Body Image Perception of Mexican Youth: A Gender Comparison

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to compare the scores on body shape (current, ideal and social) and body size dissatisfaction between men and women high school Mexican students. A total sample of 653 participants, 322 women and 331 men, aged 13-19 years participated in this study. A quantitative approach with a descriptive and transversal survey design was used. All the participants completed the Contour Drawing Rating Scale. The results of the one-way multivariate analysis of variance, followed by the one-way univariate analyses of variance, showed that compared with the men, the women expressed a greater discrepancy between ideal and actual body shape and had higher score of social body shape and lower score of ideal body shape (F1 = 90.123; p < .001). However, in the current body shape statistically significant differences were not found. Because of the differences between men and women in their perception of body image found, these findings suggest that in order to design any intervention for improving the perceived body image of the students, the variable gender should be taken into account.