RELIGIOSITY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUND AS CORRELATES OF BODY IMAGE DISTORTION AMONG OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATES, ILE-IFE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The research investigated religiosity and socio-economic background as correlates of body image distortion among Obafemi Awolowo University undergraduates in Osun state, Nigeria. A total of 379 undergraduates (189 females and 190 males) were selected from the University for the study using stratified random sampling method. The research method used was descriptive survey method. Primary data was collected with the aid of questionnaires which had four sections. The data collected were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. From the result, it was revealed that there was no significant relationship between religiosity and body image (r = -.06, p >.05); perception of body image was significantly and jointly predicted by socio-economic status (F (3,374) =15.15; p<.001); there was no significant difference between male and female on their body image (t (378) = 1.29; p> 0.05); and age did not significantly predict body image perception (b = .02; t = .38; p>0.05). The findings of the study will go a long way in helping various stakeholders and government agencies in establishing various educational programmes that can be used to change the attitudes of people positively in the way they perceived their body. However, it is important that more research should be conducted to confirm the reliability and validity of these findings. The study achieved the objective of examining the prevalence of body image as well as the influence of other variables on body image distortion. In conclusion, the study possesses the potential benefits to psychotherapist, counselors, psychologists and the general public.