Relationship between body image and self-esteem among adolescent girls - Essay Example

Topic: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BODY IMAGE & SELF-ESTEEM AMONG ADOLESCENT GIRLS Introduction: The review outlines a most recent research on the relationship which exists between the body image and self esteem among adolescent. The research illustrates the relationship between body image compared to the personal self esteem. Therefore, having these in mind, then the topic is so essential and very vital to many teenagers who are at this stage and wouldn’t want to undergo an emotional tremor due to lack of awareness of their personal transformation. The topic stands out to be the only relevant material in guiding as well as educating this particular group in the society. Therefore, the article will be able to critically analyze the topic and give all the required recommendations as well as tan overview of how the topic is discussed by the Author in addition to supportive evidence through giving relevant survey statistics having done. Literature review: Lower levels of self esteem and poor body image are clearly documented in the general literature as significant cause of the concern among many adolescent girls (Marcotee2002). The first area of the review outlines the impact and emotional development on body image and self esteem. The chapter then goes a head to outline the immediate influence of family followed by an analysis of how the peers and the media impact self esteem as well as body image. Importance of the article: Having a distorted body image among girls who are at the adolescent age have been linked to the advancement of dysfunctional eating pattern and disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa, Binge eating disorder or even Bulimia Nervosa ( Ata 2006). The self esteem is so important factor; based on the research which shows that, it is directly related to one’s personal image and how adolescent girls perceive themselves. It is quite clear and very necessary to know that, self esteem corresponds with the emotional as well, as the physical development, can directly affect an adolescent girl in either a positive or a negative way. Purpose of the study: The main purpose of the literature review is to determine whether a relationship exists between self-esteem and body image among adolescent girls. The self esteem should never be low for anyone who wish to accept his or her self personality, thus the study focuses on al the aspect which are deemed necessary for overcoming the challenge imposed by lack of these self-esteem and image. Procedures and steps: The study was based on the systematic approach, whereby different respondent were interviewed using both orally and written questioners, this facilitated the acquisition of information so efficiently and giving most accurate data that would be relayed upon in assessing the situation on the ground. Once the data was collected, it was critically analyzed to come up with the conclusion as well as the relevant recommendations. Important information is given more emphasis and much weight so as to avoid biasness in coming up with the conclusion as well as the recommendation which shall be relied upon by the readers of the article. Participants: Considering the research conducted in schools as well as other social places, revealed a clear picture of how these two elements are affecting many teenagers both in their social and ordinary way of life. The study was conducted based on a random sampling to analyze the different perspectives as well as opinions that all these groups of personalities. As estimate of 60% of the population visited was analyzed to determine the information necessary f r the research. For instance the survey conducted Association of University women showed that only 29% of the girls who were served did express self-satisfaction, while more than half of the boys did feel so good about themselves. Out of these statistics it is not surprising that, the research has clearly linked adolescent body image, specifically the body dissatisfaction, with the prevalence of dieting and eating disorder according to (Lally2006). Responses: Most of the people who were intervened responded so positively despite e a few challenges such as lack of adequate questioners to facilitate the collection of the required information as well as fear which was experienced by certain individuals who were not willing to share so openly about there personal life experience and the problems they are going through. Every single question was intended to give an overview of the feelings and things which most people do not easily share especially the teenagers. Summery of findings: Having a fuzzy view of one’s body has been directly linked to low esteem among many people, which intern has been connected to the development of eating the disordered behaviors (Croll, 2005), Research indicates that between 55% to 80% of adolescents girls do feel negative about there body sizes or shape (Croll, 2005, p.155) where as 49% of the teenage girls do say that they know something with eating disorders. Furthermore, about 33% of the girls say they are have the right weight of their bodies, while only 58% are seriously looking for options to loose weight. In comparison to the males, female are very likely to think that their sizes are too large at least apart since they are exposed to thin models on the movies, magazines and on television. These are the major findings which were analyzed according to the author; they give an overview of these two challenges. Relevance of the findings: The findings are so relevant and very helpful to the current as well as the coming generation in understanding their personality as well as overcoming the challenges brought about by life transition from one particular stage to another. The article is very useful by different social groups who are part of the society. Conclusion: studies which are conducted, to determine the impact of peers, parents and society would improve the prediction of any disordered body and eating satisfaction of early adolescent girls (Griffith & McCabe 2000). This can also be said that, self-esteem is the most important predictor of any body dissatisfaction, while females who have low self esteem do experience more and more body dissatisfaction than those who have a high self esteem. Assumptions and limitation: The author assumed that there was sufficient research on the relationship between self-esteem and body image among adolescent girls as well as an assumption that the previous research has done on various influences which make most adolescent girls believe that they are so fat, need to diet up or even become saddened by their appearance. Some of the possible limitations of the study are; Luck of sufficient information about other general influences which cause adolescents to have the low self-esteem, and the quality of information available about the key influences may be lacking as well. Recommendation: The research outcome is so interesting due to the fact that it focuses on the exact things that most people fear being associated with as well as being free to share, especially parents and their children as it is the case with most families. The main recommendation is to bring the community members in an enlighten through the use of guest speakers to share on the importance of living life with a positive self-esteem and a healthy body image, including speakers who had suffered the same problem and have overcome such a problem. Furthermore, collaborating with the physical and health education teachers in schools to develop clubs in the extracurricular activities Such forums will give these different groups an enlighten of what they are going through and they will be able to manage the problem other than being captive of a normal transitional stage in the growth cycle. Reference: Lock, L, F., Silverman, S.J. & Wyrick Spirduso, W. (2004). Reading and understanding Research Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publishers. Griffith & McCabe (2000) Managing personal self-esteem and body image: overcoming the challenges attributable to the Weight: journal of personal assessment, 50, 2 http://www.cbc.ca/dnt/news-promo/2011/08/04/what-happens when-private-parts-go-public-aug-616/ Croll, S., & Lally, R., (2006) the impact of body-image experience: development of body image quality and life inventory. International Journal of disorders 32, 4 Read More