The Effects of Body Image on Self-Efficacy, Self Esteem, and Academic Achievement

Poor body image may lower self assessments (self-efficacy and self esteem), in turn negatively affecting academic achievement in women. A correlational design examined this hypothesis using 92 first-year college students. Male and female subjects completed the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Scale appropriate for their sex. All subjects completed the Body Esteem Scale, Objectified Body Consciousness Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Self-Efficacy Scale, New General Self-Efficacy Scale, Academic Self-Regulation Questionnaire, and the Academic Achievement Scale. Results of structural equation modeling revealed that, in females, body image did affect self-assessments, but did not affect academic achievement. Males’ body images did not affect their self-assessments. These results suggest the need for more research in this area and encourage the development of interventions aimed at females’ body image in order to enhance self-assessments.College of Arts and SciencesA three-year embargo was granted for this item