ABSTRACT

This study examines physical appearance related comparison as a predictor of body image dissatisfaction among school of health female students Nasarawa state Keffi. The study used a survey design, a total of 50 participants were selected randomly from school of health and technology, Keffi. Physical appearance comparison (PAC-R) developed by Schaefer and Thompson (2014) was used to elicit responses from the respondents. The results indicate that there is significant positive relationship between physical appearance related comparison and body image dissatisfaction (r=0.54, p<0.01). This implies that physical appearance has a great effect on body satisfaction among the students. However, to note this, one have to consider various socializing agents like have been implicated in shaping body image among adolescents such as family, friends, peers, media and society, at large. Since early childhood, the individual exposed to society’s ideals of perfect body, which creates dissatisfaction among them. To overcome the problems faced by adolescents with respect to body image, one can adapt to strategies for positive body image like spend time with people who have healthy notion of their body image, acknowledging and appreciating their appearance, and talk to experts or significant others on the concerns and issues of dissatisfaction. It was also recommended by that; Seminars should be organized in the various schools to enlighten students on consciousness of positive body image and physical appearance, and further studies should also focused on more variable population to enable generalization to the society.