Gender differences regarding body image, stress and coping strategies in adolescence

Introduction: The purpose of the study is to identify the level of stress among adolescents regarding the body image and the strategies that they use to cope with it.

Material and methods: Two hundred and eighty-two adolescents in 10th and 11th grade completed three questionnaires: the Adolescent Stress Questionnaire (ASQ), the Body Image Coping Strategies Inventory (BICSI) and the Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults (BES).

Results: In the order of results, factors generating stress in adolescents are: money pressure (M = 5.80 ±2.70), uncertain future (M = 3.02 ±1.00), school/leisure conflicts (M = 2.77 ±0.96), school performance (M = 2.60 ±0.74), assuming adult responsibilities (M = 2.53 ±1.23), school attendance (M = 2.52 ±0.96), romantic relationships (M = 2.51 ±1.04), home life (M = 2.31 ±0.74), interactions with teachers (M = 2.22 ±0.80) and peer pressure (M = 2.15 ±0.83). Girls are more stressed by home life, peer pressure, an uncertain future, money pressure and adult responsibilities, while boys obtained higher values in the variable stress generated by school attendance. The most frequently used coping mechanism is positive rational acceptance (M = 2.52 ±0.64).

Conclusions: The level of stress among adolescents correlates with the level of satisfaction regarding the body image.