Body Image Dissatisfaction: Self-Esteem and Exercise Motive among men and women in a University Setting

The present study aimed to investigate the associations between body image dissatisfaction,self-esteem, and exercise motivation. Participants comprised 79 Amity university Mumbaiundergraduates ( 42 female, 37 male ) ranging in age from 17-22. Data consisted of participant'sscores for The Rosenberg self-esteem scale (RSES), The Exercise Motivation Inventory -2(EMI-2), and The Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ-34). Females were found to have higherself-esteem than their male counterparts in this sample. A significant gender difference wasobserved regarding body image dissatisfaction as females wanted to be thinner and had negativemotives for exercising, on the other hand, males were found to be content with their body shape.Females were found to be motivated to exercise significantly more than males forappearance-related reasons, which positively correlated with body image satisfaction. Bodyimage dissatisfaction was significantly positively correlated with self-esteem. Results werediscussed in relation to methodological weaknesses. Using visual stimulus to report body imageand practical implications, e.g., raising awareness of healthy attitudes towards food and exercisebehaviors in a university sample.