An investigation of the relationship between body image and self-concept in adolescent females : a developmental perspective

The research programme detailed in this thesis examined body image and self-concept in adolescent females. 804 young women in years 7 through 12, from two private, denominational, single sex metropolitan schools, completed the Self Description Questionnaire II (SDQ II; Marsh, 1992), a multidimensional measure of self-concept, and several measures of body image including the Body Esteem Scale (BES-1; Mendelson & White, 1982), the Body Attitudes Questionnaire (BAQ; Ben-Tovim & Walker, 1991), the Figure Rating Scale (FRS; Stunkard, Sorenson, & Schulsinger, 1983) and the Body Esteem Scale (BES-2; Franzoi & Shields, 1984).

In addition, a subsample of 24 young women, 8 from each of three year levels, 8, 10 and 12, were involved a single, individual semi-structured interview to obtain their views on body image, its development and its relationship to self-concept. The responses to the questionnaires were examined in two ways. Descriptive analyses were performed on the subscales of the self-concept and body image measures for age groupings and school year levels. In addition, the responses were involved in multiple regression analyses to identify significant body image predictors of the various facets of self-concept.

Prior to these multiple regressions however, a higher order factor analysis was performed on the body image subscales to identify the underlying dimensions of body image. Five body image factors were revealed: Global Body Esteem, Body Build, Sexual Attractiveness, Physical Condition and Body Emotions body image. These terms were used in the multiple regressions, as were interaction terms developed from the body image factor scores. The research found a complex pattern of development for both body image and self-concept and for the relationship between the two constructs.

Overall, it would appear that significant variations in many, but not all, facets of body image and self-concept occur with age and school year level. Furthermore, the majority of these variations appeared to occur between the ages of 13 and 15 and result in less favourable views of self on those dimensions. These more negative evaluations were generally evident throughout the remainder of the adolescent period under consideration. Comparison of the findings for age and school year level revealed a remarkable similarity of results, albeit with a few notable exceptions.

Similar to the results for body image and self-concept, the relationship between the two constructs also revealed a complex developmental pattern. Overall it would appear that there is a significant developmental relationship between the dimensions of body image and self-concept, although the particular facets of body image and their constellation across age or school year level varies according to the dimension of self-concept under consideration. All of the facets of body image emerged as important predictors of at least one dimension of self-concept for at least one developmental level, while none was important for all dimensions and all developmental levels. Furthermore, the relationship between the two constructs, body image and self-concept, appeared to be more complex, involving a greater number of dimensions of body image and variance across developmental levels, for some aspects of self-concept than others. In addition, the interactions between the facets of body image were significant predictors for many of the self-concept dimensions.

Comparison of the results for age and school year level again revealed a similarity in findings, although less than was evident for the descriptive data. The comments from the interviews with the young women served to both support and extend the quantitative findings. Adolescence was identified by the young women as a critical time in the development of body image, although there appeared to be few developmental changes during adolescence. Rather, it appeared that the adolescents' reactions to the physical changes associated with adolescence resulted in either a temporary or long term decrease in body image.

There appeared to be individual characteristics which acted to make the young women more vulnerable to maintaining the lowered body satisfaction common to all female adolescents. These factors included differences in the timing and rate of pubertal change, higher incidence of physical appearance teasing, more frequent comparison with others, stronger subscription to cultural prescriptions regarding female appearance and a social environment, including friends and family, that also expressed concerns with physical appearance. Although overt connections between body image and self-concept in other areas were infrequent, the content of the young women's comments indicated a relationship between the two constructs which varied according to the dimension of functioning under consideration.

Findings from both stages of the research have offered insights into the development of body image and self-concept in adolescent females and for the development of the relationship between the two constructs. It would appear that there is an interaction between the individual and their environment, such that both impact on body image and self-concept during adolescence. Suggestions for further research have been highlighted and limitations of the present study identified.