IMAGEN CORPORAL PERCIBIDA E IMAGEN CORPORAL DESEADA EN ESTUDIANTES UNIVERSITARIOS COSTARRICENSES

Abstract

Maureen Meneses Montero y José Moncada Jiménez

The purpose of this study was to describe the actual and desired body image of Costa Rican college students and to determine the validity of the graphic scales to measure body image. Participants were 126 subjects (44 males, 82 females), who filled three body image scales and whose body mass index were measured. Results indicated that males and females value their body image in a different way. Females are more unsatisfied with their body image than males, since they perceive that they have a negative body image in the three scales used; however, they are willing to change their body image in a future. Males indicated body image satisfaction and unwillingness to change it. We recommend using the scale designed by Thompson and Gray (1995) as a valid instrument to measure this important construct.