Body Image Avoidance, Fear of Intimacy, and Social Avoidance Among Young Adults

Abstract

The study aimed to inspect the relationship between body image avoidance, fear of intimacy and social avoidance among young adults. The sample population included 200 participants (100 males, 100 females) aged between 18 to 25 years. Scales utilised for the study included the body image avoidance questionnaire (Rosen et al., 1991), fear of intimacy scale (Carol J. Descutner & Mark H. Thelen. 1991), and the social avoidance and distress scale (Watson, D. & Friend, R. 1969). Statistical analysis included Spearman correlation, linear regression and Mann Whitney U test. The results suggested a strong correlation of body image avoidance with fear of intimacy (p﹤0.05) and social avoidance (p﹤0.05). Regression analysis revealed strong influence of body image avoidance on fear of intimacy (p﹤0.05) and social avoidance (p﹤0.05). Gender difference study’s findings revealed there was a significant difference in body image avoidance but not in fear of intimacy and social avoidance. Mean values predicted a higher body image avoidance and fear of intimacy level among men when compared to women. Whereas social avoidance is found to be higher among women than in men.