An exploration of the factors that may influence Maltese adolescents' body image

Abstract

The aim of this descriptive, non-experimental study was to explore the factors that may influence Maltese adolescents' body image. During adolescence, teens go through psychological, emotional, biological and social changes (Mc Cabe et al, 2002). These changes are influenced by the individual genetic composition and by several social settings such as the family, friends, culture, the media and the world of entertainment (Ricciardelli, 2003). Thus, the current study explored whether these factors influence the way adolescents look at their body image. Both quantitative and qualitative data was collected by means of a selfadministered questionnaire. Questions were based on the literature review to fulfill the aim of the study. A sample of 64 adolescents attending Junior Lyceum School was selected by means of a stratitred random sampling. 60 questionnaires were returned rendering a response rate of 92%. Results indicated that 86% of the participants were dissatisfied with certain parts of their bodies as they were different from their ideals. Females were found to experience more dissatisfaction with their body which is mostly correlated with body weight preoccupation. However, although to a lesser degree, boys were also found to be dissatisfied with certain body parts, mostly correlating with a more masculine image. Mothers, peers, and the media were found to persuade adolescents to change their hotly image in different ways, as they were found to be the dominant factors in body image dissatisfaction. However, a gender difference regarding these influencing factors was also found. An overall view of this study shows that while females demonstrate an increase in body image dissatisfaction, there also seems to be a growing concern for males to conform to an ideal masculine image. This study also revealed that even though body image concerns may lead to healthy eating choices and exercise, it may also lead females to dieting to lose weight, despite the already healthy weight. Hence, this study has indicated the need for health education programmes to emphasis the importance of a healthy lifestyle consisting of a healthy balanced diet and exercise to maintain a healthy body. This is very important as although most of the adolescents knew that they need to accept themselves as they are and to abide to a healthy lifestyle, they still seemed to underestimate these believes and continue to idealise a perfect body image.