Aspects of body image perception of preadolescent girls of different ethnic groups in Northeastern Johannesburg, South Africa

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background:Poor body image perception and body dissatisfaction has been found to be a risk factor foreating disorders. Studies have found that signs of distorted body image perception and bodydissatisfaction can be detected in children as young as 8 or 9 years old.Aim:The current study served to assess the extent of this problem in Northeastern Johannesburg,South Africa, in order to allow for the necessary intervention steps (e.g. development ofschool-based programmes) to deal with this problem to be put in place.Method:The study was a cross-sectional analytical study with a descriptive component. Two hundredand four girls (81.37% Black, 15.20% White and 3.43% Coloured or Indian) aged between 96and 119 months in primary schools in Northeastern Johannesburg were selected for this studyusing systematic random sampling. They were required to complete a questionnaire abouttheir body image perception and weight control behaviours, as well as undergoanthropometric measurements (i.e. weight and height).Results:This study found that the subjects placed much importance on being thin, with subjects statingthat they thought if a girl was thin she would be more popular (63.96%), have better selfesteem (69.63%), be more attractive (69.11%), be more feminine (73.80%) and be healthier(66.84%). When asked to identify the girl from a silhouette drawing that most resembledthemselves, 45.00% of the subjects were able to accurately identify which girl's size mostresembled their own, whereas 48.50% saw themselves as thinner than they are and 6.50% sawthemselves as fatter than they are. In addition, the majority of subjects (69.61%) said that theywere very happy with their weight and the majority (74.88%) classified it as 'just right.However, despite these findings, there was still significant body dissatisfaction evident in thegroup with 50.25% of the subjects wanting to be thinner, 28.57% wanting to be fatter andonly 21.18% not wanting to be thinner or fatter than they currently are. Of the subjectsparticipating in the study, 50.98% had tried to lose weight in the past and 28.71% had tried togain weight. Also, various factors (i.e. media, cultural, family and peer influences), wereshown to have a significant influence on the subjects' body image perception. Other factorssuch as socioeconomic status and physical activity level had no significant link with thesubjects' body image perception. Conclusion: There is a significant problem with poor body image perception and resultantweight control behaviours in this age group. Clearly, there is a need for body imageimprovement programmes to be put in place in primary schools so as to prevent preadolescentgirls from moving towards a lifetime of suffering with body dissatisfaction or, even worse,developing a life-threatening eating disorder.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University