Self-concept in overweight adolescents

• Main Authors: Sandra Vuk Pisk, Mate Mihanovic, Ante Silic, Anamarija Bogovic, Vesna Vidovic
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: AOSIS 2012-02-01
• Series: South African Journal of Psychiatry
• Subjects: female adolescents; self-concept; bodyweight; OSIQ
• Online Access: http://www.sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/275

Background and objective. Adolescence is considered a critical stage of life, and one during which body image and self-concept are of particular importance for peer acceptance and approval. Body weight may impact on satisfaction or dissatisfaction in adolescent girls’ self-concept. The aim of this research was to determine the association between obesity and self-concept among adolescent girls. Methods. The study sample consisted of 40 overweight (BMI 25 - 30) 18-year-old girls in their last year of high school. A further 40 girls of the same age with a BMI of 18 - 25 formed a control group. The Offer Self-Image Questionnaire for Adolescents (OSIQ) was used to evaluate their self-concept. Descriptive statistical methods used in analysing the data included calculation of the median and standard deviation of variables, and t-tests were used to compare group differences, with p