Body image in university students: Predictiveness of dysfunctional attitudes, perceived parental attitudes and social comparison orientation

This research aims to reveal that how university students predict body image through dysfunctional attitudes, perceived parental attitudes, social comparison orientation and gender. The group of the study consisted of 698 students 442 (63.3%) female and 256 (36.7%) male studying at Anadolu University in the fall semester of 2018-2019. In order to collect the data of research, Multidimensional Body-Self Relationship Scale, Non-Functional Attitudes Scale, Abbreviated Perceived Parental Attitudes Scale, Iowa-Netherlands Social Comparison Orientation Scale and Personal Information Form were used. In the analysis of the obtained data, stepwise regression analysis was used. According to the findings of the study, the predictors of body image in university students were maternal emotional warmth attitude, social comparison orientation, gender (female) and dysfunctional variables, respectively. All these variables account for 14% of the total variance. In this context, as the body image became positive, it was found that maternal emotional warmth and social comparison tendency increased and dysfunctional attitudes decreased. In addiction, it is revealed that the body images of female students are significantly more negative than male students.