Psychological Correlates of Body Image: Examining Self-esteem and Depression among Female Students

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19757016

Randhir Singh and Renu Sodhi (Department of Psychology, Government College for Women, Hisar, Haryana)

This research has analyzed the locality variations in depression, self-esteem and body image between adolescent girls and the interrelations between the variables. The population size was 100 individuals (50 rural & 50 urban individuals) who were examined using standardized psychological tests. Findings showed that rural girls had a higher rate of depression (M = 21.40) than urban girls (M = 18.10), whereas urban girls had higher self-esteem (M = 20.35 vs. 17.20) and positive body image (M = 68.75 vs. 62.50). Independent samples t-test revealed significant group differences in depression (t = 2.74, p < .01), self-esteem (t = -3.89, p < .01), and body image (t = -3.65, p < .01). The correlation analysis indicated that depression was negatively correlated with self-esteem (r = -0.62) and body image (r = -0.55), and self-esteem and body image had a positive correlation (r = 0.48). The results indicate that self-esteem and body image are protective against depression and emphasize the impact of socio-environmental factors on the mental well-being of adolescents. The paper highlights the importance of interventions in the rural setting that would facilitate psychological well-being.