Satisfaction with one’s own body is strongly connected to happiness, according to a study

A crucial aspect in assessing our self-esteem and happiness: appreciation for our physique.

In the modern way of life, image is of fundamental importance.and this seems to apply also to the way we judge ourselves. That is why the way we value our appearance is very relevant. Physique plays a role in our job search and relationships with others, but also in something much more important: our self-image and self-esteem.

In relation to this, a team of researchers at Chapman University recently published a study that psychological factors that are related to satisfaction with one's own appearance and body weight in a total of a and body weight in a total of 12,000 Americans. One of the main conclusions of this study is that the way in which one's appearance is valued is closely related to satisfaction with one's own life trajectory, something that we can also call, simply, happiness.

However, there are some nuances in these results.

Even men are not spared

We tend to associate concern for appearances with the female sex, but this study breaks with this idea. In women, satisfaction with one's own body was the third strongest predictor of satisfaction with one's own life, below economic status and life satisfaction.below economic status and satisfaction with one's partner. In men, only one element was more closely related to life satisfaction than the way in which one's physique is valued: satisfaction with one's financial situation.

These results point to the fact that, at least in American society or, by extension, in Western cultures, male self-image is far from irrelevant.

Very picky about weight

This study also reveals that there is a relatively low percentage of respondents who are satisfied with their own weight. Only 24% of men and 20% of women are very satisfied to extremely satisfied with their weight.. If we add to this proportion of respondents those who are "somewhat satisfied" with their weight, the total is only half of those surveyed. Moreover, satisfaction with body weight and satisfaction with physical appearance have been shown to be extremely closely related.

These results do not say much about the actual weight of Americans or their state of health, but rather that The way in which they value their body weight. And what has been found reinforces the idea that a lot of importance is being placed on the (fictitious) need to conform to beauty standards in which the body fat index has to be minimal and, in the case of women, many areas of the body should have as little volume as possible. As a result, many people believe they are far from the ideal weight.

You may be interested in reading this post: "Does physique matter when it comes to flirting? 3 reflections on beauty".

Weight sets the agenda

Weight matters in people's overall wellness levels, beyond what is traditionally understood as health. For example, the results of this study show that people with greater dissatisfaction with their own weight show a clear tendency to exhibit low levels of self-esteem and dissatisfaction with sex life.

In addition, people with greater dissatisfaction with their weight tended to show a style of relating to others more governed by anxiety and fear of rejection, obtaining relatively high scores in neuroticism. This can lead to a vicious cycle in which fear of losing dealings with others generates greater concern about one's appearance, leading to greater concern and anxiety about social relationships, etc.

In contrast, people who are more satisfied with their physique tended to score higher on extraversion and openness to experience, as well as developing a type of bonding with others in which fear does not play a role.

Beyond image

Regardless of whether we believe that personal image matters more or less, this study shows that the starting situation is what it is, and many people feel a kind of dissatisfaction related not so much to what they actually weigh but to the way they see themselves physically.

For this part of society, the question of image and aesthetics cannot be ignored, because this facet of their identity is very much at stake. this facet of their identity is closely related to fears and insecurities that affect them in their day-to-day life..