Body image, self-esteem and health behaviour among senior high school students in Offinso Municipality

Abstract

Body image is a subjective picture of one‟s own physical appearance established both by self-observation and by noting the reactions of others. Research stipulates that body dissatisfaction is linked to critical mental health problems, including eating disorders, low self-esteem and depression. This study investigated body image, self-esteem and health behaviour and explored factors affecting body image perception among senior high school students in Offinso Municipality of Ashanti Region. The population for this study encompassed all students (N=5725) in the three senior high schools in Offinso Municipality. A sample of 561 students responded to answer the Rosenberg self-esteem scale (RSE), Body shape questionnaire (BSQ) and Health Behaviour Questionnaire for Adolescents (HBQA). Majority (75%) of senior high school students have body image concerns ranging from mild to serious concerns. Correlation results showed that there was a moderate positive relationship between body image and self-esteem (r=.587) and a weak positive relationship was found between self-esteem and health behaviour (r = .057). Regression results indicated that family influence (β =.361, p =.000).was the strongest predictor of body image. Female students have higher body image concerns, higher self-esteem and more positive health behaviours than the male students. Male students are more likely to engage in negative health behaviours than their female counterparts. The Municipal Education Directorate should organise school-based preventive educational intervention for students who have body image concerns to reduce the risks of developing body image dissatisfaction and to improve their self-esteem.