Chapter 2

Literature review
The topic of our research is to assess the effects of body shaming on psychological
disorders in university students. According to the existing literature the body shaming or the
critical comments on one’s height, body shape, their features and appearance causes disturbance
in one’s individual life as it causes anxiety and at times other psychological disorders such as
depression too.
The prevalence and inter-relationship of negative body image perception,
depression and susceptibility to eating disorders among female medical undergraduate
students (Manaf et al., 2016). To identify the prevalence of depression and susceptibility to
eating disorders among a sample of 206 female students in one of the private universities in
Malaysia and explore the relationship between depression, body image and susceptibility to
eating disorders. In addition, this study aimed to determine whether depression is a mediator
between body image and susceptibility to eating disorders among female college students.
Results: The results showed that 65.5% (=135) of the students were depressed and 6.3% (n=13)
were susceptible to eating disorders. There was a significant positive relationship between
depression and eating disorders and a negative relationship between body image and depression
as well as between body image and eating disorders. Further, the regression model showed that
depression was partially mediating the effect of body image on eating disorders. Conclusion:
Body image and depression contribute to eating disorders and treating depression could reduce
susceptibility to eating disorders.

Body Image, Food Addiction, Depression, and Body Mass Index in University
Students. (Şanlier et al., 2016)The relationship between body image, depression, food addiction
and body mass index (BMI) and differences in these variables due to gender and field of
education have not been studied extensively. It was determined that body image scores of
females and individuals enrolled in health sciences programs were lower compared to those of
males and those enrolled in the social sciences. There was a negative relationship between body
image and depression and food addiction scores. There was a positive relationship between food
addiction and depression scores, in addition to a positive relationship between food addiction and
BMI.
Physical activity habits and body image cannons in university students. (Trejo-Ortíz
et al., 2016)Objective: To determine the physical activity habits and body image cannons in
university students, comparing them according to the perception about body image and physical
activity habits. Results: 52.7 % expressed that they do not do any exercise, a more common
result among women (p< 0.01). Among women who presented overweight, 50.5 % perceived
themselves with normal weight, as well as the 20.6 % of those with degree I obesity and the 33.3
% of those classified with degree II obesity. In the males, 62.5 % of those who presented
overweight perceived themselves with normal weight, as well as the 40.6 % of those with obesity
grade I and 20 % of those who presented degree II obesity. The attributes with which a slim was
identified were: kind, silly, pretty, happy, boring, careful and helpful; and for the obese figure
were: unhappy, honest, slow, ugly, sad, lazy and dirty. Those who did not do any physical
exercise at the moment of the survey are those who, more proportionately, qualified into the
negative characteristics to the slim figure. Conclusions: There is a high level of sedentary
lifestyles among university youngsters. There is still negative perception over the obese image,
above all in women.
Body image perception and its association with body mass index and nutrient
intakes among female college students aged 18–35 years from Tabriz, Iran (Naeimi et al.,
2016) we aimed to evaluate body image perception and its socio-demographic and nutritional
determinants among female university students in Tabriz City of Iran. Results: Most of the
participants in the underweight (41.66 %), normal weight (67.71 %) and overweight (57.14 %)
categories of BMI selected the thinnest figure as their desirable or ideal body image perception.
The total prevalence’s of body image dissatisfaction and distortion were 51.63 % and 64.13 %,
respectively. Subjects who had undistorted body image perception consumed more time for
physical activity and had more night sleeping hours compared with others (P < 0.05). Subjects
who perceived themselves as being of normal weight had significantly lower intake of total fat
and saturated fatty acids and higher intakes of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) compared
with other groups (P < 0.05).
Self-esteem and body image perception in a sample of university students (Pop,
2016) Purpose of Study: We hypothesize that young women’s body dissatisfaction is related to
their self-esteem level. The second purpose of this study is to verify whether self-esteem level
and body size acceptance, which are subjective variables, are significantly correlated with BMI
as an objective variable. Subsequently, we intend to estimate which range self-esteem in our
research group is determined by self-perception of the body and what role BMI plays in this
equation. Findings and Results: The BMI mean value – 20.93 kg/cm2 (SD = 3.30) is equivalent
to a slander figure, corresponding to an average height of 1.65 m (SD = 0.06) and an average
weight of ~ 57 kg (56.99 kg; SD = 9.70). A prevalence of body dissatisfaction was reported, with
79% of girls reporting being unpleased with their physical appearance. Self-esteem and body
dissatisfaction were in a significant negative correlation: r (158) = - 0.36, p< .0005. We found a
consistent, statistically significant correlation between BMI and body dissatisfaction (r (158) =
0.56, p< .0005). An important part (31%) of body dissatisfaction is determined by BMI and
subsequently by weight and fat deposits.
Indigenous Research
Body Image, Self-Compassion, and Psychological Well-Being among University
Students (Abbasi & Zubair, 2015) . The purpose of the present study was twofold; firstly, to
determine the relationship among self-compassion, body image, and psychological well-being of
university students; and secondly, to determine the role of various demographics (gender and
parental education) in relation to variables of the study. Results of the study showed that self-
compassion was significantly positively related with psychological well-being and body-image.
Similarly body-image was positively related with psychological well-being. Self-compassion and
body-image significantly predicted the psychological well-being among these students.
Moreover, self-compassion mediated the relationship between body image and psychological
well-being. Results also revealed significant gender differences on body image; however, non-
significant gender differences were found on self-compassion and psychological well-being.
Findings further indicated that students with higher maternal and paternal education reflected
higher self-compassion, better body image, and elevated levels of psychological well-being.
 As a conclusion, we can say that it was witnessed that body image concerns cause
anxiety, at times it is seen by avoiding going to social gatherings or at another times when an
individual starts masking themselves to avoid such comments so that their anxiety is not
triggered.
Rationale
We are conducting this research in Pakistan as the Pakistan is one of the highest
populated countries in the world with having a high ratio of youth. And it is seen that the body
criticism, anxiety regarding body concerns is highest in the youngsters as compared to kids or as
compared to more mature adults. and the other reason for conducting this research in Pakistan
was it was easier for us to assess this population and to collect information from a sample as we
a part of it.
Objective
The objective of our research is to assess the effects of body shaming on psychological
disorders in university students.