BODY IMAGE IN CHILDREN
Body image in children: a comparison across the five Brazilian regions.
Keywords:
Body dissatisfaction, Children, Body imageAbstract
Negative body image during childhood may act as a risk factor for the development of psychopathologies in later life. Research detailing specific regional differences among Brazilian children is scarce. The aim of this study was to compare body-related concerns and behaviors, the influence of parents, peers, and media, and body dissatisfaction among boys and girls from the five Brazilian regions. This quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted with children of both sexes, aged 7 to 11 years, recruited from schools in all five regions of Brazil. The total sample consisted of 597 boys and 571 girls. The Child Body Concerns and Behavior Scale (CBCBS) and the Brazilian Silhouette Scale for Children were used to assess body image-related aspects. Sociocultural influence from parents, peers, and media was assessed using the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-4 Revised (SATAQ-4R). Group comparison statistical tests were applied. The findings show significant differences across all variables analyzed when comparing the regions, indicating that body image varies according to geographical and cultural context. In conclusion, children from different cultural backgrounds across the five Brazilian regions exhibited non-standardized differences in body image-related aspects. Further research is needed to investigate possible factors underlying these contrasts.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Stéfane Maria de Oliveira MEIRELES , Juliana Fernandes Filgueiras Meireles, Natalia Christinne Ferreira de OLIVEIRA, Fabiane Frota da Rocha MORGADO, Maria Elisa Caputo Ferreira, CLARA NEVES
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