A Study of Self-Esteem and Body Image in Adolescents and Young Adults Experiencing Anxiety in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Eastern India
Andrew K Dean *
Department of Psychiatry, IMS & SUM Hospital, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University, Kalinga Nagar, K-8, Bhubaneswar, Odisha – 751003, India.
Soumya Ranjan Dash
Department of Psychiatry, IMS & SUM Hospital, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University, Kalinga Nagar, K-8, Bhubaneswar, Odisha – 751003, India.
Snehalata Choudhury
Department of Psychiatry, IMS & SUM Hospital, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University, Kalinga Nagar, K-8, Bhubaneswar, Odisha – 751003, India.
Surjeet Sahoo
Department of Psychiatry, IMS & SUM Hospital, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University, Kalinga Nagar, K-8, Bhubaneswar, Odisha – 751003, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Anxiety, body image, and self-esteem are critical psychological factors influencing the mental well-being of adolescents and young adults. Research indicates that these factors are interrelated, yet there is limited understanding of how they interact within clinical populations in India, particularly in young adults.
Methodology: This cross-sectional comparative study was conducted at IMS & SUM Hospital, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University, Eastern India. A total of 100 adolescents and young adults aged 15–24 years were recruited using convenience sampling and divided into two groups: 50 individuals with clinically significant anxiety (BAI > 21) and 50 individuals without anxiety (BAI < 21). Data were collected using standardized instruments, including the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ-16). Independent sample t-tests and Pearson correlation analyses were employed for statistical evaluation.
Results: The study found that individuals with anxiety reported significantly lower self-esteem (mean score = 12.52, p < 0.001) and higher body dissatisfaction (mean score = 63.80, p = 0.022) than those without anxiety. Correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between anxiety and body dissatisfaction (r = 0.279, p = 0.050) and a negative correlation between anxiety and self-esteem (r = -0.478, p < 0.001).
Conclusion: The findings suggest that anxiety is associated with heightened body image concerns and reduced self-worth among adolescents and young adults in a clinical setting. These results highlight the need for culturally sensitive mental health interventions that incorporate assessment and management of self-esteem and body image concerns alongside anxiety. Future research should adopt longitudinal designs and evaluate targeted intervention strategies aimed at mitigating negative self-perception in this population.
Keywords: Anxiety, self-esteem, body image, adolescents, young adults, mental health