Examination of Self-Esteem, Body Image, Eating Attitudes and Cardiorespiratory Performance in Adolescents

Peter Petrovics, Alexandra Nagy, Barbara Sandor, Anita Palfi, Zsolt Szekeres, Kalman Toth and Eszter Szabados
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Peter Petrovics: Institute of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pecs, H-7624 Pecs, Hungary
Alexandra Nagy: State Hospital for Cardiology, H-8230 Balatonfüred, Hungary
Barbara Sandor: Division of Preventive Cardiology and Rehabilitation, 1st Department of Medicine, Medical School, University of Pecs, H-7623 Pecs, Hungary
Anita Palfi: Division of Preventive Cardiology and Rehabilitation, 1st Department of Medicine, Medical School, University of Pecs, H-7623 Pecs, Hungary
Zsolt Szekeres: Division of Preventive Cardiology and Rehabilitation, 1st Department of Medicine, Medical School, University of Pecs, H-7623 Pecs, Hungary
Kalman Toth: Division of Cardiology, 1st Department of Medicine, Medical School, University of Pecs, H-7624 Pecs, Hungary
Eszter Szabados: Division of Preventive Cardiology and Rehabilitation, 1st Department of Medicine, Medical School, University of Pecs, H-7623 Pecs, Hungary

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 24, 1-14

Abstract: Self-esteem, body image and eating attitudes are important characteristics regarding adolescent mental health. In our present work, we aimed to investigate these psychological items in adolescent boys and girls examining gender differences and correlations with the BMI-for-age and cardiorespiratory performance. 374 students (209 girls with an average age of 16.4 ± 1.08 years, and 165 boys with an average age of 16.5 ± 1.03 years) underwent investigation using the Rosenberg self-esteem scale, EAT-26 and BAT questionnaires. The BMI-for-age was calculated with BMI growth charts and the cardiorespiratory performance was measured with the 20 m shuttle run test. Our results showed that adolescent girls scored lower self-esteem and higher values for BAT and each scale of eating behaviors, such as uncontrolled eating, cognitive restraints and emotional eating compared to boys despite the fact, that obesity and overweight were more common among boys. No significant correlation was found between BMI and psychological test results in either boys or girls, however, subjective body shape and gender predicted self-esteem and BAT scores and the cognitive restraints in the eating attitudes. Uncontrolled and emotional eating were primarily influenced by gender, in which BMI played only a weaker role. Cardiorespiratory performance was positively associated with self-esteem and body image among boys, and it had a negative correlation regarding BMI in both genders.

Keywords: adolescent; self-esteem; body image; eating attitudes; cardiorespiratory performance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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