Association Between Body Image and Physical Activity, Sociodemographic, and Morphological Variables in Adult Women

Background/Objectives: Studying non-pathological determinants of body image (BI) among adult women is essential to provide a holistic understanding of the factors that shape BI and thus to promote positive mental health, support tailored interventions, address societal impacts, and ultimately facilitate women's healthier relationships with their bodies. The data available on this particular topic are sparse. The importance of BI for well-being prompted the authors to study its relationships with sociodemographic (age, education level, professional, marital, material status), morphological (body mass index-BMI) and behavioural (habitual physical activity) variables. Methods: A cross-sectional study of a cohort of 740 volunteer women was conducted with the one-time measurement of the dependent variables-individual components of BI-using the standard Body Esteem Scale (BES) questionnaire. Results: The BMI was a factor differentiating all domains of the BES. Among the analysed sociodemographic variables, intergroup comparisons showed significant effects of education and material status in the following BES domains: sexual attractiveness and weight concern. The physical condition domain showed differences between the categories of professional and material status. The level of physical activity differentiated respondents in the domains of weight concern and physical condition. Conclusions: Adult women are generally critical about their bodies. A factor that adversely affects the BES is an excessive BMI. Sociodemographic factors influence BI to a lesser degree. Physical activity shows a correlation with the BES domain of physical condition, particularly among young women.