Relationship between Women`s Body Dissatisfaction, Sense of Coherence and Physical Activity

Abstract

Background. Socio-cultural pressure exerted by the environment and the media makes the majority of women take care of their bodies. That is especially true in Western culture which promotes slimmer women in recent decades.Methods. Two questionnaires were used in this research: Body Shape Questionnaire and Sense of Coherence scale. Research participants were 79 women aged 34.6 ± 3.76 years. Results. After six months of regular fitness classes women’s satisfaction of their body and their sense coherence level improved significantly. Relations between body shape dissatisfaction and sense of coherence, body shape dissatisfaction and manageability, comprehensibility and manageability were found.Conclusions. Systematic fitness training positively affects women’s satisfaction with their body. Understanding of the capability of controlling their body shape was improved. There was a significant relationship between dissatisfaction with their body shape and sense of coherence. The effect of physical activity improved the values of all three components of the sense of coherence construct. The values of comprehensibility, meaningfulness and manageability indicators show that respondents may already have a better control of their sense of coherence.

Exploring the relationship between the body self and the sense of coherence in women after surgical treatment for breast cancer

“…Bearing in mind the whole body of evidence for the positive relationship between SOC and all abovementioned indicators of mental and physical well-being, we hypothesised that SOC could also be positively correlated with the BS, both in the study and in control groups. In addition, we expected that this positive correlation would be stronger in the treated group, which could be interpreted in accordance with Antonovsky's concept of generalised resistance resources, 16,28 where SOC is of high importance for health stability in the face of severe stress. To our best knowledge, this study is the first analysis of these correlations in a group of breast cancer survivors.…”

“…12 Dumciene et al (2015) found the strongest correlations between the general SOC as well as manageability alone and body shape dissatisfaction in healthy women. 28 The Buddeberg-Fischer group investigated associations between body image, SOC, and well-being among more than 500 students. They found strong correlations between the SOC, well-being, body image, and concerns about eating behaviour and BS.…”

“…The results of other researchers show that psychological resilience is a significant protecting factor for the body image, preventing the excessive development of negative self‐esteem in post‐mastectomy women . Dumciene et al (2015) found the strongest correlations between the general SOC as well as manageability alone and body shape dissatisfaction in healthy women . The Buddeberg‐Fischer group investigated associations between body image, SOC, and well‐being among more than 500 students.…”

“…12,28 Similarly, there are few papers describing directly the links between SOC and body image. 28,29 We will refer to each of them in detail in the further part of the discussion. Moreover, there is a dearth of studies regarding the direct correlation between potentially one of the most discussed health protective factors, which is SOC, and the way women experience their bodies after mastectomy.…”

Social Appearance Anxiety of Fitness Participants

“…Social appearance anxiety is a concept that has been recently investigated by researchers in association with participation in sports (Berry & Howe, 2004;Brunet & Sabiston, 2009;Dumciene, Gedviliene, & Mickevicius, 2015;Eriksson, Baigi, Marklund, & Lindgren, 2008;Haase, Prapavessis, & Owens, 2002). Studies conducted in exercise psychology have clearly highlighted the positive effects of regular participation in physical activity on physical and psychological health (Aşçı, 2002;Dishman & Jackson, 2000;Fox, 1997;Paluska & Schwenk, 2000).…”