[Development of body image in adolescence]

In a prospective study the development of body experience in adolescence and associations with psychosocial characteristics as well as development of symptoms were investigated. Body experience, physical and psychological well-being as well as sense of coherence were assessed three times over the course of 18 months in 325 male and female adolescents aged 16-19 years. During the course of the study the participants reported an improvement of their body experience. Female adolescents reported at all assessment times lower levels of attractiveness/self-confidence and higher levels of insecurity/worry than males. Body experience, physical and psychological well-being as well as sense of coherence were closely associated with each other. The results indicate that body experience generally consolidates during the course of adolescence. However, the development on individual levels can vary considerably. The body experience reflects the physical and psychosexual development as well as the adolescents' well-being. Thus, more consideration should be given to body experience in therapies with adolescents who suffer from psychosomatic illness.