Investigating the Relationship between Body Image, Clinical Correlates and General Health in Young Adults

Abstract

The current research aimed to study young adults (18–25 years old) body image, clinical correlates (stress, anxiety, and depression), and general health examined in connection to each other. Measures of Body appreciation (BAS-2), Psychological distress (DASS-10), and General health (GHQ-12) were completed by a sample of 150 participants (75 men and 75 women). The findings showed a strong negative association between general health (r = -.439) and clinical correlates (r = -.394) as well as body appreciation. Clinical correlates and general health were shown to be positively correlated (r =.687). These results imply that whereas body dissatisfaction is linked to higher psychological distress and poor general health outcomes among young adults, good body image is associated with better mental health and overall well-being. The intricate relationships emphasises how critical it is to encourage healthy body image in order to enable the best possible psychological and physical functioning in this population. The research paper discusses the implications for initiatives aimed at preventing and treating body image problems in young adults.