The predictive relationships between spiritual well-being, body image, and self-esteem among university students

The present study aims to examine university students' levels of spiritual well-being, body image, and self-esteem, as well as the relationships among these variables. A relational survey model, one of the quantitative research methods, was employed. The sample consisted of 461 university students (261 females and 200 males) selected from various universities across Turkey. Data were collected using the Demographic Information Form, the Spiritual Well-Being Scale, the Body Appreciation Scale, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Independent samples t-test and ANOVA were used to assess group differences, while Pearson correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were conducted to explore the relationships and predictive effects among the variables. The correlation analyses revealed moderate and positive significant relationships between spiritual well-being and both body image and self-esteem. A significant positive relationship was also found between body image and self-esteem. Regression analyses showed that spiritual well-being significantly predicted both body image and self-esteem. Findings based on gender indicated that male students had higher levels of both self-esteem and body image compared to female students. With respect to age, spiritual well-being was found to increase as age increased; however, no significant differences were observed in body image or self-esteem. Additionally, students considering aesthetic interventions reported lower levels of spiritual well-being and body image than those who did not, although no significant difference was found in self-esteem based on the intention to undergo aesthetic procedures. Overall, the findings suggest that spiritual well-being is a significant predictor of both body image and self-esteem in university students. The results are discussed considering relevant literature, and recommendations for future research are provided.