The relationship of personality to body image in adult women and the effect of exercise on this relationship

Quinn, G

Abstract

This study was undertaken in order to investigate the relationship
between personality and body image, and to ascertain the
effect of exercise on measures of personality, body image and
somatotype.
The subjects were 50 adult women in the age range 18-37 years
who were assigned to either an exercising or non-exercising group
at random.
Body image was measured using the Slade Body Image Estimation
Apparatus and an Abacus. Personality was assessed by means of the
Eysenck Personality Inventory and the Cattell Sixteen Personality
Questionnaire. The subjects were also somatotyped by the Heath-
Carter Method. Physical fitness scores, obtained for each
individual before and after the conditioning programme, were based
on the criterion of Ismail (1965).
The pre- and post-conditioning programme results obtained were
analysed by repeated measures of analysis of variance, principal
components analysis and discriminant function analysis.
The main findings were: -
(a) Two significant relationships between personality and body
image existed in the study groups. These were an
association between overall inaccuracy in body image
estimation and Eysenck's neuroticism/extraversion, and
correlation between accuracy in estimation of the Face and
dominance and aggressiveness.
(b) Changes in personality through participation in exercise
were found to be much less marked than hitherto suggested,
with only Cattell's 16PF Q4 varying significantly, and some
evidence for reduction in the EPI neuroticism factor.
(c) Repeated measures of analysis of variance showed a
significant effect of exercise on body weight, percentage
body fat, Ismail Fitness Score and on the Endomorphy
component of the Heath-Carter somatotype.
(d) No significant changes in body image estimation could be
demonstrated in the exercising group; there was nevertheless
an association between fitness levels and body image.

Citation

Quinn, G. The relationship of personality to body image in adult women and the effect of exercise on this relationship. (Thesis). University of Salford, UK

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Jun 26, 2009
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 26, 2009
• Award Date: Apr 1, 1989