1Department of Nursing, Kwandong University 2Department of Nursing, Hanseo University 3Department of Nursing, Chung Ang University
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify body esteem, body figure discrepancy and depression in women college students. Method: The data were collected during April and May, 2004 using a questionnaire. The participants were 364 women college students attending universities in Seoul and Gangwon-Do. Results: The BMI for under weight, normal weight and overweight for the college women were 49.2%, 48.3%, 2.5% respectively. But 52.6% of the students perceived themselves as obese and only 11.5% described themselves as being 'thin'. The mean scores for BMI, body esteem, body figure discrepancy and depression were $20.11{pm}2.20$, $2.36{pm}.79$, $1.07{pm}.58$ and $1.20{pm}.48$ respectively. Significant difference was found in body esteem score (F=26.389 p<.0001) and body figure discrepancy (F=64.167, p<.0001) according to BMI scores. There were negative correlations between body esteem and body figure discrepancy (r=-.582, p=.0001), between body esteem and depression (r=-.120, p=.028), between body esteem and BMI (r=-.422, p=.0001), and a positive correlation between body figure discrepancy and BMI (r=.630, p=.0001). Factors such as body figure discrepancy, BMI and depression explained 36.7% of the valiance in students' body esteem. Conclusion: This study suggests that an intervention program is necessary for women college students to increase their body esteem.
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