Document Type
Dissertation
Date of Award
12-2023
School/College
College of Education (COE)
Degree Name
Ed.D., Counselor Education
Committee Chairperson
Candy H. Ratliff
Committee Member 1
Candy H. Ratliff
Committee Member 2
Ronnie Davis
Committee Member 3
Carol Parker
Committee Member 4
Deborah Wilson
Keywords
Attitudes, Body factors, College Students, Self-esteem, Socio-demographic factors
Abstract
Objective of the Study The purpose of this empirical investigation will be to determine the predictable relationship between body types of factors, socio-demographic factors, attitudes toward body factors and the self-esteem scores of undergraduate freshmen college students. More specifically, the study will be concerned with predictability of body types, socio-demographic, and attitudes toward body factors of body image, body appreciation, gender, age, physical attractiveness, and satisfaction with physical features of the body on the self-esteem scores among undergraduate freshmen college students. Answers to the following questions will be sought: 1. Do body type factors (body image and body appreciation) have any predictive power on the self-esteem scores of undergraduate freshmen college students? 2. Do socio-demographic factors (gender and age) have any predictive power on the self-esteem scores of undergraduate freshmen college students? 3. Do attitudes toward body factors (physical attractiveness and satisfaction with physical features of the body) have any predictive power on the self-esteem scores of undergraduate freshmen college students? The following research hypotheses will be formulated in the present investigation: 1. H1: There is a statistically significant predictable relationship between body type factors (body image and body appreciation) and the self-esteem scores of undergraduate freshmen college students. 2. H2: There is a statistically significant predictable relationship between socio-demographic factors (gender and age) and the self-esteem scores of undergraduate freshmen college students. 3. H3: There is a statistically significant predictable relationship between attitudes toward body factors (physical attractiveness and satisfaction with physical factors of the body) and the self-esteem scores of undergraduate freshmen college students. Present Status of the Problem The level of self-esteem individuals has impact how they manage their mental health emotionally, physically, and in other areas, such as their personal and professional lives (Lakey et al., 2014). College students are especially likely to need a strong sense of self-esteem as they transition and undergo changes as part of their identities (Lakey, et al., 2014). When college students do not have a high sense of self-esteem, they are likely to experience depression and anxiety. There has been research showing that individuals with a low self-esteem are more likely to experience depression and attempt suicide (Lakey, et al., 2014). People with low self-esteem or a low level of resilience might not be able to act on the things they want to change, such as their bodies or the way they think of themselves, if they dislike their bodies (Shen et al., 2010). Others may feel they do not have the capacity to act on the things they wish they could change (Derosier et al., 2013), such as their bodies. Individuals may make decisions based on how they feel about their body image. Self-esteem is determined in part by one's body image (Marengo et al., 2018). Study participants in one study rated their appearance as the "most important" factor when gauging their self-esteem (Marengo et al., 2018), while the majority of the other participants also rated it rather highly. College students are also frequently concerned about body image (Shen et al., 2010). The findings of Shen, Zhou, and Kong (2010) indicate that 74.4% of college students with "normal body weight" think about their weight or appearance often or always. According to the same study, 46 % of healthy men responded the same way (Shen et al., 2010). According to Shen et al. (2010), a significant portion of their female university student participants held an irrational view of their bodies based on their views about their bodies that did not align with their actual bodies. There was no significant relationship between actual body type and social performance, self-esteem, or extroversion of the students; however, their perceived body type and irrational evaluation did (Shen et al., 2010). According to the researchers, students' actual body types did not explain their social skills, self-esteem, or extroversion, but their predicted body types and irrational expectations did (Shen et al., 2010). Due to the life stage that college students find themselves in when they enroll, Liss and Erchull (2015) hypothesized that body image is a key factor in college success. The college years are a critical time for college students to develop their identities and assess themselves, placing body image high on their list of important determinant factors (Liss & Erchull, 2015). The concept of self-esteem is based on subjective notions such as attractiveness, intelligence, or having or not having skill or talent, making it hard to maintain positive self-perceptions (Ümmet, 2015). Those students who carry themselves with high self-esteem are more likely to achieve academic success and success in school. No one is destined to be either high- or low-esteemed based on their subjectivity. An elevated sense of self-esteem is associated with happiness, and the opposite is true when a sense of low self-esteem is associated with unhappiness (Bajaj et al., 2019). When high self-esteem is present, a person is more outspoken, determines their own strategies to succeed, and is less likely to experience anxiety or depression at the first sign of bad news. An individual's self-esteem is impacted by accomplishments and recognition, encouraging growth mindsets on purpose. Having academic success both inside and outside of the classroom boosts one's confidence (Ümmet, 2015). Methodology A Simultaneous Multiple Regression Statistical Design will be used in this empirical study. The population for this empirical study will consist of undergraduate freshmen college students enrolled in an urban university located in fourth largest city in the United States. A probability sampling technique will be employed in this empirical study. The probability sampling procedure to be used in this study will be the cluster convenience sampling technique. There will be five instruments used to collect data for the present investigation. They will be the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Physical Attraction Scale (short version), Body Appreciation Scale (BAS-2), the Body Esteem Scale and Demographic Profile Sheet. Since the self-esteem instrument will yield interval-ratio data, two parametric procedures will be used. They will be the multiple correlation procedure and Simultaneous Multiple Regression technique. Procedures During the Fall semester of 2022, the researcher will select intact or existing groups of participants rather than individuals. First, the researcher will identify and develop a list of the clusters in the population, in this case a cluster will be an undergraduate freshman class. Secondly, the researcher will identify the majors, and identify the freshmen courses in each major. Thirdly, the researcher will reach out to the instructor of record asking them to conduct research in their class. Once permission is granted, the researcher will request a list of all the academic undergraduate classes for the Fall semester of 2022. Fourthly, the researcher will give them the informed consent. The undergraduate students who consent to the research will be given the survey. The researcher will be going to each class just one time. Moreover, the researcher will develop a research package for each professor whose undergraduate class has been randomly selected to participate in the study. The research package will contain a summary of the research study, consent forms for freshmen student participants and copies of the questionnaires to be administered for the student participants. Also, the research will provide the professor of each class with proper instructions or how to administer the questionnaires to the student participants. Expected Outcomes It will be expected that Body type factors, socio-demographic factors, and attitudes toward body factors will have some predictive power regarding self-esteem among college freshmen students.
Copyright
Copyright © for this work is retained by the author. Any documents and information presented are protected by copyright under US Copyright laws and are the property of the author. All Rights Reserved. For permission to use this content please contact the author or the Graduate School at Texas Southern University (graduate.school@tsu.edu).
Recommended Citation
Mohammadi, Pantea, "The Predictability Of Body Types, Socio-Demographics And Attitudes Toward Body Factors On The Self-Esteem Of College Students" (2023). Dissertations (2016-Present). 87.
https://digitalscholarship.tsu.edu/dissertations/87