Body image, assertiveness, self-criticism, and self-esteem in women with a eutrophic nutritional status

Abstract Background The presence of body dissatisfaction in women is widely reported in the literature. Evaluating the interaction between body image, self-esteem, self-criticism, and assertiveness in eutrophic women provides relevant contributions to understanding the impact of these variables on women’s quality of life. Objectives This study investigated whether eutrophic women present body image dissatisfaction and tested whether this variable is associated with Body Mass Index (BMI), self-criticism, self-esteem, and assertiveness measures. Method A total of 203 women aged between 20 and 40 years, with a eutrophic nutritional status and residing in the Amazon region, Brazil, participated. The participants answered the Stunkard Figure Rating Scale, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Forms of Self-Criticism and Self-Reassurance Scale, and the Assertion Inventory to assess body image, self-esteem, self-criticism, and assertiveness, respectively. Results The mean age of participants was 26.5 ± 5.14, with a mean BMI of 22.27 ± 1.81 kg/m², and most (72.4%; n = 147) reported body image dissatisfaction. Greater body image dissatisfaction was associated with higher levels of self-critical behaviors (r = 0.170; p = 0.015), while higher self-esteem was associated with body image satisfaction (r=-0.179; p = 0.010). No correlation was found between assertiveness and participants’ body image (r=-0.125; p = 0.076). Conclusion Body image dissatisfaction is related to self-critical behaviors and low self-esteem but is not associated with assertive behaviors in eutrophic women.