Individual and familial correlates of body satisfaction in male and female college students.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigates the relative contributions of global self-esteem, body mass index (BMI), dieting behaviors, and perceived parental control and care on body satisfaction among a nonclinical sample of college students.


METHODS
Participants (49 males and 299 females) reported weight and height (to calculate BMI) and completed the EAT 26 test. Perceived parental care and control, global self-esteem, and body satisfaction were measured and examined in relation to BMI and dieting behavior.


RESULTS
High BMIs were associated with lower body satisfaction for both genders; dieting behavior, self-esteem, and perceived parental care and control demonstrated a unique gender-specific association among variables in prediction of body satisfaction and dieting behavior for each gender.


CONCLUSIONS
Body satisfaction as a part of global self-esteem is constructed differently by males and females. Various aspects of parenting (care and control) are associated with self-esteem and body satisfaction for each gender, influencing dieting behavior.
Sira
Natalia
N
Department of Child Development and Family Relations, College of Human Ecology, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27858-4353, USA. siran@ecu.edu
White
Carmel Parker
CP
D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004032:Diet / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D012649:Self Concept; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities