Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 12, 2025

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design
Published on: May 31, 2021
BODY IMAGE DURING PUBERTY: WHAT HAPPENS TO HOW KIDS FEEL ABOUT THEIR BODIES?
Savannah R Roberts1, Sasha Gorrell2, Daniel Le Grange2,3
1Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.
Abstract:
Adolescence, the period between childhood and adulthood, is a time when significant changes happen to the human body. These changes, called puberty, signify the time during which humans develop into adults. During puberty, changes in weight, height, and muscle size leave many adolescents feeling unhappy with their appearance. We describe how these changes affect body image, which is the way that adolescents feel about their bodies. First, we discuss how a negative body image can be a risk factor for eating disorders and depression. Second, we highlight the body positivity movement, which encourages people to love their bodies no matter what they look like. Lastly, we describe body neutrality, an attitude that celebrates bodies for what they allow us to do, rather than for their appearance. Together, these body image concepts can help people to understand how physical changes that accompany puberty might affect mental health.
Related Concept Videos
Signs of Puberty
Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Self-Concept
Infancy and Emerging Recognition
During infancy, self-concept is virtually nonexistent. Babies do not distinguish themselves as separate entities and often mistake their...
Influence of Parents and Peers on Identity
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth....
Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development
Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Adolescence

