Thesis Title: Body Image Concerns and Self-Esteem as Predictors of Psychological Wellbeing in Obese Women
Author Name: Amna Arshad
Supervisor: Fatima Kamran
Year: 2017
Degree: MSC
Department: Institute of Applied Psychology
University: Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan
Corresponding Address: Department of Applied Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. Email: chairperson@appsy.pu.edu.pk, Phone: 92-42-9231245
Abstract
Obesity can have detrimental psychological consequences (Friedman & Brownell, 2005). It is more likely that it forms barriers to emotion regulation that, for both biological and psychological reasons, lead to psychological distress. Therefore, the study was conducted to investigate how body image and self-esteem affect psychological well-being of women with obesity and to find out the mediating role of self-esteem between body image concerns and psychological wellbeing. It was a cross-sectional research with a sample of 102 women with a BMI ≥ 29, recruited through convenient sampling technique from different gymnasiums in Lahore. Objectified Body Consciousness scale (Mckinley& Hyde, 1996) in Urdu version, Rosenberg Self-Esteem scale (Rosenberg, 1965) and Psychological wellbeing scale (Ryff & Keyes, 1995) in Urdu versions were used to assess body image concerns, self-esteem and psychological wellbeing. Hierarchical Regression analysis and Pearson Product Moment Correlational analysis were used. It was found out those obese women who had negative body image concerns had low self-esteem and poorer psychological wellbeing. Among the socio demographic factors, it was revealed that obese women who were older in age were found to have better psychological wellbeing than younger women. The research had concentrated the psychological consequences of obesity on women’s mental health. The findings can enable the mental health professionals as well as the general public about body image concerns and psychological wellbeing of obese women.
Keywords:
Body image, self-esteem, psychological wellbeing
