شبكة المعلومات العربية التربوية

This study examined the role of social comparison and internalization of social attitude as mediators between weight status and body esteem in male and female high school students. Participants were 426 Lebanese students (M = 17.71, SD = 1.48) who completed self-report questionnaires. Using structural equation modeling (SEM), results revealed that while the same measurement and structural models exhibited good fit for both genders, structural weights were significantly different for the two genders. Further, weight status in females was significantly related to social comparison and internalization of social attitude, which in turn negatively impacted body esteem. For males, social comparison and internalization of social attitude were not significant mediators between weight status and body esteem. These findings indicate the need for school prevention programs that incorporate formative influences and processes such as internalization of societal norms and social comparison in the construction of guidance and counseling strategies. (Published Abstract)