Relationship among body image, sex, and popularity of high school students

Body dissatisfaction and attempts to lose weight are increasingly common am ong adolescents. Research has identified a number of factors significantly associated with body image, including sex, media, parental relationship, an d puberty as well as weight and popularity. It was hypothesized that popula r adolescents would have greater body dissatisfaction, more body distortion , and lower body esteem. From a rural high school 116 10th and 12th grade s tudents were surveyed. Two teachers from the school also completed a Body I mage Figure scale for each student. Subjects rated each grade member on a 5 -point Likert-type scale, indicating how much they liked the classmate. A S ocial Preference rating (Popularity) was calculated for each subject from t hese ratings. Each subject also completed a Body Image Figure scale and Bod y Esteem scale. Body distortion was calculated by comparing the teachers an d a student's responses. Significant sex differences were found for scores on body satisfaction, distortion, and esteem, but none for popularity with distortion and body esteem. A relationship between popularity and body sati sfaction was found, with the most popular adolescents reporting the least d iscrepancy between their ideal body image and their current body image. Pop ular adolescents are most satisfied with their body type.