Correlations between self-attitude and body image in university students

Abstract

The article deals with establishing the correlations between a personal body image and other elements of selfattitude in university students. This age refers to the period of ontogenesis, which is characterized by a tendency to achieve the highest spiritual, intellectual and physical abilities. Changes in the physical status during this period are relatively slow, which makes it possible to conduct studies on the attitude to the body with a certain degree of isolation of the objective physical status, which at a later age can significantly deteriorateand greatly affect the attitude towards oneself and the world. It was established that amorepronounced subjective body image was usually combined with an emotional and axiological attitude of a person. A positive attitude towards the body, as a rule, is combined with a self-esteem focused on external, socially significant standards. Direct correlations between thesubjective attitude to the body and such components of self-relation as “self-leadership”, “self-worth”, “self-acceptance” and “self-attachment” were found. Negative correlations were established with such indicators as “closeness” and “self-incrimination”. The results of this study can contribute to even more intensive development of self-reflection mechanisms and psychophysical regulation by specialists in physical education. Understanding the needs of the body enriches a personal resource, helps self-determination, physical, and psychological coherence.