The relation between body image satisfaction, self-esteem and the academic behavior among the first and fourth year students in the Faculty of Nursing Tanta University

Abstract

Background: Body image is interrelated to a person’s self-esteem. Misperception about one’s body can be the cause of disturbed self-esteem, and this result in low academic achievement. The objective of this study is to explore the relation between body image satisfaction, self-esteem and the academic behavior among the first and fourth year students in faculty of nursing.
Methods: A comparative description design was utilized for this study. Three tools used for this study: Tool 1, Part 1: Sociodemographic and general characteristics of studied nursing students, Part 2: The Body Shape Questionnaire modified version 14 (BSQ) scale. Tool 2: The Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSE). Tool 3: the Measurement of Academic Behavior.
Results: The results of this study showed that there was a significant negative correlation between body image dissatisfaction and self-esteem in the first year students as r = 0.167 and p = .018, also in the fourth year students as r = 0.285 and p ≤ .001. There was a significant positive correlation between self-esteem and academic behavior in the first year students as r = -0.253 and p ≤ .001. While in the fourth year students there was a significant positive correlation between their self-esteem and their academic behavior at r = 0.235 and p ≤ .001.
Conclusions: The results concluded that the students had a large percent of dissatisfaction with their body image and low self-esteem level, also they had low level of academic behavior. This study recommended that future research need positive psychiatric management which relates cognitive framing with applied behavior to elevate body image satisfaction and self-esteem and also to elevate physical activity.