The Relationship Between Peer Relationships and Social Appearance Anxiety in Teenagers

Abstract

Friendship relationships contribute to teenagers' psychological, physiological, social, and emotional aspects. This study aimed to examine the relationship between peer relationships and social appearance anxiety in teenagers. The study sample comprised 412 teenagers. A "Personal Information Form," "Social Appearance Anxiety Scale (SAAS)," and "Peer Relationship Scale (PRS)” were used to collect the data. One-way ANOVA, t-test for independent groups and correlation analyzes were used in the analysis of the data. The results show that both friendship relations and social appearance concerns of teenagers are moderately positive. A non-significant relationship was obtained between social appearance anxiety and friendship relations. In the study, it was also determined that there was a significant, negative and low level relationship between the social appearance anxiety of teenagers and the variables of being satisfied with their gender and weight. Research findings also show that girls' mean social appearance anxiety levels are significantly higher than boys' mean. As a result, it can be stated that teenagers should be supported so that they are not adversely affected by social appearance anxiety.