Body shape concerns and locus of control among young adults

Individuals with excessive body shape concerns are more likely to be depressed, anxious, and suicidal than those without intense dissatisfaction over their appearance, even when compared to adolescents with other psychiatric illnesses. As excessive body shape concerns is considered to be associated with the low self-esteem, higher number of depressive, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive syndromes, body dysmorphic disorder and eating disorders. Prevention programs could benefit from including attempts to improve emotional abilities like intrapersonal, interpersonal abilities and adaptability in order to prevent these disorders.

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between body image concerns and locus of control in young adults.

A sample of 60 individuals with high body shape concerns was taken by using screening test (Body Shape Questionnaire) from Amity University Lucknow. The sample was selected using purposive sampling technique and ex-post facto research design was used. The tools used were Body Shape Questionnaire (Cooper, P.J., M.J. Taylor, Z. Cooper & C.G. Fairburn, 1986), Rotter's Locus of Control Scale (Indian Adaptation by Dr. Anand Kumar and Dr. Satyendra Nath Srivastava, 1895). The data was analyzed using parametric statistics-Pearson correlation Method. Results: The results showed that there was a significant positive relationship between body shape concerns and locus of control at 0.01 level.

On the basis of the statistical analysis i.e., Pearson correlation it was concluded that there was a significant positive relationship between body shape concern and locus of controli.e., Individuals with high body shape concerns show external locus of control.