Gender differences regarding body image, stress and coping strategies in adolescence

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of the study is to identify the level of stress among adolescents regarding the body image and the strategies that they use to cope with it. Material and methods: Two hundred and eighty-two adolescents in 10 th and 11 th grade completed three questionnaires: the Adolescent Stress Questionnaire (ASQ), the Body Image Coping Strategies Inventory (BICSI) and the Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults (BES). Results: In the order of results, factors generating stress in adolescents are: money pressure (M = 5.80 ±2.70), uncertain future (M = 3.02 ±1.00), school/ leisure conflicts (M = 2.77 ±0.96), school performance (M = 2.60 ±0.74), assuming adult responsibilities (M = 2.53 ±1.23), school attendance (M = 2.52 ±0.96), romantic relationships (M = 2.51 ±1.04), home life (M = 2.31 ±0.74), interactions with teachers (M = 2.22 ±0.80) and peer pressure (M = 2.15 ±0.83). Girls are more stressed by home life, peer pressure, an uncertain future, money pressure and adult responsibilities, while boys obtained higher values in the variable stress generated by school attendance. The most frequently used coping mechanism is positive rational acceptance (M = 2.52 ±0.64). Conclusions: The level of stress among adolescents correlates with the level of satisfaction regarding the body image.

Chronological Age and Puberty Coping Strategy Among Iranian Adolescent Females

“…In the age group of 15 and below, emotion-focused strategy and, in the age group of above 15, problem-focused strategy was the dominant strategy. Several findings support that type of adolescents' coping strategy varied with age (2,6,9,(22)(23)(24)(25). Cocorada and Mihalascu (2012) considered the variable of age and grouped participants in 3 age groups: first group: 13-to 15-year-old students, second group: 16-to 17-yearold students, and third group: 18-to 19-year old students.…”

“…More than half of these adolescents live in Asia (1). Adolescence is the most important and most problematic stage of life (1,2). Adolescence includes the onset of sexual maturity to full physical growth.…”

“…These coping strategies are psychological efforts, which people employ for mastering, tolerating or reducing stressful situations. Impacts of coping strategies depend on individual characteristics, features of stressors, and content of one's demand (2). Adequate coping skills and cognitive behavioral methods are critical for the transition from adolescence to adulthood (13).…”

The Relationships Between Internet Addiction, Social Appearance Anxiety and Coping with Stress

“…Again, individuals who experience this anxiety keep their distance and avoid from others in their close relationships (Alden & Taylor, 2004). In addition, when individuals encounter a situation that threatens their body image, they will develop and use a variety of coping strategies to adapt or face these stressful thoughts, feelings and situations (Soponaru, Bojian, & Iorga, 2016). In this respect, one of the concepts related to social appearance anxiety can be considered as stress and coping with it (Reilly, & Rudd, 2007;Jain, 2016).…”

Psychometric Evaluation of the Persian Version of Body Image Coping Strategies Inventory

“…Adolescence is the most significant and challenging stage of life (1,2). It consists of a critical period of rapid physical, cognitive, social, and emotional maturation as the boy or girl prepares for adulthood (3,4).…”