What Do Children Think of Their Perceived and Ideal Bodies? Understandings of Body Image at Early Ages: A Mixed Study

María Pilar León, Irene González-Martí and Onofre Ricardo Contreras-Jordán
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María Pilar León: Department of Physical Education, Arts Education and Music, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 02071 Albacete, Spain
Irene González-Martí: Department of Physical Education, Arts Education and Music, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 02071 Albacete, Spain
Onofre Ricardo Contreras-Jordán: Department of Physical Education, Arts Education and Music, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 02071 Albacete, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 9, 1-17

Abstract: Research into children’s body perceptions and ideals is scarce despite evidence of body dissatisfaction in childhood. This study aimed to understand preschoolers’ body image by employing a mixed design. Using a novel figural scale (Preschoolers’ Body Scale) that comprises four child figures ranging in BMI, 395 children ages 4–6 (54% boys) selected their perceived and ideal body and explained why they picked these bodies. Children tended to underestimate their body size and many of them desired slimmer bodies, especially girls and older participants, although body-size perception improved with age. Most children showed body satisfaction, especially boys and younger children. Ideal body choices were not always explained by beauty ideals but by physical abilities, desire to grow up, mothers’ comments, and nutrition. Many responses reflected limited body awareness, suggesting body image may not yet be fully formed in preschoolers due to their incipient cognitive development.

Keywords: preschoolers; self-perception; body satisfaction; body image (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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