The Relationship Between the Level of Physical Activity and Body Satisfaction in Collegiate Females
Physical Activity and Body Satisfaction
Keywords:
self-perception, weight status, physical activityAbstract
Purpose: This study examined the correlation between physical activity level, weight status perception, and body satisfaction among female college students in the United States (n = 192) and South Korea (n = 198). Methods: Data was collected through a self-reported questionnaire that included demographic information, Body Dissatisfaction Scale-Eating Disorders Inventory (BDS-EDI), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IAPQ) short form, and Objectified Body Consciousness Scale (OBS). Results: The results revealed no significant correlation between physical activity levels and body satisfaction among female college students in both countries. However, South Korean students reported higher levels of body dissatisfaction compared to their American counterparts (body dissatisfaction scores: South Korean 31.86 > American 28.21; body shame scores: South Korean 26.54 > American 22.40). American students also reported higher levels of physical activity than South Korean students (total recreation METs: South Korean 99.60 < American 1987.07). The preference for specific types of exercise did not affect weight status (BMI) in either group. However, BMI showed a significant relationship with body dissatisfaction in both American and South Korean students (p < .001). Conclusion: Physical activity levels did not seem to directly impact body satisfaction among female college students in South Korea and the United States.
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