Examining the relationship between body image and peer relationships in preschool children

In this study, the relationship between body perception and peer relationships in preschool children was examined. The study aims to reveal the impact of children's body perception on peer relationships and the connections between these relationships and various dimensions. The dimensions examined were identified as bully child, friendship and interaction, and victim child. The research was conducted using the relational survey model, one of the quantitative research methods. The study group consists of 152 children aged between 4-6 who were attending private and public kindergartens affiliated with the Ministry of National Education in Mersin during the 2023-2024 academic year. Care was taken to ensure that the participating children did not have any deficiencies in perception or intelligence levels. In this study, data were collected using the Personal Information Form, the Body Perception Scale (Collins, 1991), and the Preschool Peer Relations Scale Teacher Form (Kanmaz and Şahin, 2022). The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS 25 software package, and Independent Samples T-Test, One- Way ANOVA, correlation, simple and multiple regression analyses were applied. As a result of the study, significant differences were found between parental education level, body mass index, and the dimensions of peer relationships, while significant differences were detected only in body mass index within the dimensions of body perception. A significant relationship was found in the body satisfaction dimension between peer relationship dimensions and body perception dimensions. There was a negative relationship in the dimensions of Bully Child and Victim Child, and a positive relationship in the Friendship and Interaction dimension. Based on the findings, various recommendations were developed.