Characterising Body Dissatisfaction in Australian Adolescents: Results From Year One of the Body Kind Youth Survey.

AIM: Body image has been highlighted by young people as a significant concern; however, there is limited research on the impact of appearance ideals and negative body image. The aim was to undertake a national community survey exploring body dissatisfaction and related factors in young Australians.

METHOD: 1550 Australians aged 12-18 (M = 16.02, SD = 1.53) completed an online survey.

RESULTS

One quarter of participants were mostly or completely dissatisfied with how their body looks and 90% reported some level of concern about their body image. Further, participants' feelings about their bodies stopped them from engaging in a range of life activities, such as spending time with friends and family. Approximately two thirds of participants reported being teased about their body.

DISCUSSION: The findings suggest that body image is a salient concern for young people and has notable impacts on quality of life, emphasising the importance of implementing body image-related programs for young people.