Journal of the Korean Society of School Health (한국학교보건학회지)

The Korean Society of School Health (한국학교보건학회)
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Comparison of Effects of Sociocultural Attitudes toward Appearance, Appearance Satisfaction, and Peer Relationship on Self-esteem between Male and Female Middle School Students

남·녀 중학생의 외모에 대한 사회문화적 태도, 외모 만족도, 또래 관계가 자아존중감에 미치는 영향 비교

  • Jong Sin Kim (Chunseong Middle School) ;
  • Hyunju Park (College of Nursing, Chuncheon Campus, Kangwon National University)
  • Received : 2024.04.01
  • Accepted : 2024.04.15
  • Published : 2024.04.30
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Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare sociocultural attitudes toward appearance, appearance satisfaction, and peer relationships between male and female middle school students, and to compare the effects of these variables on self-esteem in students of different genders. Methods: Data were collected in August and September of 2023 and analyzed using SPSS 24.0. Data were collected from 289 male and 240 female students through a survey, and descriptive statistics, x2 test, t-test, Scheffé test, and multiple regression analysis were conducted. Results: Female students showed significantly higher scores for sociocultural attitudes toward appearance (3.06±0.77 vs. 2.82±0.74), significantly lower scores for appearance satisfaction (2.55±0.46 vs. 2.71±0.40), and significantly higher scores for peer relationships (3.46±0.69 vs. 3.00±0.78) than male students. Additionally, self-esteem was significantly lower in female students (2.84±0.59) than in male students (2.95±0.51). As a result of adjusting for weekly allowance, subjective academic achievement, family economic status, stress, and experience of sadness or despair, which were significant in the univariate analysis, self-esteem increased as appearance satisfaction (p for all <.001) and peer relationships increased in both male (p=.009) and female (p<.001) students. In addition, sociocultural attitudes toward appearance did not have a significant impact on self-esteem in both male and female students. Among general characteristics, weekly allowance, subjective academic achievement, and stress were found to have a significant effect on self-esteem in both genders. Relationships with parents had a significant effect on self-esteem only in male students, and experience of sadness or despair had a significant effect only in female students. Conclusion: In order to improve self-esteem in both boys and girls, appearance satisfaction and peer relationships should be improved. As boys with poor relationships with their parents and girls with high levels of sadness or despair are particularly likely to have low self-esteem, they are to be considered as a high-risk group.

Keywords

References

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