Positive Body Image Essay

This research is about the possible factors affecting one’s body image. Degree of religiosity and Parental and peer influence are the two factors being considered. Since the study is correlational, ‘body image’ is the criterion variable, and ‘degree of religiosity’ and ‘parent and peer influence’ are the two predictor variables. For the research study, variables such as the age and geographical area of the participants were controlled, however, several extraneous variables such as gender, type of religion followed, cultural differences, educational background, and family environment still exist.

Body image is an integral part of an individual’s overall growth. Many factors such as puberty, exposure to social media and films, environment, and culture affect an individual’s body image, although, family systems, peers and their feedback as well as one’s religious teachings seem to be the most immediate ecosystems that contribute to body image (Akira Sai, 2018) (Yom, 2011). Body image also in turn affects other growth factors of an individual’s personality such as self-esteem (David Mellor, 2010), psychological well-being (Paul H. Delfabbro, 2011), resilience (Robert J. McGrath, 2009), and greater life satisfaction (West, 2018).

Being such an important essence of an individual, body image concerning parent-peer influence and religion has mostly only been studied in Christian, Jewish, Muslim (Yael Sidi, 2019), and Turkish (Sarah Demmrich, 2017) women. The introduction of this field of research in India is vital since India is a diverse country in terms of religions. India is also, recently, striking a balance between being a country that celebrates collectivistic culture, thus placing importance on family systems and family values, and also changing rapidly to adapt to the modern generation to provide the youth with greater freedom and independence, placing importance on friendships, relationships and finding meaning and engagement in work. (Sinha, 2004)

This research will explore how body image is formed through the degree of religiosity and parent-peer influence in 18- to 26-year-old males and females in India.

Body image

Body image is how an individual perceives their body. Their thoughts, perceptions, and attitudes about their physical appearance make up body image. Several variables affect an individual’s body image.

Body image can be positive as well as negative. Positive body image is a clear, true perception of your shape; seeing the various parts of your body as they are. Body positivity (or body satisfaction) involves feeling comfortable and confident in your body, accepting your natural body shape and size, and recognizing that physical appearance says very little about one’s character and value as a person.

A negative body image, on the other hand, involves a distorted perception of one’s shape.

Negative body image (or body dissatisfaction) involves feelings of shame, anxiety, and self-consciousness. People who experience high levels of body dissatisfaction feel their bodies are flawed in comparison to others, and these folks are more likely to suffer from feelings of depression, isolation, low self-esteem, and eating disorders. (NEDA, n.d.)

Some research suggests that body image may be conceived as a loose mental representation of the body that is influenced by at least 7 sets of factors. These sets are the history of sensory input to body experience, the history of weight change fluctuation, cultural and social norms, individual attitudes to weight and shape, cognitive and affective variables, individual psychopathology, and biological variables. (Slade, 1994)

For this study, however, body image focuses on thoughts, beliefs, and conceptual aspects of an individual’s body experiences in five different domains - body acceptance, sexual fulfillment, physical contact, vitality, and self-aggrandizement. (Mia Scheffers, 2017)

Research suggests body image development begins during the preschool years and perhaps even during infancy (Smolak, December 2012). A healthy body image during early years can lay a foundation for strong mental health in later, adult years.

Degree of religiosity

Religion is another such aspect of life that an individual closely interacts with. Religion is often defined as a particular system of faith and worship, a superhuman controlling power. The terms religiousness and religiosity are used interchangeably but are often defined as an individual’s conviction, devotion, and veneration towards a divinity. (Stephen Gallagher, 2013)

In difficult times, people often find solace through religion and prayer since it offers a sense of meaning and purpose to the situation, thus making it a positive coping mechanism.

Religion, when looked at from a neutral point of view, can give a person, certain morals and set of standards to live by. These can include daily routines, diets, exercise routines, work ethic, social guidelines, and many more such support systems. Many religions also encourage the thought that in every individual, resides God, which leads to individuals willingly taking care of their body and developing a positive body image. (Odoms-Young, 2008) The degree to which an individual believes and has faith in their religion will affect largely whether or not they follow religious practices.

Parent and peer influence

When it comes to parental and peer influence, it is undeniable that both are an important aspect of an individual’s overall growth. Since they form the closest circle that interacts with the individual most often, they unknowingly affect the individual’s thoughts, actions, and habits. In the early years of an individual’s life, parents choose their children’s clothing style and by adolescence, they may seem critical of what the adolescent might choose to wear or carry themselves which may be dependent on their peer influence. (Marita McCabe, 2001)

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In addition to that, body image is a sensitive area for many teenagers and young adults. In such cases, it becomes important to know how parents and peers are influencing an individual’s body image and to what extent, whether one influences it positively or negatively. Often, many parents express concern over the growing influence of peers on an adolescent’s family values and personal morals. (Biddle, 1980)

Research on peer versus parent influence has been contradictory. Some research suggests that adolescents’ parents and peers provide competing messages about norms and rules, while other research suggests that parents and peers provide compatible messages. (Biddle, 1980)

This research will help answer the question as to whether body image is influenced by parents and peers, and if so, to what extent either of the two influence one’s perception of their own body?

Statement of the problem and need for the study

The possibility of parents and peers influencing body image will firstly, bring about a lot more awareness of the issues around body image. Body shaming will be discouraged more strongly among peers. Developing a positive body image will become one of the important goals of communication between parents and children. More focus will be put on encouraging body-positive attitudes rather than body shaming or critically judging one another’s bodies.

Secondly, a strong positive body image also goes on to affect other areas of a person’s life, such as their self-esteem and confidence (Lucie Baker, 2009). This will, in turn, cultivate better relationships with family and friends encouraging not only body image-related positive attitudes, but greater life satisfaction as well. The effect of positive body attitudes on relationships in life, work, and life satisfaction can be an area to be studied in the future.

Similarly, if religion proves to be contributing to greater acceptance and satisfaction of body image, those following religious practices may find greater sense in their practice and preaching.

People who do not necessarily follow religious practices can also read through texts that seem to give certain guidelines or routines for work, exercise, and meals.

It may encourage people to reach and understand their roots while also realizing their importance and unconscious effect on their thoughts. Concerning positive body image due to religiosity, variables such as hope (Ilanit Hasson-Ohayon, 2009), life satisfaction (Saeed Pahlevan Sharif, 2021), gratitude (Lambert, 2009), and forgiveness (Ji-yeon Lee, 2021) can be measured.

Thus, the first objective of the research is to study the relationship between the degree of religiosity and body image in young adults in India.

The second objective is to study the relationship between parent and peer influence and body image in young adults in India.

Research Question

The research will first attempt to answer the question- ‘Does a higher degree of religiosity impact body image in Indian young adults?’

The second question that the study will attempt to answer is- ‘Is body image in Indian young adults affected by parent and peer influence?’

Hypothesis

A higher degree of religiosity will be positively correlated to body image in young adults in India.

Parent and peer influence will be positively correlated to body image in young adults in India.

Summary

Since body image is an important factor contributing to an individual’s essence and mental health, it is important to understand how our most immediate environmental systems- our religions and our family and friends, create and cultivate a particular body image perception.