Towards the Evaluation of the Affective Component of the Body Image

Abstract

Body image effect on various aspects of life has attracted the interest of researchers during the last decades. The dynamic progress of the study in body image evokes issues on its construct and research tools. The aim of of the current study was to construct a short and user-friendly research instrument in order to measure the affective component of the Body Image, including all of its dimensions, Aesthetic, Functional, and Social - that is the feelings and emotions individuals experience concerning their body’s appearance, function and social functionality. The study comprised 397 participants (192 males and 205 females) Greek university students. Results confirmed that the Affective Body Esteem Scale consists of three components - Aesthetic, Functional, and Social. Results also indicated that exercise/sport involvement differentiates the Aesthetic and Functional dimension of the Body Image. Results are discussed in terms of the body image construction and the mechanisms that explain the relationship between body image and exercise/sport involvement.