Correlates of body dissatisfaction among Taiwanese adolescents

Purpose: This study was designed to explore factors associated with body dissatisfaction among Taiwanese ado-lescents. Methods: Participants were randomly selected from five high schools in Taipei County, Taiwan. A total sample of 883 adolescents aged 12-16 was included. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated using self-reported weight and height. The Contour Drawing Rating Scale was used to assess body dissatisfaction. Other measure-ments included the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire-Appearance Evaluation (MBSRQ-AE), the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, the Eating Disorder Inventory-Perfectionism, the Socio-cultural Attitudes To-wards Appearance Questionnaire (SATAQ–Internalization and SATAQ–Awareness), and physical activity. Mul-tiple linear regression analyses were performed separately by gender to examine predictors of body dissatisfac-tion. Results: girls reported significantly higher body dissatisfaction, awareness of the socio-cultural ideals (SA-TAQ-Awareness), as well as the internalization of those ideals (SATAQ-Internalization) and lower satisfaction with their physical appearance (MBSRQ-AE). This indicated that girls felt less positive with their overall ap-pearance and had a higher level of recognition and endorsement of the social standards of appearance than boys. Satisfaction with physical appearance (MBSRQ-AE), BMI and internalization of socio-cultural ideals (SATAQ-Internalization) were unique predictors of body dissatisfaction for both genders. Conclusions: this study en-hanced the understanding about body dissatisfaction in Eastern populations. Perceived physical appearance, BMI and internalization of the socio-cultural ideals predicted body dissatisfaction, which are evident in Taiwan, as well as in Western based research. However, these factors only explained a small variance in body dissatisfac-tion for boys, suggesting a need in identifying more factors related to body dissatisfaction among boys.