upon which paranoia is built. Factors that may increase vulnerability include negative affective states, low self-esteem and high social rejection sensitivity. Body image, which is one aspect of the overall self-esteem, has recently been shown to be associated with paranoia. However, little is known about factors underlying this association. In this online study conducted on a non-clinical sample (n = 539, 65.5% of female), self-report data assessing paranoia-like thoughts, body image, self-esteem, negative emotions, rejection sensitivity as well as various attitudes and beliefs related to body appearance were collected. The results revealed a significant serial mediation effect of negative emotions, self-esteem and rejection sensitivity in the relationship between body image and paranoia-like thoughts. Parallel mediation analysis showed an effect of social criticism as the only one of four studied groups of beliefs related to body appearance in the relationship between paranoia-like thoughts and body image. Moreover, paranoia-like thoughts were increased in people who were not satisfied with their body, both as a result of feeling too thin and overweight. To conclude, body image is an important factor related to paranoia-like thoughts, through its association with increased vulnerability and negative general self-view. The findings highlight the importance of negative emotions, low self-esteem and high rejection sensitivity, as well as the role of critical comments and lack of perceived acceptance as potential (socially-focused) mechanisms paving the way from negative body image to paranoia-like thoughts.

Body Composition and Its Perception among Professional Female Volleyball Players and Fitness Athletes (Silesia, Poland)

Female athletes experience both sociocultural and sport-specific pressures of an ideal body and appearance and are vulnerable to dissatisfaction with their bodies. Among sport-specific pressures, the type of sport is a predictor of body image dissatisfaction. The study included 150 females: 50 volleyball players, 50 bodybuilding and fitness athletes, and 50 female students, who were the control group. Body composition and perception and evaluation of one's own body were assessed. BMI was similar in the study group of female athletes and the control group, but the bodybuilding and fitness athletes had the lowest body fat, while the control group had the highest. Perception of one's own body in the aspect of the evaluation of specific body parts was highest among bodybuilding and fitness athletes, while in the aspect of body condition, the best results were obtained by volleyball players. Most female volleyball players were dissatisfied with their current body weight, as were women in the control group, in contrast to female bodybuilding and fitness athletes, who were most often satisfied with their current body weight.

Welfare and Self-Assessment in Patients after Aesthetic and Reconstructive Treatments

In the last decade, there has been a noticeable increase in the interest in aesthetic and corrective surgery regardless of a patient's age. Both aesthetical and practical considerations are a motivation for patients undergoing plastic surgery. The goal of this study is to analyze dependencies between welfare, self-assessment and body self-perception in patients that qualified for plastic and aesthetic surgical procedures. The study group included 164 female patients, of whom 124 patients filled out a questionnaire before and after surgery. The questionnaire included demographic data and scales such as the Body Esteem Scale, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale-SES, the Satisfaction with Life Scale-SWLS, the Flourishing Scale and the Scale of Positive and Negative Experience-SPANE. The first hypothesis concerned the subjective assessment of body self-perception after the procedure. The results of the study confirm this hypothesis-female patients after surgery rate their body self-perception higher, which indicates a positive influence of plastic and aesthetic surgery that increased in the subjective assessment of 66 examined patients. Moreover, the study revealed a higher self-assessment after procedures. On the other hand, the results indicated that younger patients had a higher body assessment, but there was no increase in self-assessment. Except for breast augmentation surgery, there was no influence on self-assessment and life satisfaction improvement after other surgical procedures. In patients up to 48 years old, after surgery, there was a significant dependence between subjective body self-assessment and all surveyed forms of welfare. In the case of patients after 48 year of age, there was a relationship between life satisfaction and body self-perception both before and after surgical treatment.

Body Shape Questionnaire-34 (BSQ) and Functionality Appreciation Scale (FAS) - pertinent body image screening tools: Creation and validation of Polish language versions

OBJECTIVE

Body image is defined as the perception of one's own body. While positive body image has a positive impact on quality of life, self-dissatisfaction may lead to depression, anxiety and low self-esteem. Body image might be quantified and evaluated: relevant instruments include the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) and the Functionality Appreciation Scale (FAS).This study was designed to translate and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Polish versions of these instruments.

METHODS

Translation (both forward and backward) from the original English versions of the questionnaires met international standards. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability are reported from 89 participants for the BSQ and 103 for the FAS. The participants also completed the Polish versions of the Body Image Quality of Life Inventory (BIQLI) and the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2) to explore convergent validity.

RESULTS

Both, Polish versions of the BSQ and the FAS demonstrated good internal consistency and reproducibility. Convergent validity revealed a moderate relationship between the BSQ and the BIQLI scores, and a strong one between the FAS and the BAS-2 scores.

CONCLUSION

Polish versions of both BSQ and FAS questionnaires showed sufficiently strong psychometric properties to support their use in clinical and research work with Polish speaking patients.

Factor Structure of the Polish Version of Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire-Appearance Scales (MBSRQ-PL)

In Poland, there is no tool for measuring the variable body image that would have standardization or Polish norms adjusted to the population of both women and men. The available Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBRSQ) validation developed in Poland was based on a small population of young women only. The aim of this article is to present Polish adaptation and standardization for polish adult women and men (MBSRQ-AS). In the study, the psychometric properties and factor structure of the Polish version of MBSRQ-AS were tested. The participants were 2688 people, including 1699 young women and 1089 young men. In order to investigate the psychometric properties of the adapted Polish tool, an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed. Then, the reliability coefficients were calculated, and the descriptive statistics of individual subscales were checked. The separated subscales are characterized by high indexes of factor loadings, ranging most often from 0.47 to 0.78. Separate subscales of the MBRSQ-PL questionnaire were defined: (1) self-esteem of the body and its parts, (2) self-assessment of physical, (3) self-assessment of external appearance, (4) Negation of one’s own physical activity, (5) Self-assessment of health condition, (6) health anxiety, (7) fear of gaining weight, (8) neglecting health and appearance.

Body self-esteem is related to subjective well-being, severity of depressive symptoms, BMI, glycated hemoglobin levels, and diabetes-related distress in type 2 diabetes

Background

There are limited data on the role of body image in patients with type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this study was to compare body self-esteem in this group with norms for the general Polish population and to investigate the relationship between body self-esteem and the psychological and clinical characteristics of the course of diabetes.

Methods

A group of 100 consecutive adult patients with type 2 diabetes (49 women and 51 men) aged 35 to 66 years were assessed using the Body Esteem Scale (BES), World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5), Problem Areas in Diabetes Scale (PAID), and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D).

Results

In comparison to norms for the general population, women with type 2 diabetes had lower body self-esteem only in the dimension of Physical Condition (M = 30.71; SD = 7.11 versus M = 32.96; SD = 5.69; P = 0.003), whereas men in the dimensions of Physical Condition (M = 42.43; SD = 9.43 versus M = 48.30; SD = 8.42; P <0.001) and Upper Body Strength (M = 32.16; SD = 6.60 versus M = 33.97; SD = 5.86; P = 0.015). There were moderate or weak positive correlations between the overall BES score and/or its dimensions and subjective well-being, and negative correlations between the overall BES score and/or its dimension and the severity of depression symptoms, level of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), body mass index (BMI), and diabetes-related distress among women. Among men, BES scores were positively correlated with well-being, and negatively, with BMI and diabetes-related distress. A correlation of r = 0.39 between BES scores and HbA1c levels was relatively high compared with values for other psychosocial factors. Both in women and men, a high Physical Condition score was a significant predictor of better well-being, less severe depression, and milder diabetes-related distress. Among men, it was also a significant predictor of lower BMI, whereas among women, BMI was predicted by Weight Concern.

Conclusions

Persons with diabetes seem to have lower body self-esteem than the general population, which is significantly associated with clinical and psychological characteristics of the diabetes course. The observed differences and relationships are gender-specific.

Evolution of the body image perception of people with obesity on the pathway from bariatric surgery to body contouring lift surgery

INTRODUCTION

Being obese has a significant impact on the quality of life limiting physical condition, life and professional activity, causing lack of acceptance from the environment, and a disturbing self-esteem. The main aim of this study is to identify which factors contribute to changes of self-esteem and satisfaction of female patients' body image perception as well as their correlation during the various stages of bariatric therapy.

METHODS

This prospective observational study included 438 bariatric female patients and a control group that consisted of 127 female subjects with reference body weight and BMI. Parametric data were collected in all the subgroups; anthropometric measurements and subjective assessment of body image were checked depending on the stage of bariatric treatment.

RESULTS

The body image and self-esteem of bariatric patients is changing according to the stage of bariatric treatment. At the beginning of the bariatric pathway, patients are characterized by a negative body image and low self-esteem. Women undergoing contour lifting surgery got the highest score, even higher than women from the control group. The lowest scores are in the group entering the therapy and 24 h after surgery. A more favorable body image and a higher self-esteem were presented by patients with higher education and a better financial situation.

CONCLUSION

For female bariatric patients, the body image and self-esteem scores are higher with the consecutive stages of treatment. A more favorable body image and higher self-esteem is demonstrated with patients having a higher education and a better financial situation.

Experiencing one's own body and body image in living kidney donors-A sociological and psychological study

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to perform an in-depth exploratory analysis of the experience and image of one's body among living kidney donors.

METHOD

The research was carried out using mixed methodology. The study on experiencing one's own body was carried out using the sociological methodology of the grounded theory (qualitative research). This method was supplemented with psychometric measurement-the Body Esteem Scale (quantitative research). The basic research method was the in-depth interview. Using this method, a group of 25 living kidney donors who had not experienced any serious health or psychological problems after donation was examined. The participants of the study came from three transplant centers in Poland.

RESULTS

The data from the sociological interviews indicate that the donors: 1. do not experience radical changes in the functioning of their body; 2. maintain full control over it and do not feel the absence of a kidney in the body; 3. consciously and reflectively take care of their body after donation. In addition, the sociological research indicates that caring for one's own body also includes the transferred organ. The kidney donors experience a kind of bodily identity extension, including the recipient's body. However, the personal and social identity of the studied kidney donors is not disturbed in any way. The psychometric data correspond to the sociological results and indicate: 1. a lack of extreme emotional assessments about one's body; 2. awareness of one's own body and consistency of its image; 3. reduced emotional assessment of body zones directly related to the surgery; 4. differences in body image between the sexes.

CONCLUSIONS

The research results presented in the text indicate not only the possibility, but also the need for triangulation of research methods in the study of the experience and image of one's own body in living kidney donors. The proposed research approach employing mixed methodology within the fields of sociology and psychology for researching the phenomenon of living kidney donation is not very common.

Self-Assessment of the Body and Social Competences in the Group of Mothers and Their Adult Daughters

The main research objective of this study was seeking the predictive role of general self-esteem and the body image in social competences among women and their biological daughters. As it stands, there is a lack of research showing the mothers and their adult daughters at the same time in the context of measuring the same psychological variables, i.e., general self-esteem, self-assessment of the body and specific social competences in the scope of behaviour in intimate situations, situations requiring social exposure and assertiveness. The study group comprised 102 individuals; 51 pairs of mothers (40-64 years old, M = 51.33) and their biological daughters (19-25 years old, M = 22.49). The following instruments were used: The Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, the Contour Drawing Rating Scale, the Body Esteem Scale, the Social Competence Scale, categorized interview (to measure BMI and collect data describing the criteria for selection to the research group). The significance of the differences and the stepwise regression analysis were performed. The results of the study demonstrated the following to be significant predictors of social competences in subjects: General self-esteem B = 0.615, discrepancy real-obligatory body image B = 0.275 among daughters, and physical condition B = 0.362 in mothers. The general self-esteem of daughters positively influences all verified types of their social competences (competences in intimate situations, in case of social exposure and ability to be assertive). However, it is the significant predictor only for mothers' competences in dealing with situations of social exposure. Discrepancy real-obligatory body image: Seems to be the predictor of daughters' social competences conditioning effectiveness in situations requiring assertiveness. The physical condition among mothers seems to be especially important for their assertiveness and effectiveness in intimate situations. The conflict between the real and the ideal body image is also an important aspect in predicting the assertiveness in the group of mothers. The study results can prove to be helpful in creating preventive and educational programs focused on self-esteem and social competencies in women, including the context of the relation between mothers and their daughters.

The Body as an Object of Stigmatization in Cultures of Guilt and Shame: A Polish-Vietnamese Comparison

The aim of this paper is to examine cross-cultural differences in body stigmatization between the individualistic Christian culture of guilt (Poland) and the collectivistic Buddhist/Confucian culture of honor and shame (Vietnam). The study included 1290 university students from Poland (n = 586) and Vietnam (n = 704). Subjects filled in the body esteem scale and the perceived stigmatization questionnaire, and body measurements were collected to calculate anthropometric indices. Participants from Vietnam were less satisfied with their appearance than their Polish peers. Men in both countries assessed themselves more favorably. No anthropometric index predicted body esteem in Vietnamese women, while only indices related to fat levels were predictors in Polish women. Men with a V-shaped body assessed themselves as stronger and as having a better physical condition. A possible explanation of the observed cross-cultural differences is that interdependent self-construal makes young adults in collectivistic societies more susceptible to criticism, and the Confucian values of modesty and shame lead to them not perceiving their bodies as sexual objects. The Christian sense of guilt does not influence the perception of sexuality. Absence of friendly behavior mediated the relation between anthropometric indices and body esteem in both cultures.

Can Personality Factors and Body Esteem Predict Imagery Ability in Dancers?

Dancing is mainly regarded as a form of art, which has been linked to the expression of emotions. Imagery is a well-known technique for enhancing performance. Additionally, specific personality traits are likely to facilitate performance. In the dancer’s performance, regarding the body as a tool is crucial. The following study examines personality and perceived body esteem as predictors of imagery ability in professional dancers. We analyzed two experimental groups, namely ballet dancers and professional dancers of other styles, and a control group. A sample of 249 people took part in the study: 155 women and 94 men aged 18–56 years. Participants filled in The Imagination in Sport Questionnaire and Polish adaptations of the Big Five Inventory—Short and the Body Esteem Scale. Results indicated that while each experimental group differed significantly from the control group in terms of their imagery ability, there were no differences between the two experimental groups. Findings revealed that personality traits, mainly higher openness to experience, and body esteem, mainly related to physical condition, were significant predictors of higher imagery ability in all groups.

Resilience, self-esteem, and body attitude in women from early to late adulthood

Background

There are only a few papers dealing with the correlation power of mental resources (i.e. resilience and self-esteem) and attitude towards one’s own body in women at different ages, from youth to late adulthood. The aim of the article was to present the results of research focusing on the influence of mental resources (resilience and self-esteem) on development of anti-health or health-promoting attitudes in adult women towards their own bodies.

Participants and procedure

The study involved 150 female participants aged 20–55 years. The following research methods were applied: the Rosenberg’s self-esteem scale SES, the Scale of Resilience Measurement SPP-25, the Contour Drawing Rating Scale by Thomson and Gray, the Multidimensional Self-Esteem Inventory (MSEI), the Body Esteem Scale BES by Franzoi and Shields, the Eating Disorder Inventory EDI, and the Questionnaire of Behaviour Towards the Body.

Results

The conducted analysis indicated a relevant relation between individual resources (both general self-esteem and mental resiliency) and cognitive emotional attitude towards one’s own body in the examined women. The predictors of behaviours towards one’s own body in the examined women turned out to be only a strong drive to be thin and fear of gaining weight. The strongest predictors of self-assessment of the body and the evaluation of physical attractiveness were general self-esteem and resilience. Self-esteem turned out to be the strongest predictor for satisfaction with sexual attractiveness.

Conclusions

Early diagnosis of distorted body image, and adopting a negative attitude towards it, can help to make more detailed psychological diagnosis of individual’s resources (resiliency and self-esteem) and their role in the development of the attitude towards one’s own body.

Body esteem and self-esteem in middle-aged women

The aims of the study were (a) to identify predictors of body esteem and (b) to expand on previous research by examining the link between global self-esteem and body esteem in a community-based sample of women in midlife. We found that body esteem in midlife women was predicted by body mass index (BMI), optimism, self-esteem, and menopausal symptoms. Although BMI was the main predictor of body esteem in middle-aged women, global self-esteem was more strongly related to feelings about appearance and physical condition than feelings about body size.

My Skin – a self-questionnaire for assessment of the emotional-cognitive representation of skin

<b>Background</b><br /> The aims of this paper are: 1) to present the My Skin questionnaire, 2) to report the preliminary results of a study on the emotional-cognitive skin representation, and 3) to encourage dermatologists and other specialists to use the My Skin questionnaire in their research. The inspiration for a new tool measuring the emotional and cognitive representation of skin was the psychological conception of the ‘skin ego’.<br /> <br /> <b>Participants and procedure</b><br /> My Skin, a self-questionnaire (MSQ), was used to measure the emotional and cognitive representation of an individual’s skin. It consists of two main scales: satisfaction with the skin condition (AB) and awareness of the biopsychosocial functions of the skin (C). The Body Esteem Scale, Body Self Questionnaire and Self-Esteem Scale were used to validate the MSQ. The participants were: healthy individuals (n = 343) and dermatology patients (psoriasis, vitiligo, juvenile acne, n = 84).<br /> <br /> <b>Results</b><br /> The psychometric parameters are presented in this article. The internal consistency reliabilities for subscales are in the range of .75 and .95. This article also presents preliminary basic statistics for the skin representation of dermatology patients and healthy people.<br /> <br /> <b>Conclusions</b><br /> My Skin questionnaire is a valid tool for assessing cognitive and emotional representation of skin and may be used in psychodermatology and esthetic dermatology to assess satisfaction with and awareness of skin.

Narcissism as a moderator of satisfaction with body image in young women with extreme underweight and obesity

Objective

Body weight and age constitute main determinants of body image in women. We analyzed the role of narcissism as a moderator of body image in young women representing various extremes of body weight.

Methods

The study included 325 women between 18 and 35 years, qualified into three BMI categories: obese women (BMI > 30.0, n = 72), severely underweight women who did not satisfy the remaining criteria of anorexia (BMI < 17.5, n = 85), and women with normal body weight (21.7 < “ideal BMI” > 22.7, n = 168). Satisfaction with body image was determined with Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire and Body Esteem Scale, while narcissism was measured with Narcissistic Personality Inventory.

Principal Findings

We revealed that narcissism has significant impact on the body image of women who are extremely underweight or obese. Vanity and Leadership were narcissism dimensions which played significant role in slim women, as compared to Vanity and Self-Sufficiency in obese women.

Conclusion

The role of narcissism as a modulator of self-satisfaction with one’s body varies depending on BMI level: extremely underweight women and obese individuals constitute groups in which narcissism has the strongest impact on the self-satisfaction with body.