Body esteem and self- esteem among university students in Pakistan

Journal of Social Sciences Vol. VIII, no. 3 (2025), pp. 99 - 109 Fascicle Social Science ISSN 2587-3490 Topic Pedagogy and Psychology eISSN 2587-3504 Journal of Social Sciences September 2025, Vol. 8 https://doi.org/10.52326/jss.utm.2025.8(3).08 CZU 378.015.3:159.923.2(549) BODY ESTEEM AND SELFESTEEM AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN PAKISTAN Ali Haider *, ORCID: 0000-0002-0296-0828, Habib Ullah Shalmani, ORCID: 0009-0008-4217-3037 University of Sargodha, University Road, Near Queen Chowk, Sargodha, 40162, Pakistan * Corresponding author: Ali Haider, [email protected] Received: 06. 13. 2025 Accepted: 08. 23. 2025 Abstract. The motivation to do this study to fill the gap of rare studies on bodyesteem and selfesteem inside Pakistan. The central hypothesis of the study was University Students (both males and females) who have higher body-esteem will have higher self-esteem corresponding age and gender along the same pattern. The basic objective of the present study was to uncover body esteem and self-esteem influence among, Pakistani students. The study was carried out on (N=340) participants with a cross-sectional survey design with a random sampling; male (n=166), and female (n=174) university students in Pakistan. Bodyesteem scale and Rosenberg self-esteem scale were administered on the sample. The Pearson correlation and t-test analysis were done in SPPS16. Results showed that body esteem and selfesteem were more positive in male students than in female students as well as more positive in young adult students than older adult students. The study result is a forward step towards media, food, education, health and exercise equipment suppliers to universities to devise programs, food items, health and exercise equipment to keep the students in good bodyshape (balancedweight) and remain aware of their body esteem and selfesteem. Keywords: Pedagogy and Psychology, social issues, psychological problems. Rezumat. Motivația realizării acestui studiu a fost de a umple golul existent în numeroase studii privind stima corporală și stima de sine în Pakistan. Ipoteza centrală a studiului a fost că studenții universitari (atât bărbați, cât și femei) care au o stimă corporală mai mare vor avea o stimă de sine mai mare, corespunzătoare vârstei și sexului, conform aceluiași model. Obiectivul principal al prezentului studiu a fost de a descoperi influența stimei corporale și a stimei de sine în rândul studenților pakistanezi. Studiul a fost realizat pe (N=340) de participanți cu un design de sondaj transversal cu eșantionare aleatorie; studenți universitari de sex masculin (n=166) și de sex feminin (n=174) din Pakistan. Scala stimei corporale și scala stimei de sine Rosenberg au fost administrate eșantionului. Analiza de corelație Pearson și testul t au fost efectuate în SPPS-16. Rezultatele au arătat că stima corporală și stima de sine au fost mai pozitive la studenții de sex masculin decât la studenții de sex feminin, precum și mai pozitive la studenții tineri decât la studenții mai în vârstă. Rezultatul studiului reprezintă 100 A. Haider, H. Shalmani Journal of Social Sciences September, 2025, Vol. 8 un pas înainte către furnizorii de echipamente din domeniul mass-media, alimentar, educațional, medical și de exerciții fizice pentru universități, pentru a concepe programe, produse alimentare, echipamente medicale și de exerciții fizice care să îi mențină pe studenți într-o formă corporală bună (greutate echilibrată) și să rămână conștienți de stima lor corporală și de stima de sine. Cuvinte cheie: Pedagogie și psihologie, probleme sociale, probleme psihologice. 1. Introduction The matter regarding body esteem and disappointment with life is by all accounts a steady issue among college students as a determinant of low self-esteem [1]. Today our students are pushed towards a wonderful ideal body which is difficult to be accomplished all alone. Women for the most part of life are more inclined to negative body perception and self-esteem than men it was observed that self-esteem is reliable in both males and females until they arrive in their juvenile years [2]. One of the principal purposes behind body contentment is an inconsistency between an apparent body and an ideal body. This can surely be impacted by an inability to accomplish the ideal, bringing about the absence of selfesteem and self-analysis [3]. Many types of research fixating on the subject of body esteem or self-esteem have been directed throughout the course of recent many years [4]. Body image or self-esteem explains the personality patterns of one's own self [5]. Ages regarding body and selfesteem [6] and gender [7] is found in the previous literature. These researchers also found that different male and female comparative groups really do show various degrees of body esteem. Self-esteem is so naturally connected to contemplations around one's body that actual appearance has reliably been viewed as its main indicator at many ages [8]. The definition of body esteem is “judging one’s own body individually through intrinsic feelings and attitudes [9]. Self-esteem is defined as “a positive or negative attitude towards… the self” [10]. The problem statement and the rationale for this study was to confirm that weather the body esteem really has a relationship with the selfesteem in different ages of students with different genders or not? Studies have likewise been led on the relationship be tween’s body and self-esteem. Findings on body disappointment assisted with giving bits of knowledge on the anticipation of low self-esteem. 1.1 Rationale for the Study Creating a sense of body perception and self‐esteem among modern women who had a more outgoing attitude (happily going shopping) led a positive relationship among both types of esteem [11]. Body esteem regards people's thought processes, feelings and actions corresponding to their body and appearance. In the present society, with the developing feeling of ideal self-perception, teenagers and young adults attempt to lose or acquire body weight to accomplish a sculpted physique. Self-esteem disappointment affects selfesteem among students [12]. The literature on body esteem influence on the self-esteem of school and college students of global nations [13] has been directed in beyond twenty years and there is a great deal of writing present on this issue in various countries like Australia, North and South America, Africa, and Asia and, surprisingly, in the subcontinent countries like India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Body esteem and selfesteem among university students in Pakistan 101 Journal of Social Sciences September, 2025, Vol. 8 In other sub-mainland nations like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, still, a couple of quantitative studies are conducted on body esteem and self-esteem, however, in Pakistan there was rare past work on the body esteem and self-esteem of the young or old male or female students in Pakistani colleges or universities. However, this sort of work was finished in Karachi yet the example of that exploration contained just the married female's classification [14]. The basic objective of the present study is to fill this research gap and uncover an example of body esteem's influence on self-esteem in university students of Pakistan (especially in Pakistani cities other than Karachi). There are 3 hypotheses that should have been demonstrated by this exploration as it was the legitimate part and the fundamental motivation behind the presently conducted research. These hypotheses are given below. 1. University Students (both males and females) who have higher body-esteem will have higher self-esteem. 2. Young adult students will have higher body esteem and self-esteem than older adult students. 3. Male students will have higher body-esteem than female’s students, and, will have higher selfesteem than female students. 1.2 Theoretical Framework for the Study Self-Discrepancy Theory [15] proposes that people contrast their actual selves with their ideal selves, prompting emotional consequences. Discrepancies between perceived and ideal self-perception can bring about disappointment, adversely affecting confidence. The Sociocultural theory [16] features the job of cultural standards and media depictions in forming self-perception discernments, with ladies encountering more prominent disappointment because of rigid beauty standards. Besides, concentrates on the literature on gender differences in self-esteem [17] recommends that men for the most part have higher worldwide self-esteem than women, ascribed to varying cultural assumptions and body esteem levels. Women will generally be more impacted by body disappointment, which strongly affects their self-esteem. This study applies these theoretical points of view to look at the connection between body esteem and self-esteem among university students in Pakistan. With expanding openness to worldwide excellence guidelines and virtual entertainment, it is fundamental to figure out these impacts. Limited research has been led on this point inside the Pakistani setting, and this study means to overcome that issue. The research will investigate whether lower body esteem correlates with lower self-esteem, survey distinctions in gender differences in body esteem, and assess whether male students report higher self-esteem than female students. This system gives an organized way to deal with breaking down these speculations and adds to the comprehension of self-esteem among young adultstudents in Pakistan [18-21]. 2. Materials and Methods The number of participants who took part in the research as sample were (N= 340) out of which 166 (48.82%) were male and 174 (51.17%) were female. The Mean age of participants was (M=21.68) and the Standard Deviation was (SD=1.56) with an age range of 1835. The methodology of the study required a random sample determination, so the participants were picked on the random sampling and the impact of defined stratified sampling was not taken as a serious outcome variable. The sample taken was under the age ranges of 18-35 that were included in two stratified categories of initial 18-25 including male 102 A. Haider, H. Shalmani Journal of Social Sciences September, 2025, Vol. 8 and female young adult university students and from 26-35 as the second stratum of the male and female young adult university students. The study consisted of a cross sectional, descriptive comparative and corelationalresearch design. The body-esteem was added in research as both dependent and independent variable as the impact of this variable on self-esteem was to be determined in either ways (positive or negative correlation & no relation). Two of the questionnaires were used to measure the relationship between bodyesteem and self-esteem. The body esteemscale [22] measures the qualities of young females and males connected with body esteem constructs. The body esteemscale was extended by adding three-gender specific sub-scales (physical attractiveness, upper-body strength and physical condition for men), and (sexual attractiveness, weight concern and physical condition for women). The structure body esteem scale comprises of 35 items on a Likert type scale with response ranges of 1= Strongly Disagree to 5= Strongly Agree. The body esteem scale was associated with the Rosenberg self-esteem scale for convergent validity. All out scores range from 32-160 with higher scores demonstrating greater self-esteem in one's own body. Alpha reliability for the scale is 0.86. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) [23] ten items with responses on a four-point Likert-type scale from 1= stronglydisagree to 5= strongly agree. The RSES is one of the most broadly utilized scales of Selfesteem (definitely not a unitary constructs and has been equally divided to measure two subscales; self-liking and self-competence. Self-competence (SC) is perceived as one's instrumental worth. Self-liking (SL) is characterized as one's feeling of inborn self-worth. The Cronbach coefficient having been demonstrated to be high (α= 0.81) supporting the internal validity of the scale. All the participants from the university were taken who were native Pakistanis and all those students were not included who had other nationalities than Pakistani. Both the scales were downloaded online and were given a decent shape of questionnaires. Permission was sought from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the particular university. The questionnaires were given to the target population of male young adults by hand and female young adult students of university were approached to participate in the research by the research assistant. There was only the age limit of 18-35. All the randomly selected participants were requested to complete the questionnaires after filling the demographicvariable sheets and the consent forms. Replies were taken on the questionnaire first and then were put into the SPSSfiles with the help of research assistant. Pearson Correlation and ttest analyses were done to find out the relationship of bodyesteem with selfesteem, and age and gender differences among young & older adult students. Analyses were done on SPSS26. The consent forms containing the rights of confidentiality of information, absence of physical or mental harm to students, anonymity of participant’s data and to participate in the research willingly with a right to leave the study whenever wished were practiced for the present study according to the HIPPA guidelines [24]. 3. Results The current study objective was to reveal the role of body esteem in forming selfesteem patterns and the relationship between body esteem and self-esteem was determined by Pearson's correlation that was applied to find out the role of body esteem in expectation Body esteem and selfesteem among university students in Pakistan 103 Journal of Social Sciences September, 2025, Vol. 8 of self-esteem patterns. Moreover, an independent sample t-test was used to make sense of the comparison to check the connection of age and gender with self-esteem and body esteem separately. The response rate was 100% and luckily, no questionnaire remained empty of responses as the students filled all the questionnaires with zeal and zest. The Mean score for Bodyesteem scale was (M= 126.57; SD= 14.57) and the mean score for the self-esteem score was (M= 21.89; SD= 2.78). The age range of the participants remained 1835. The body esteem scores range for the participants remained 95163 and the range of selfesteem scores for the participants remained 1629, Table 1. Table 1 Descriptive Statistics of BodyEsteem and Self Esteem M SD Min Max Body-Esteem 126.57 14.574 95 163 Self Esteem 21.89 2.78 16 29 Note: M - mean; SD - standard deviation; Min - minimum; Max – maximum. 3.1 Body Esteem and SelfEsteem Correlation Table 2 showed correlation between the tested variables. Bodyesteem showed a strong positive correlation with the self-esteem (0.406) being significant at 0.05 level at 1tailed. These result proved the first hypothesis of the research that the university students (male and female) students, who shall score higher on the body-esteem scale questionnaire also shall score higher on self-esteem questionnaire. Table 2 Correlation between tested variables (Body - Esteem and Self Esteem) using a Pearson’s R Correlation Body Esteem Self Esteem Body-Esteem - Self-Esteem 0.406 - Note: Body esteem correlation with selfesteem was strong positive (r = 0.406) with significance level p < 0.05. 3.2 ttest Results Age. Table 3 showed the group statistics for age and tested variables and the comparison of two independentsamples using the independent sample t-test. The mean body esteem score for 1825 years old remained higher (M=127.20; SD=15.351) then the scores of the age range 2635 (M=119.23; SD=12.572). Mean selfesteem score for young adult students was slightly lower (M=22.35; SD=4.215) than that for females (M=19.31; SD=1.432) that resulted in the confirmation of the second hypothesis that the body-esteem and selfesteem will be more positive in young adult students than in older adult students. Table 3 Group Statistics for Age, BodyEsteem and Self Esteem Age Mean SD Body-Esteem 18 - 25 127.20 15.351 26 - 35 119.23 12.572 Self-Esteem 18 - 25 22.35 4.215 26 - 35 19.31 1.432 Note: SD - standard deviation. 104 A. Haider, H. Shalmani Journal of Social Sciences September, 2025, Vol. 8 According to Table 4, there is a significant difference between age 18 - 25 and age 26 - 35 scores of body esteem is (7.97) and the effect size for this difference is 24% with t (98) = 0.985 means that young adult students score higher on body esteem scores than older adult students. There is difference between selfesteem scores of young adult students and older adult students came out to be (3.04) as the young students scored higher than older adult students on selfesteem scale with t (98) = 0.938 with effect size of 13%. The 2nd hypothesis that the young students will score higher on self-esteem than older adult students was proven with these t-test results. Table 4 Independent Sample t-test measuring BodyEsteem and Self Esteem scores for age Variable 1825 2635 t(98) p Cohen’s d M SD M SD Body esteem 127.20 15.35 119.23 12.572 0.985 0.021 0.24 Self Esteem 22.35 4.125 19.31 1.432 0.938 0.010 0.13 Note: Nsample = 340; pSignificance Level ≤ 0.05; Mmean; SDstandard deviation; Cohen’s deffect size. Gender. Table 5 showed the group statistics for gender and tested variables and the comparison of two independentsamples using the independent sample t-test. The mean body esteem score for Males remained slightly higher (M = 130.20; SD = 14.479) then the scores of the females (M = 123.48; SD = 14.057) that resulted in the confirmation of the second hypothesis that the body-esteem is more positive in male young adult students than in females. Mean selfesteem score for males was higher (M = 21.80; SD = 3.202) than that for females (M= 18.96; SD= 2.387) and overall the selfesteem of males was proven to be higher than that of females and the 3rd hypothesis that male students will have a higher score on body and selfesteem than female students was proven. Table 5 Group Statistics for Gender, BodyEsteem and Self Esteem Gender Mean SD Body-Esteem Male 130.20 14.479 Female 123.48 14.057 Self-Esteem Male 21.80 3.202 Female 18.96 2.387 Note: SD - standard deviation; Nsample= 340. According to Table 6, there is a significant difference between males and females scores of body esteem and the effect size for this difference is 19% with t (98) = 0.849 means that males score higher on body esteem scores than females. There is difference between selfesteem scores of males and females as the females scored lower than males on selfesteem scale with t (98) =0.903 with effect size of 16%. The 3rd hypothesis that the males will score higher on body esteem and self-esteem than females was proven with this t-test result. Table 6 Independent Sample t-test measuring BodyEsteem and Self Esteem scores for gender Variable Male Female t(98) p Cohen’s d M SD M SD Body esteem 130.20 14.47 123.48 14.057 0.849 0.000 0.19 Self Esteem 21.96. 3.202 19.34 2.387 0.903 0.030 0.16 Note: pSignificance Level≤0.05; Mmean; SDstandard deviation; Cohen’s deffect size. Body esteem and selfesteem among university students in Pakistan 105 Journal of Social Sciences September, 2025, Vol. 8 4. Discussion The findings of the current review feature the huge job of body esteem in forming selfesteem designs among university students. The consequences of the Pearson correlation analysis uncovered areas of strength for a correlation between body esteem and self-esteem, affirming the primary hypothesis that students with higher body esteem will generally display higher self-esteem. This proposes that a positive view of one's actual self-contribute fundamentally to general self-esteem, the literature on the interconnection between selfperception and self-esteem in young adults and this notion is supported by [25]. The independent sample t-test results additionally gave information into the impact of older adult students on their psychological constructs. Younger students (18 - 25) revealed essentially higher body esteem and self-esteem scores than their older adult students (26 - 35). The effect sizes demonstrated that age assumes an extensive role in these variables, confirming the second hypothesis that younger adult students by and large display more selfesteem than older adult students. The notion is supported by the literature [26] that selfperception concerns and self-esteem might vary across various life stages, with younger adults frequently encountering more trust in their bodyesteem and self-esteem. Also, gender differences in body esteem and self-esteem were analyzed, uncovering that male students scored higher on both measures compared to female students. The literature supports the idea that the significant differences and effect sizes demonstrated that males by and large keep a better view of their bodyappearance and self-esteem than females [27]. These outcomes upheld the third hypothesis, affirming that male students will quite often report higher self-esteem and body regard levels than their female partners. This finding resounds with existing literature featuring cultural and social effects on self-perception, where females frequently experience more noteworthy stress regarding bodyself-esteem, possibly prompting lower self-esteem [28]. Generally, the study gives significant experiences into the psychological dynamics of body esteem and self-esteem among university students, accentuating the requirement for mediations that advance positive self-perception and selfesteem, especially among older students and females who might be more helpless against lower self-esteem. The findings of this study are consistent with previous research stressing major areas of strength between esteem and self-esteem. Studies have shown that people with a positive view of their physical appearance will generally display more significant levels of confidence and self-esteem [29]. This lines up with the self-perception theory, which recommends that people structure their self-idea because of how they assess various parts of themselves, including their self-perception [30]. Significant age differences seen in the current study likewise relate with prior research showing that self-esteem and body esteem will quite often decline with age, especially as people experience changes in physical appearance and cultural assumptions [31]. Besides, the gender differences found in this study are supported by past studies that males by and large report higher body esteem and self-esteem than females, logically because of differences in cultural norms of engaging quality and selfassessment processes [32]. Research recommends that females are much of the time exposed to unrealistic beauty standards, adding to bring down body esteem and, thus, lower selfesteem [33]. These results highlight the significance of encouraging body-positive intercessions, especially for females and older students, to enhance self-esteem and overall well-being. 106 A. Haider, H. Shalmani Journal of Social Sciences September, 2025, Vol. 8 5. Limitations and Recommendation Limitations were present in this study as the exploration required two scales (one long and one comparatively short scale) to be utilized that were allowed by the panel (Research Review Board of the university), and it became hard to track down specific estimates that would be reasonable for consummation in a University environment. Moreover, a time limit of 25-30 minutes was given to the participants to finish the questionnaires, so it wouldn't require the participants to engage for a much longer time. A significant limitation in the present research was that the datacollection from the scales was fairly limited and a portion of the responses didn't necessarily in every case reflected how the individual may truly feel about the subject, so there was a possibility of picking a response that was the exact match, as opposed to it being careful response as there was no space or valuable opportunities for the participants to expand their responses further. A side restriction was the sample size. The ongoing review accumulated information from 340 participants including 156 male members and 174 female members. A greater example might have laid out a superior or more definitive outcome as it would have given a more precise depiction of body esteem, self-esteem and the effects of age and gender on both. There were many items in the body esteem scale which had troublesome phrasing difficult to comprehend. For instance, the thing in the scale "Agility" might have been rotated for certain different words like "to be fast, speedy and so on". At last, the general limitation of the current study was that it didn't represent individual physical or mental elements that might impact individual body concerns in spite of the fact that they were remembered for conversation under the name of body esteem in young (male and female) university students in age and gender viewpoint. With respect to future exploration, the ramifications that are expressed above and the recommendations of the current study ought to be thought about similarly. The diverse perspective that should be viewed as inside the research is the subject of "Ethnicity". A significant part of the investigations on gender differences, body esteem and self-esteem have shown that there are numerous examples among the latter between Identity groups. Likewise, one more viewpoint that should be viewed inside the research is hypothesis based around a lot more extensive setting, as a significant part of the research takes a particular age ethnicity with other demographic variables. At last, the last but not the least perspective is that religion should be viewed as inside the limitation of this research as there should be the hypothesis for religion in the following led research as already practically no information is gathered among religious groups. 6. Implications The implication of this study is vast. It may be used in hospitals, diet plans centers, gyms, food industry, exerciseequipment industry and in educational settings. In the hospitals, this study results might be implied in healthcare of new born babies (in terms of their weightbalance), for young adults to maintain a required weight, for older adults to manage their selfimage and for health professionals as well to overcome their own bodyand self-image problems. The diet plan experts usually known as dietitians or nutritionists must take this study results as an implication to devise their balanceddiet plans for maintaining their clients’ balanced weight and make them able to overcome their phobias about their selfimage. The Body esteem and selfesteem among university students in Pakistan 107 Journal of Social Sciences September, 2025, Vol. 8 foodindustry might take these results as implication in their foodproducts to make food healthy and supporting the balanced diet by keeping a view of bodyimage and selfimage stronger, more in shape and with quality food product consumption among consumers. The exercise industry may take these studyresults to imply in their exercise products and equipment which they supply to the universities in gyms where students use it to overcome their bodyimage problems and do exercise to keep their bodies in good shape so their selfesteem may remain high in the society. Another implication might be a progressive coursesformulation and comprehensive curriculumdevelopment in the educational institutes for their students to make them aware about the selfimage and body image problems. 7. Conclusions This study highlights the basic correlation between esteem and self-esteem among university students. The strong positive correlation between these factors affirms that a positive self-perception fundamentally adds to general self-esteem. Age-related results recommend that younger students have higher body esteem and self-esteem compared to older adult students, stressing the effect of life stage on self-discernment. Also, gender differences uncover that males for the most part display higher self-esteem and body esteem than females, logically affected by cultural magnificence norms and self-assessment processes. These outcomes line up with existing literature and stress the need for targeted interventions that foster body positivity and self-confidence, especially for female and older adult students. Future studies should additionally investigate fundamental social and mental elements affecting these builds to foster powerful procedures for improving confidence across various demographic variables. Gender of the both population samples had a correlation with the body esteem and the self-esteem of both (young adult male and female students) was also proved partially as gender had a significant t-test score for body-esteem. This study also broke a myth that females can’t have more selfesteem than their male counterparts. Acknowledgments: We got technical support from Google Scholar. We got no grant for this project. We acknowledge and thank the participants of this study unconditionally who gave us the consent to publish these results. Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest. 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