Impact of Body Image on Life Satisfaction with Mediating Role of Emotional Distress among Unmarried Females

Abstract

Aim of the Study: The study aimed to examine the impact of body image on life satisfaction with mediating effect of emotional distress among unmarried Pakistani females.

Methodology: Sample comprised of N= 100 females who were at least rejected once by a marriage proposal in last 6 months. Participants aged 19 to 30 years. Purposive and Snowball sampling strategies were used to recruit the research participants. Body Image Scale, Perceived Emotional Distress Scale and Satisfaction with Life Scale were used for assessment.

Findings: Results showed that body image dissatisfaction had significant negative relationship with life satisfaction and significant positive relationship with emotional distress. Body image dissatisfaction emerged as a significant negative predictor of life satisfaction and significant positive predictor of emotional distress. Findings also revealed emotional distress as significant mediator in the relationship between body image dissatisfaction and life satisfaction. Moreover, females aged 25 – 30 years were more emotionally distress and dissatisfied with their life and had high level of body image dissatisfaction as compared to females aged 19 – 25 years.

Conclusion: This study highlighted the devastating effect of body image dissatisfaction in lives of unmarried females, directing counselors to inculcate the concept of a healthy body image in females to make them realize that it is the capability of an individual that is of worth not the body image.