Insoddisfazione corporea in adolescenza: influenze di fattori bio-psico-sociali.

Summary Body dissatisfaction is a central aspect for self-evaluation; pressures to maintain an ideal physique can result in disordered eating habits. In young women, body concern and anxiety related to some parts of it can be expressed through their desire to lose weight. The aim of the study is to analyze the role of some risk factors, such as body mass, low self-esteem and sociocultural influences in affecting body dissatisfaction, expressed in terms of distance from an ideal and body concern. Participants are 187 adolescent females aged between 14 and 16. Risk factors taken into consideration seem to have a different effect on the two aspects characterizing dissatisfaction. Body Mass Index (BMI), self-esteem and internalization of a thin ideal seem to influence the distance perceived from an ideal body; pressure, besides BMI and self-esteem, affect weight and body shape concern. Body shape concern seems to be influenced even by internalization and awareness. It can be observed that such risk factors, in particular BMI, play a different role in adolescents classified as normal weight and underweight.