The relationship between body image and self-consciousness during physical intimacy among emerging adult female students

Abstract

A quantitative research was conducted with the goal to access the relationship between three domains of body image and sexual self-consciousness among emerging adult female students based in Malta. 116 participants were recruited on a voluntary basis by convenience and snowball sampling and were asked to fill out an online 46- item questionnaire anonymously. The sample consisted of females aged between 18 to 27. The Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults (BESAA) by Mendelson et al. (2001) was used to analyse how participants feel about their appearance, their perception of others’ opinions about one’s appearance and their weight satisfaction. Additionally, the Body-Image Self Consciousness Scale (BISCS) by Wiederman, (2000) was used to analyse concerns of bodily appearance during physical intimacy. The questionnaire also consisted a section on demographics. Pearson correlation revealed that females that have a positive perception of their appearance are less self-conscious during physical intimacy. Females who have positive perceptions of other’s opinions about their appearance are less self-conscious as well. Women who feel positive about their weight are less self-conscious during physical intimacy. This research supports for nationality and sexual orientation differences regarding body image. Furthermore, it supports that individuals in a relationship are less self-conscious than those who are not. Individuals who are sexually active are less self-conscious during physical intimacy that sexually inactive. Helping individuals improve body image views could be the most effective strategy to boost sexual self-consciousness. Awareness activities may help to alleviate sexual self-consciousness and hence improve sexual relationship.