Physical self‐concept and social physique anxiety: invariance across culture, gender and age

Abstract

This study examined the effects of culture, gender and age on the structure and mean levels of physical self-concept (PSC) and social physique anxiety (SPA) in adolescents from Portugal and Spain. An additional aim was to examine the effects of these variables on the PSC-SPA correlation. Adolescents (N = 3528, age range 12-18 years) completed the social physique anxiety scale and physical self-worth scale from the physical self-perception profi le. Single-and multi-sample confi rmatory factor analyses supported a two-factor model of PSC and SPA in the overall sample and within and across the culture, gender and age subsamples. Latent means analyses indicated that females tended to have signifi cantly higher average SPA levels and lower PSC levels relative to males. There was a general downward trend in PSC in males and females in each cultural group. SPA was relatively consistent in females and higher than males in most groups. SPA was relatively similar in males and females in younger age groups (born 1994-1996), but declined in older males. SPA was similar in Portuguese males and females in the youngest age group (born 1996), but males tended to have lower scores in older age groups. Results generally support hypotheses and are discussed relative to self-presentation models and coping with appearance-related stress.

Physical and Physiological Correlates of Social Physique Anxiety in College Students

“…In previous studies, social physique anxiety was generally examined in terms of age and gender [4,5] exercise motive [6], and physical activity [7]. As can be understood from the cited studies social physique anxiety was examined mainly in terms of its psychological correlates.…”

Body Image Perception and Internalization Problems Indicators in Mexican Adolescents

“…In Mexico, most of the research focuses on the discrepancies between the Body Mass Index and the body image in adolescents (Sámano et al, 2015;Oliva, Ordóñez, Santana, Marín, Andueza, & Gómez, 2016); however, little is known about the difference in the internalizing problems indicators between those adolescents with a positive body image and those without, especially regarding the adolescent's gender, a factor considered relevant in this topic by several studies (Hagger, Stevenson, Chatzisarantis, Pereira, Leitão, & González, 2010;Almeida, Severo, Araújo, Lopes, & Ramos, 2012;Holubcikova, Kolarcik, Madarasova, Van Dijk, & Reijneveld, 2015). Because of this lack of information, the aim of this study was to determine the existing differences by gender in the indicators of internalizing problems regarding the body image perception of Mexican adolescents.…”

Social Physique Anxiety: An Exploration of Influence on Sporting Confidence and Participation

“…Recently, peer influence has also been shown to have a profound effect on body dissatisfaction and SPA (Cash & Pruzinsky, ; Hagger et al., ; MacKinnon et al., ). Peer influence on body image is likely to develop through school, family, and extracurricular activities (Cash & Pruzinsky, ), and research has shown that negative health behaviors are likely to be influenced by the desire to be accepted by peers (Hagger et al., ).…”

“…Recently, peer influence has also been shown to have a profound effect on body dissatisfaction and SPA (Cash & Pruzinsky, ; Hagger et al., ; MacKinnon et al., ). Peer influence on body image is likely to develop through school, family, and extracurricular activities (Cash & Pruzinsky, ), and research has shown that negative health behaviors are likely to be influenced by the desire to be accepted by peers (Hagger et al., ). Research into eating disorders has indicated that, at least for females, disordered eating is greatly influenced by peer group (Fenton et al., ); other studies have also reported that peer influences on males are likely to increase the likelihood of anabolic steroid and other drug use (MacKinnon et al., ; Morrison et al., ).…”