Body Image as a correlate of generalized anxiety and depression among South African adolescents

Doctoral Thesis / Dissertation from the year 2011 in the subject Psychology - Developmental Psychology, ( Atlantic International University ), language: English, abstract: The main objective of this study was to conduct an empirical investigation to gather information from adolescents in the Pretoria area as to their level of body image dissatisfaction, anxiety and depression. This information was used to identify whether correlations exist between these three variables for South African youth.

A literature study was conducted and the following hypotheses were developed for study:

I. Adolescent females report higher (more severe) levels of body image dissatisfaction than males.

II. Depression rates among South African adolescents have a female-to-male ratio of 2:1.

III. Depression prevalence rates among South African adolescents are lower than their American counterparts.

IV. Adolescent females display higher levels of anxiety than their male counterparts.

V. A significant positive correlation exists between levels of body image dissatisfaction and levels of depression.

VI. A significant positive correlation exists between levels of body image dissatisfaction and feelings of anxiety.

VII. There is a significant positive correlation between levels of depression and anxiety in South African adolescents.

The gathering of quantitative data took the form of a structured questionnaire comprising four distinct sections: demographic information, the Body Image Satisfaction scale, the Choate Depression Inventory for Children (CDIC), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale. The questionnaire was administered to Grade 8-12 learners (aged 13-19 years old) to three different high school in the area, both independent and public schools. The sample group was randomly selected and yielded 350 completed questionnaires.