Abstract

TORRESANI, ME et al. Comparison of the Degree of Satisfaction with Body Figure by Gender in Adolescents from the ILSE School - UBA. Diaeta [online]. 2009, vol.27, n.128, pp.15-21. ISSN 1852-7337.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to compare the degree of satisfaction with the body figure by gender, in adolescents attending the first and second year of the ILSE School - UBA. Methodology: Comparative, transversal study. Individual, voluntary and anonymous questionnaire, in a non-probabilistic sample constituted by 358 adolescents between 12 and 14 years of age (58.9% females and 41.1% males). Variables: Degree of satisfaction with body figure, influential factors on the creation of body image and importance of physical appearance, controlled by sex variable. The CDRS (Contour Drawing Rating Scale) was applied to determine satisfaction with body figure. The statistical analysis applied was SPSS 11.5 using the Chi square distribution to compare proportions, and T-student to compare the media with a 0.05 significance level. Results: 37.4% (IC95%: 30.7-44.2) of females and 44.2% (IC95%: 35.8-52.6) of males are satisfied with their body figure (p: 0.2392). Both in females and males there was a positive mean difference between the perceived and desired figure (0.84 ± 1.33 0.20 ± 1.43 and 0.20 respectively). Dissatisfied females and males aspire to be slimmer in most cases, but the former in a greater proportion (87.9 % vs. 57.3%). (p = 0.0000). Both males and females refer to the mass media as the most important factor influencing the building of body image - 35.1% (IC95%: 28.4-41.7) and 38.1% (IC95%: 29.9-46.3) respectively. Females consider physical appearance to be significantly more important than males (p: 0.0181). Conclusions: No significant differences were observed as regards gender in the prevalence of satisfaction with body figure.

Keywords : Adolescence; Degree of satisfaction; Body figure.

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