The investigation of the relationship between body perception, eating attitude and self-esteem in adults

This research was conducted to examine the relationship between body perception, eating attitude and self-esteem in adults. In addition, it is also aimed to examine the relationship between body perception, eating attitude and self-esteem levels with sociodemographic variables (gender, body mass index, evaluation of physical appearance, satisfaction with physical appearance, dieting status and duration of social media use). The research was planned within the framework of the relational survey model and is a cross-sectional study. The sample of the study consists of 216 people, 135 women and 81 men, aged between 18-60. Sociodemographic Information Form, Body Image Scale, Eating Attitude Test and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale were used as data collection tools in the study. According to the research findings, a high and negative significant relationship was found between body perception and eating attitude (p<0.01). A high and negative significant correlation was found between body perception and self-esteem variables (p<0.01). A moderately positive and significant relationship was found between the eating attitude and self-esteem variables (p<0.01). It was determined that the variables of body perception, eating attitude and self-esteem did not differ significantly according to the gender of the participants (p>0.05). Body perception, eating attitude and self-esteem variables show a significant difference according to participants' body mass index, evaluation of physical appearance, satisfaction with physical appearance, dieting status and duration of social media use (p<0.05). The findings obtained from the research were discussed within the framework of the relevant literature and suggestions were made for future research.