Body Image Among University Students

Body Appearance Pressure and Body Image Among University Students

A negative body image negatively affects the total health of students and the quality of life in University students. Body image and the experience of body appearance pressure have not been investigated previously among the Norwegian student population. It is reasonable to suggest that sport science students experience an increased pressure to have an athletic body to be able to identify as a sport science student and for future job opportunities. Such pressure would negatively influence students' attitudes and practice as future communicators of lifestyle knowledge after completing their studies. Objective: The study objective is to assess body image and body appearance pressure among Norwegian University students, and to investigate differences between different academic disciplines and gender. The study uses a cross-sectional design with a questionnaire to measure outcomes in male and female students in Norway.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Quality of Life; Physical Activity; Dietary Habits; Body Image Disturbance; Body Image
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Body and health focused study environment

Detailed Description

Background: A negative body image negatively affects the total health of students and the quality of life in University students. Body image and the experience of body appearance pressure have not been investigated previously among the Norwegian student population. It is well known that students studying sport science are exposed to an enhanced focus on lifestyle and the body beyond what focus that already exist in the society. It is reasonable to suggest that sport science students experience an increased pressure to have an athletic body to be able to identify as a sport science student and for future job opportunities. Such pressure would negatively influence students' attitudes and practice as future communicators of lifestyle knowledge after completing their studies. Objective: The study objective is to assess body image and body appearance pressure among Norwegian University students, and to investigate differences between different academic disciplines and gender. Methods:

The study uses a cross-sectional design with a web-based questionnaire to measure outcomes in 1764 male and female students in Norway. In addition to descriptive data on the sample, a Pearson's correlation, independent t-test og chi-square will be used to investigate associations and differences between groups. Statistical significance is defined at a p-value of <.05. Implications: Results from the study provides a description of the sample and will provide a foundation for targeted actions, interventions for optimization in terms of study environment to reduce negative body image and potential reported pressure to have a specific body, and promotion of positive body image and prevention of negative body experiences. This could contribute to a healthier student environment and enhances the chance to develop students who adapts and take knowledge with them into their future work life, and apply this knowledge in a safe and health promotive way.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 993

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Norway
  • Oslo, Norway, 0806
    • Norwegian School of Sport Sciences

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The sample represents students at University Colleges and Universities located in the south, east, west, and north of Norway. Both students in a sport science or physical activity and health science study program, and students who follow non-sport science study programs are represented.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Students at Norwegian University Colleges or Universities
• Students who are able to read and write in Norwegian
• Fulltime students

Exclusion Criteria:

• Students who are not able to read or write in Norwegian
• Part-time students

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Case-Control
• Time Perspectives: Cross-Sectional

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Sport sciences; Bachelor and master students who study sport science or physical activity and health science	Other: Body and health focused study environment; Students are exposed to lectures, literature, co-students, contexts that provide body and lifestyle awareness beyond the existing exposure of the society in general
Controls; Bachelor and master students who study other fields not related to sport or physical activity and health sciences.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Self-developed	Body appearance pressure. Respond on a Likert-scale where higher scores indicate higher level of experienced pressure	March 2020-July 2020
Body Appreciation Scale-2	Positive body image. Score ranges from 10-50, with higher score indicating higher body appreciation.	March 2020-July 2020
Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q)	Body dissatisfaction in girls. Scores ranges from 12-60, with higher scores indicating higher levels of dissatisfaction	March 2020-July 2020
Male body dissatisfaction scale (MBDS)	Body dissatisfaction in males. Scores ranges from 0-42, with higher scores indicating higher levels of dissatisfaction	March 2020-July 2020

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Physical Appearance Comparison Scale-Revised (PACS-R)	Comparison of physical appearance. Scores ranges from 0-44, where higher score indicates higher level of comparison.	March 2020-July 2020
Social attitudes towards appearance questionnaire (SATAQ-4 R) men	Body ideal internalization. Scores ranged from 8-40, with higher score indicating higher level of internalization	March 2020-July 2020
Social attitudes towards appearance questionnaire (SATAQ-4 R) women	Body ideal internalization. Scores ranged from 15-75, with higher score indicating higher level of internalization	March 2020-July 2020
Rosenberg self-esteem scale	Self-esteem. Scale ranges from 10-40, with higher scores indicating higher level of self-esteem Self-esteem. The scale ranges from 10-40, with higher score indicates higher level of self-esteem	March 2020-July 2020
Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS)	Satisfaction with life. Scores ranges from 10-70, with higher score indicating higher satisfaction with life	March 2020-July 2020
Physical activity level	Questions about hours of physical activity during one regular week. Continuous scale.	March 2020-July 2020
Dietary supplementation consumption	Questions about the use of dietary supplementation, both legal and illegal. Responds is given by choosing specific supplementations	March 2020-July 2020

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Norwegian School of Sport Sciences
• Collaborators: University of Agder; Ostfold University College; University College of Southeast Norway
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Jorunn Sundgot-Borgen, PhD, The Norwegian School of Sport Sciences

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Sundgot-Borgen C, Sundgot-Borgen J, Bratland-Sanda S, Kolle E, Torstveit MK, Svantorp-Tveiten KME, Mathisen TF. Body appreciation and body appearance pressure in Norwegian university students comparing exercise science students and other students. BMC Public Health. 2021 Mar 19;21(1):532. doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-10550-0.
• Sundgot-Borgen C, Mathisen TF, Torstveit MK, Sundgot-Borgen J. Explanations for use of dietary- and muscle enhancing dietary supplements among university students: a national cross-sectional study. BMC Nutr. 2022 Feb 24;8(1):17. doi: 10.1186/s40795-022-00510-1.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 1, 2020
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 11, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 4, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): February 5, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 22, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 20, 2024
• Last Verified: April 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: CSB

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Unidentifiable data can be shared between researcher within the research group.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No