Co esponding au ho : Anki a Polley 0009-0003-1466-7834
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Examining he in e play be ween body image, asse i eness and ela ionship
sa is ac ion in young adul s
Anki a Polley 1, *, Abinaya S i 1, Adi i Kashyap 1, D . Deep hi Vijayan 2 and Aa ushi Chauhan 1
1 S uden , Depa men o Psychology, K is u Jayan i (Deemed o be Uni e si y), Bengalu u, India- 560077
2 Assis an P o esso , Depa men o Psychology, K is u Jayan i (Deemed o be Uni e si y), Bengalu u, India- 560077.
Wo ld Jou nal o Ad anced Resea ch and Re iews, 2025, 27(01), 1409-1420
Publica ion his o y: Recei ed on 03 June 2025; e ised on 12 July 2025; accep ed on 14 July 2025
A icle DOI: h ps://doi.o g/10.30574/wja .2025.27.1.2637
Abs ac
The p esen s udy in ica es he complex in e ac ion be ween body image, asse i eness and ela ionship sa is ac ion
in young adul s, a popula ion ha goes h ough dis inc de elopmen al challenges and social p essu es. Recognizing he
impo an ole hese ac o s play in shaping sel -pe cep ion and in e pe sonal dynamics, his esea ch del es in o how
body image a ec s asse i eness and ela ionship sa is ac ion, as well as he in e dependence o asse i eness and
ela ionship ul illmen . Using a sample o 235 young adul s, he s udy employes he Bu ns Rela ionship Sa is ac ion
Scale, Body Image A oidance Ques ionnai e (BIAQ) and Ra haus Asse i eness Schedule o assess each cons uc .
Analysis e ealed nega i e co ela ion be ween body image and asse i eness, sugges ing ha lowe body sa is ac ion
leads o educed asse i eness. Howe e , no signi ican ela ionships we e ound be ween body image and ela ionship
sa is ac ion o be ween asse i eness and ela ionship sa is ac ion. This esul sugges s ha while body image may
impac social beha io s, o he ac o s a e likely mo e in luen ial in de e mining ela ionship sa is ac ion among young
adul s. The s udy emphasizes he need o holis ic in e en ions p omo ing body posi i i y and asse i eness owa ds
bo h pe sonal and ela ional well-being.
Keywo ds: Body Image; Asse i eness; Rela ionship Sa is ac ion; Young Adul s
1. In oduc ion
Wo ld Heal h O ganiza ion de ines young adul s’ g oup as 18-29 yea s. Acco ding o Minis y o S a is ics and
P og ammed Implemen a ion Go e nmen o India, i is ound ha 3,71,426 people all unde he ca ego y o young
adul s om which 27.8% is sha ed by males and 26.7% is sha ed by emales in o al popula ion (2021). Hence, his age
g oup is conside ed e y impo an as i se es as a pi o al pe iod o ansi ion, b idging adolescence and independen
adul hood, whe e indi iduals encoun e signi ican challenges and esponsibili ies ha shape hei u u e ajec o ies.
While he undamen al p ocesses o physiological and biological de elopmen emain unchanged, oday's young adul s
inhabi a apidly e ol ing global landscape cha ac e ized by inc eased connec i i y, heigh ened isks, and economic
dispa i ies. Economic es uc u ing and echnological ad ancemen s ha e ampli ied bo h oppo uni ies and p essu es,
unde sco ing he impo ance o suppo ing young adul s in na iga ing hese complexi ies. Vi al o wo k o ce
p oduc i i y and na ional well-being, ensu ing he heal h, esilience, and success o young adul s is impe a i e o
socie al ad ancemen and global compe i i eness.
In con empo a y socie y, he psychological well-being and in e pe sonal dynamics o young adul s ha e ga ne ed
signi ican a en ion. Among he mul i ude o ac o s in luencing hei o e all sa is ac ion and quali y o li e, body image,
asse i eness, and ela ionship sa is ac ion s and ou as pi o al componen s. Unde s anding he in ica e connec ions
Wo ld Jou nal o Ad anced Resea ch and Re iews, 2025, 27(01), 1409-1420
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among hese expe iences o young adul s aged 18 o 25. Thus, he p ima y aim o his s udy is o explo e he
ela ionships be ween body image, asse i eness, and ela ionship sa is ac ion wi hin his demog aphic.
The body has gained signi ican a en ion in bo h academic discou se and popula cul u e, a ibu ed pa ly o consume
capi alism, medical ad ancemen s, and eminis mo emen s. Body image, shaped by socie al ideals, in luences
indi iduals' sel -pe cep ion and beha io s, wi h women o en expe iencing highe a es o dissa is ac ion due o socie al
p essu es on appea ance. Despi e cul u al shi s and eminis c i iques, women s ill ace expec a ions o con o m o
idealized body s anda ds, leading o widesp ead body dissa is ac ion. In India, exposu e o Wes e n media has
exace ba ed hese issues, wi h s udies showing compa able le els o body dissa is ac ion among Indian women
compa ed o Wes e n coun e pa s, e lec ing he global impac o beau y s anda ds. In psychology, he concep o
asse i eness seems o ha e o igina ed in social skills aining and beha io he apy in Ame ica in he la e 1940s and
1950s [16]. Du ing young adul hood, asse i eness signi ican ly shapes an indi idual's u u e social in e ac ions and
ela ionships. I is he hea o in e pe sonal beha io and he key o human ela ions. Asse i eness, a c ucial social
ap i ude, enhances pe sonal wel a e by acili a ing he di ec exp ession o eelings, desi es, and hough s in
in e pe sonal si ua ions. Asse i eness has also been de ined as he p ocess o di ec and app op ia e communica ion
o a pe son’s needs, wan s and opinions wi hou punishing o pu ing down o he s [2]. Rela ionship sa is ac ion was
de ined as “an e ec i e esponse a ising om one’s subjec i e e alua ion o he posi i e and nega i e dimensions
associa ed wi h one’s oman ic ela ionship” [26]. Close ela ionships, pa icula ly wi h spouses o pa ne s, cons i u e
a signi ican aspec o social li e, o e ing suppo , lo e, and well-being, ye also p esen ing challenges. Rela ionship
sa is ac ion s ands as a cen al ocus in oman ic ela ionship s udies, ep esen ing an indi idual's o e all assessmen
o hei ela ionship. I se es as a p ima y a iable, widely used o e alua e ela ionship dynamics and he e ec i eness
o in e en ions aimed a esol ing issues. Assessmen s o ela ionship sa is ac ion ypically gauge posi i e o nega i e
pe cep ions o he ela ionship along a single a i ude spec um, se ing as a undamen al c i e ion o unde s anding
and imp o ing ela ionship quali y.
1.1. Body Image And Asse i eness
Acco ding o McCabe, Bu le and Wa , body image may be desc ibed as he pe cep ions, a i udes, emo ions and
pe sonali y eac ions o he indi idual conce ning his o he own body [28]. A es (2016) de ined asse i eness as
indi iduals' awa eness o hei igh s and he igh s o o he people and hei abili y o e lec his awa eness o daily
li e [3]. I is also de ined as a eadiness o s and up o legi ima e igh s [19]. O he esea che s e e o i as he abili y
o exp ess one's hough s and eelings and de end one's own igh o beha e in speci ic ways wi hou iola ing he igh s
o o he s [1].
Body es eem, a mul i ace ed concep , encompasses he subjec i e e alua ion o one's physical appea ance, including
sa is ac ion o dissa is ac ion wi h one's body a ibu es and o e all a ac i eness. I also inco po a es pe cep ions o
how o he s iew one's appea ance. Resea ch indica es ha body es eem signi ican ly in luences men al heal h and can
con ibu e o a ious heal h issues like ea ing diso de s and unheal hy weigh managemen beha io s. Fo college
s uden s, pa icula ly, he impo ance placed on appea ance o employmen and oman ic ela ionships may os e
compe i ion and nega i ely impac in e pe sonal sa is ac ion and college expe ience. Cul i a ing posi i e body es eem
is essen ial o s uden s' academic, ca ee , and social success, highligh ing he impo ance o unde s anding and
add essing ac o s in luencing body es eem in his popula ion [4].
Resea ch sugges s a signi ican ela ionship be ween body image and asse i eness. The ela ionship be ween body
image and asse i eness is in ica e and mul i ace ed. Posi i e body image co ela es wi h highe le els o asse i eness,
enabling indi iduals o con iden ly exp ess hei sexual desi es and bounda ies. Con e sely, nega i e body image o en
coincides wi h lowe asse i eness, hinde ing indi iduals om ad oca ing o hei needs in in ima e ela ionships.
Unde s anding and add essing body image conce ns a e c ucial o enhancing asse i eness, p omo ing sexual heal h,
and empowe ing indi iduals o na iga e in ima e in e ac ions con iden ly. Body image, he subjec i e pe cep ion o
one's physical appea ance, can signi ican ly in luence asse i eness in in e pe sonal in e ac ions, pa icula ly in he
ealm o ela ionships and sexual encoun e s. Indi iduals wi h nega i e body image may expe ience diminished
con idence and sel -es eem, which can impede hei abili y o asse bounda ies, communica e desi es, and ad oca e o
hei needs in a ious con ex s, including in ima e ela ionships. Con e sely, hose wi h posi i e body image a e mo e
likely o exhibi asse i e beha io s, exp essing hemsel es con iden ly and e ec i ely in in e pe sonal si ua ions.
Howe e , i 's impo an o no e ha he ela ionship be ween body image and asse i eness is no de e minis ic and
can be in luenced by a ious ac o s such as cul u al no ms, social suppo , and indi idual pe sonali y ai s.
Unde s anding and add essing he in e play be ween body image and asse i eness is c ucial o p omo ing heal hy
ela ionships and o e all well-being.
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1.2. Body Image And Rela ionship Sa is ac ion
Unde s anding he in ica e in e play be ween body image and ela ionship sa is ac ion is essen ial o comp ehending
he dynamics o mode n ela ionships. Body image, encompassing pe cep ions and a i udes owa ds one's physical
appea ance, signi ican ly in luences how indi iduals pe cei e hemsel es wi hin in ima e pa ne ships. Resea ch has
consis en ly demons a ed a s ong co ela ion be ween body image and ela ionship sa is ac ion, wi h posi i e body
image o en associa ed wi h highe le els o ela ionship con en men and s abili y. Con e sely, nega i e body image
can unde mine sel -es eem and con ibu e o ela ionship disco d. This in ica e ela ionship be ween body image and
ela ionship sa is ac ion unde sco es he impo ance o explo ing he psychological and emo ional dimensions o
in ima e connec ions, shedding ligh on how pe cep ions o onesel impac he dynamics o oman ic pa ne ships. Fo
example, a s udy by Tiggemann and Lynch (2001) showed ha women wi h highe body sa is ac ion epo ed g ea e
ela ionship sa is ac ion [43]. Simila ly, esea ch by Mel ze e al. (2011) ound ha indi iduals who we e mo e sa is ied
wi h hei bodies epo ed highe le els o ela ionship quali y and s abili y [31]. Con e sely, nega i e body image has
been associa ed wi h lowe ela ionship sa is ac ion. S udies ha e indica ed ha indi iduals who a e dissa is ied wi h
hei bodies may expe ience lowe sel -es eem and g ea e ela ionship con lic , which can unde mine ela ionship
sa is ac ion [8,28]. O e all, hese indings unde sco e he impo ance o add essing body image conce ns wi hin he
con ex o ela ionship dynamics o p omo e o e all ela ionship well-being.
Also, i should be no ed ha body image in women encompasses a spec um o ace s, om sa is ac ion wi h speci ic
body pa s o o e all conce ns abou body size and com o le els in in ima e se ings, all o which a e in ica ely
in e wined wi h socie al and pe sonal pe cep ions. This complex in e play signi ican ly in luences sexual expe iences
and sa is ac ion. Fo ins ance, women unde going b eas cance ea men s o en unde go luc ua ions in body image,
wi h many e en ually e e ing o p e-su ge y le els ega dless o whe he hey op o econs uc i e su ge y. Medical
condi ions like in e sex a ia ions u he complica e he nexus be ween body image and sexual well-being, pa icula ly
gi en hei impac on sexual o gans. Beyond medical con ex s, auma ic expe iences such as acciden s, bu ns, o abuse
can p o oundly shape body image, po en ially leading o condi ions like ea ing diso de s ha , in u n, a ec sexual
con idence among college-aged women. Posi i e body image ends o co ela e wi h mo e ul illing sexual expe iences,
including g ea e com o , highe ini ia ion a es, and inc eased o gasm equency, highligh ing he c ucial ole o
pe cep ions and a i udes owa d one's body in shaping sexual encoun e s, i espec i e o ac ual body size.
1.3. Asse i eness And Rela ionship Sa is ac ion
The abili y o asse onesel e ec i ely in pe sonal ela ionships has been consis en ly linked o le els o ela ionship
sa is ac ion. Asse i eness, cha ac e ized by he abili y o exp ess one's hough s and eelings while espec ing hose o
o he s, plays a c ucial ole in os e ing open communica ion, mu ual unde s anding, and in imacy wi hin ela ionships.
Resea ch sugges s ha indi iduals who a e mo e asse i e end o expe ience highe le els o ela ionship sa is ac ion,
as hey a e be e equipped o communica e hei needs, esol e con lic s, and p omo e closeness wi h hei pa ne s.
Con e sely, indi iduals who s uggle wi h asse i eness may encoun e di icul ies in exp essing hemsel es
au hen ically, leading o misunde s andings, unme needs, and ul ima ely lowe le els o ela ionship sa is ac ion. Thus,
asse i eness eme ges as a key ac o in luencing he quali y and ul illmen o in e pe sonal connec ions.
One s udy by Bélange , La eniè e, Valle and, and Kuklinski (2013) in es iga ed he associa ion be ween asse i eness
and ela ionship sa is ac ion among couples [7]. They ound ha indi iduals who exhibi ed highe le els o
asse i eness epo ed g ea e ela ionship sa is ac ion. This sugges s ha he abili y o communica e one's hough s
and eelings e ec i ely, while also espec ing he pe spec i es o o he s, con ibu es posi i ely o he quali y o oman ic
ela ionships. Simila ly, ano he s udy by Seg in and Flo a (2003) explo ed he ole o asse i eness in p edic ing
ela ionship sa is ac ion among da ing couples [14]. They ound ha indi iduals who demons a ed highe le els o
asse i eness expe ienced highe le els o ela ionship sa is ac ion. Mo eo e , asse i eness was iden i ied as a
signi ican p edic o o ela ionship sa is ac ion e en a e con olling o o he ac o s such as communica ion skills
and con lic esolu ion s a egies.
1.4. Need And Pu pose o The S udy
Unde s anding he in e wined dynamics o body image, asse i eness, and ela ionship sa is ac ion among young
adul s is essen ial, gi en he p e alence o challenges in hese a eas and hei impac on o e all well-being. While
exis ing esea ch has del ed in o each a iable sepa a ely o in pai s, he e's a no able gap in comp ehensi ely g asping
how hey collec i ely shape young adul s' in ima e pa ne ships. This s udy seeks o b idge his gap by illumina ing he
in e connec edness o body image, asse i eness, and ela ionship sa is ac ion, o e ing insigh s c ucial o ailo ed
in e en ions and suppo sys ems.
Wo ld Jou nal o Ad anced Resea ch and Re iews, 2025, 27(01), 1409-1420
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By in es iga ing how body image, asse i eness, and ela ionship sa is ac ion in luence each o he wi hin he con ex o
young adul s' gene al ela ionships, his s udy aims o gain a holis ic unde s anding o hese dynamics. This s udy
conside s a ious ac o s such as gende , cul u al backg ounds, and ela ionship cha ac e is ics ha may modula e
hese ela ionships, p o iding a nuanced pe spec i e on hei complexi ies.
The s udy endea o s o unco e he in ica e mechanisms h ough which hese a iables in e ac and con ibu e o he
well-being o young adul s in hei ela ionships. Th ough igo ous analysis and in e p e a ion o da a, we aim o
elucida e pa hways and pa e ns ha shed ligh on he in e play be ween body image, asse i eness, and ela ionship
sa is ac ion, he eby in o ming he de elopmen o e idence-based in e en ions and suppo p og ams ailo ed o
young adul s' speci ic needs.
Ul ima ely, his esea ch endea o s o add ess a c i ical gap in knowledge by comp ehensi ely examining he complex
in e play be ween body image, asse i eness, and ela ionship sa is ac ion among young adul s. By doing so, his s udy
aims o pa e he way o in e en ions and suppo ini ia i es ha os e posi i e ou comes and p omo e he well-being
and de elopmen o young adul s in hei in ima e ela ionships.
2. Me hod
2.1. S a emen o he p oblem
The cu en s udy examines he ela ionship be ween Body image, Asse i eness, and ela ionship sa is ac ion among
young adul s. Unde s anding hese in e ela ionships can o e aluable insigh s in o pe sonal de elopmen and well-
being, po en ially in o ming in e en ions o enhance ela ionship quali y in his popula ion.
Objec i e
The p esen s udy aims o explo e he in ica e ela ionship be ween body image, asse i eness, and ela ionship
sa is ac ion among young adul s. Gi en he g owing in luence o socie al s anda ds on sel -pe cep ion and in e pe sonal
in e ac ions, unde s anding hese connec ions is essen ial o os e ing well-being in his demog aphic. Speci ically, his
s udy seeks o
• Examine he associa ion be ween body image pe cep ions and asse i eness le els, ecognising he ole o sel -
pe cep ion in shaping in e pe sonal con idence.
• In es iga e how asse i eness in luences ela ionship sa is ac ion, conside ing i s ole in e ec i e
communica ion and emo ional in imacy.
• Explo e whe he body image pe cep ions di ec ly impac ela ionship sa is ac ion o i asse i eness media es
his ela ionship.
• Iden i y demog aphic and con ex ual ac o s ha may mode a e hese associa ions, o e ing a nuanced
unde s anding o indi idual di e ences.
• P o ide empi ical insigh s ha can in o m psychological in e en ions aimed a imp o ing sel -concep ,
in e pe sonal e ec i eness, and o e all ela ionship sa is ac ion among young adul s.
2.2. Hypo hesis
• H1: Body image pe cep ions will be signi ican ly and nega i ely co ela ed wi h asse i eness le els among
young adul s, such ha indi iduals wi h lowe body sa is ac ion will demons a e educed asse i eness.
• H2: Highe asse i eness le els will be posi i ely associa ed wi h ela ionship sa is ac ion, indica ing ha
indi iduals who exp ess hemsel es mo e con iden ly will epo g ea e sa is ac ion in hei ela ionships.
• H3: Body image pe cep ions will ha e a signi ican ela ionship wi h ela ionship sa is ac ion, among young
adul s.
2.3. Measu es
The s udy employed a comp ehensi e ba e y o well-es ablished measu es o assess a ious dimensions pe inen o
young adul s' ela ionships, body image pe cep ions, and asse i eness. Rela ionship sa is ac ion was e alua ed using
he
2.3.1. Bu ns Rela ionship Sa is ac ion Scale
A widely alida ed ool enowned o i s obus ness ac oss di e se ela ionship ypes. Bu ns Rela ionship Sa is ac ion
Scale (BRSS) - de eloped by Da id D. Bu ns (1983) is a 7-i em sel - epo in en o y. To al sco es ange om 0 (lack o
Wo ld Jou nal o Ad anced Resea ch and Re iews, 2025, 27(01), 1409-1420
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in imacy, ex eme con lic ) o 42 wi h highe sco es indica ing g ea e sa is ac ion. The scale has a high in e nal
consis ency (coe icien alpha = .94) and has a s ong co ela ion wi h o he ools o ela ionship sa is ac ion, including
he Locke-Wallace MAT ( =.80), Dyadic Adjus men Scale ( = −.89), and No on’s Quali y o Ma iage Index ( = .91)
[34].
2.3.2. Body Image A oidance Ques ionnai e (BIAQ)
Body image pe cep ions we e assessed h ough he Body Image A oidance Ques ionnai e (BIAQ), a eliable ins umen
cap u ing nuanced aspec s o body image expe ience, pa icula ly ocusing on a oidance beha io s ela ed o body
image conce ns. The BIAQ is a 19-i em ins umen designed o measu e beha io al endencies o en accompanying
body-image dis u bance. In pa icula , he ques ionnai e deals wi h a oidance o si ua ions ha p o oke conce n abou
physical appea ance, such as a oidance o physical in imacy, social ou ings, and igh - i ing clo hes. Since hese
a oidance beha io s a e common in pe sons wi h body dissa is ac ion and since he e a e no measu es o his
componen o he p oblem, he au ho s in e iewed 40 andomly selec ed emale esiden s o a uni e si y do mi o y
and ca ego ized commonly epo ed complain s o beha io al changes associa ed wi h nega i e body image in o he
i ems o his ques ionnai e. The measu e is iewed as use ul o a ge ing changes in a oidance o hese si ua ions as a
esul o ea men . The BIAQ has excellen in e nal consis ency, wi h a C onbach's alpha o .89, and is e y s able wi h
a wo-week, es - e es eliabili y coe icien o .87. The BIAQ has ai o good concu en alidi y, wi h a low bu
signi ican co ela ion o .22 wi h body size es ima ion, a co ela ion o .78 wi h he Body Shape Ques ionnai e, and
co ela ions o .68 and .63 wi h he Shape Conce n and Weigh Conce n scales espec i ely. The BIAQ has good known-
g oups alidi y, signi ican ly dis inguishing be ween clinical (bulimia ne osa) and nonclinical popula ions. Finally, he
BIAQ is sensi i e o changes in clien s wi h body-image dis u bance.
2.4. Ra haus asse i eness schedule
Asse i eness, a key in e pe sonal skill, was measu ed using he 30-i em schedule o measu ing asse i eness called
he Ra haus asse i eness schedule. The schedule is shown o ha e mode a e o high es - e es eliabili y = (.78; p <
.01) and spli -hal eliabili y ( = .77; p < .01). Validi y in e ms o he imp essions esponden s make on o he people
(.33 ≤ ' s ≤ .62; p's < 01) and in e ms o hei indica ions o how hey would beha e in speci ic si ua ions in which
asse i e, ou going beha io can be used wi h p o i ( = 70; p < 01) is sa is ac o y. I em analysis shows ha 27 o he 30
i ems co ela e signi ican ly wi h he o al scale sco e and 19 o 30 co ela e wi h ex e nal c i e ia. These ins umen s
we e adminis e ed ollowing s anda dized p ocedu es, wi h pa icipan s esponding o Like scales. The sequen ial
adminis a ion o measu es was coun e balanced o mi iga e po en ial o de e ec s. S a is ical analyses, including
co ela ion (Pea son co ela ion coe icien s), media ion, and mode a ion analyses, we e conduc ed o elucida e he
ela ionships among he a iables. Signi icance was se a p < 0.05. O e all, he igo ous me hodology employed in his
s udy acili a ed a comp ehensi e examina ion o he in e play be ween body image, asse i eness, and ela ionship
sa is ac ion among young adul s, yielding insigh s c ucial o heo e ical unde s anding and p ac ical in e en ions o
p omo e well-being in his demog aphic.
2.5. Pa icipan s
The pa icipan s in his esea ch s udy consis ed o 235 young adul s, comp ising 126 emales and 109 males. They
we e ec ui ed om a di e se pool o young adul s esiding in a ious egions. The sampling echnique u ilized was
pu posi e sampling. Rec ui men e o s we e conduc ed h ough mul iple channels, including communi y ou each,
social media pla o ms, and uni e si y ne wo ks, o ensu e a ep esen a i e sample. To be eligible o pa icipa ion,
indi iduals had o mee speci ic c i e ia: (a) hey had o be be ween he ages o 18 and 25 yea s, (b) hey had o be luen
in English, and (c) hey had o be willing o pa icipa e olun a ily. Upon mee ing he eligibili y c i e ia, pa icipan s
unde wen a sc eening p ocess o con i m hei sui abili y o inclusion in he s udy. This sc eening p ocess in ol ed
assessing ac o s such as ma i al s a us, p io pa icipa ion in simila esea ch s udies, and any exis ing medical o
psychological condi ions ha could po en ially impac hei abili y o pa icipa e e ec i ely. The demog aphic
cha ac e is ics o he pa icipan s we e e lec i e o a di e se young adul popula ion. These cha ac e is ics included
a ia ions in educa ional backg ounds, employmen s a us, and socioeconomic s a us. Addi ionally, e o s we e made
o ensu e di e si y in e ms o e hnici y, cul u al backg ound, and geog aphical loca ion. The ec ui men and selec ion
p ocess adhe ed o e hical guidelines, wi h pa icipan s p o ided wi h in o med consen be o e hei pa icipa ion.
Con iden iali y and anonymi y o pa icipan da a we e s ic ly main ained h oughou he s udy, ollowing es ablished
esea ch e hics s anda ds. O e all, he pa icipan s in his s udy ep esen ed a a ied and dynamic sample o young
adul s, con ibu ing aluable insigh s o he esea ch objec i es.
Wo ld Jou nal o Ad anced Resea ch and Re iews, 2025, 27(01), 1409-1420
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2.6. P ocedu e
The s udy ollowed a s eamlined p ocedu e o sys ema ically collec da a om young adul s aged 18 o 25. Rec ui men
e o s a ge ed di e se popula ions h ough online pla o ms and di ec app oaches. Pa icipan s p o ided in o med
consen a e ecei ing de ailed in o ma ion abou he s udy's objec i es and p ocedu es. Da a collec ion in ol ed
adminis e ing s anda dized ques ionnai es o assess a iables such as body image, asse i eness, and ela ionship
sa is ac ion. S ic measu es we e implemen ed o ensu e pa icipan p i acy and con iden iali y. Da a analysis u ilized
s a is ical so wa e o s a is ical package o social sciences o ho ough examina ion, including co ela ional analyses.
Findings we e in e p e ed wi hin he con ex o exis ing li e a u e and heo e ical amewo ks. The esul s we e
dissemina ed h ough academic channels and ele an pla o ms o each s akeholde s such as esea che s,
p ac i ione s, and policymake s.
2.7. Resea ch design
Quan i a i e esea ch design wi h co ela ion analysis was used in he s udy.
2.8. Da a analysis
Desc ip i e s a is ics, such as means, s anda d de ia ions, and equencies, we e compu ed o summa ize he
demog aphic cha ac e is ics o he sample. In e en ial s a is ical analyses, including co ela ion analyses, and
mode a ion analyses, we e conduc ed o examine he associa ions among body image, asse i eness, and ela ionship
sa is ac ion. Co ela ion analyses assessed he s eng h and di ec ion o ela ionships be ween pai s o a iables,
p o iding insigh s in o hei associa ions, while mode a ion analyses in es iga ed he mode a ing e ec s o
demog aphic a iables (e.g., gende , age,) on he associa ions among he s udy a iables using s a is ical package o
social sciences. S a is ical signi icance was se a p < 0.05, and app op ia e s a is ical echniques we e employed o
igo ously analyze he da a and es he s udy hypo heses. The indings o he da a analysis we e in e p e ed wi hin he
con ex o exis ing li e a u e and heo e ical amewo ks, p o iding insigh s in o he in e play be ween body image,
asse i eness, and ela ionship sa is ac ion among young adul s.
3. Resul s
Table 1 Pea son co ela ion coe icien s be ween h ee a iables: Body Image (BI_SUM), Asse i eness (A_SUM), and
Rela ionship Sa is ac ion (R_SUM)
1
2
3
Body Image _SUM
Pea son Co ela ion
-
-0.131*
-0.086
Sig. (2- ailed)
-
0.044
0.186
Asse i eness _SUM
Pea son Co ela ion
-0.131*
-
0.006
Sig. (2- ailed)
0.044
-
0.929
Rela ionship sa is ac ion _SUM
Pea son Co ela ion
-0.086
0.006
-
Sig. (2- ailed)
0.186
0.929
-
No e. *. Co ela ion is signi ican a he 0.05 le el (2- ailed)
As show abo e in Table 1, he Pea son co ela ion coe icien s be ween h ee a iables: Body Image (BI_SUM),
Asse i eness (A_SUM), and Rela ionship Sa is ac ion (R_SUM). A weak bu signi ican nega i e co ela ion was ound
be ween he Body Image and he Asse i eness (p =.044, = -0.131) dimensions, sugges ing ha he indi iduals wi h
lowe body sa is ac ion end o p esen lowe asse i eness, p obably due o sel -image p oblems. The e we e no
signi ican associa ions ound o Body Image and Rela ionship Sa is ac ion ( = -0.086, p = 0.186) o Asse i eness and
Rela ionship Sa is ac ion ( = 0.006, p = 0.929) demons a ing ha hese a iables ha e no di ec e ec on ela ionship
sa is ac ion. This, in u n, sugges s ha hese indings a e no simply a compa ison o measu es o in e pe sonal
asse i eness o closeness; ins ead, hey highligh he impo ance o nuanced in e pe sonal sa is ac ion ha is likely
ied o deepe unde lying psychological p ocesses (e.g., sel -es eem, emo ional in elligence) and/o b oade ela ional
pa e ns (e.g., he ways ha pa ne s communica e).
Wo ld Jou nal o Ad anced Resea ch and Re iews, 2025, 27(01), 1409-1420
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Table 2 T-Tes Analysis o Body Image Pe cep ions be ween Female and Male Young Adul s
Independen
Samples
Tes
Body Image
Equal a iances
assumed
Equal a iances no
assumed
Le ene's Tes
o Equali y o
Va iances
F
0.092
Sig.
0.762
- es o
Equali y o
Means
1.111
1.111
d
233
228.529
Signi icance
(2-Sided)
0.268
0.268
Mean Di e ence
1.622
1.622
S d. E o Di e ence
1.46
1.459
95% Con idence
In e al o he
Di e ence
Lowe
-1.254
-1.253
Uppe
4.498
4.497
As shown in Table 2 abo e, he - es analysis compa ing body image pe cep ions be ween male young adul s and emale
young adul s ( (233) = 1.111, p = 0.268), he e is no s a is ical di e ence be ween he wo g oups. Females (M = 33.07,
SD = 11.190) had highe a e age sco es han males (M = 31.45, SD = 11.125), bu he mean di e ence o 1.622 is well
wi hin he 95% con idence in e al (-1.254 o 4.498), indica ing ha he di e ence is no signi ican . Indeed, hese
esul s con as wi h he pe asi e idea ound in popula cul u e ha body image conce ns a e limi ed o one gende
as esea ch has sugges ed ha males and emales a e subjec o socie al p essu es ega ding appea ance [33]. This
inding highligh s he need o c ea ing gende - esponsi e in e en ions o os e posi i e body image and sel -
accep ance. By add essing hese issues ac oss gende s, men al heal h p o essionals can os e a mo e suppo i e
en i onmen ha enhances o e all well-being.
Table 3 T-Tes Analysis o Asse i eness Pe cep ions be ween Female and Male Young Adul s
Independen
Samples
Tes
Asse i eness
Equal
a iances
assumed
Equal
a iances
no assumed
Le ene's Tes o
Equali y o Va iances
F
9.168
Sig.
0.003
- es o Equali y o
Means
-0.238
-0.234
d
233
206.886
Signi icance
(2-Sided)
0.812
0.815
Mean Di e ence
-0.408
-0.408
S d. E o Di e ence
1.717
1.744
95% Con idence
In e al o he
Di e ence
Lowe
-3.791
-3.846
Uppe
2.975
3.03
Wo ld Jou nal o Ad anced Resea ch and Re iews, 2025, 27(01), 1409-1420
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As shown in Table 3 abo e, he esul s o - es compa ison analyses showed ha he e we e no signi ican di e ences
be ween he mean sco es o he wo g oups in e ms o hei pe cep ions o asse i eness (male mean = 56.08, SD =
14.574; emale mean = 55.67, SD = 11.734; p > 0.05) be ween males and emales ( (233) = -0.238, p = 0.815). Wi h a
mean di e ence o -0.408, he 95% con idence in e al (-3.791 o 2.975) sugges s any obse ed di e ence can be
a ibu able p edominan ly o andom a ia ion, a he han gende -based di e ences. This belies he s e eo ype o
some deg ee; adi ionally, i has been assumed ha asse i eness ela ed mo e s ongly o males, line wi h he
esea ch ha shows ha ai asse i eness is no a male cha ac e is ic [11,24].
I can be no ed ha aining p og ams which a e based on he belie ha asse i eness le els di e be ween gende s
may be con ibu ing o he gende biases as such p og ams would ain indi iduals on how o communica e and s and
o hemsel es depending on hei gende . Fo ins ance, ecognizing and challenging socie al misconcep ions and
pe cep ions o asse i eness can help in os e ing mo e equal p o essional and social cul u es in which bo h men and
women a e com o able wi h exp essing hemsel es.
Table 4 T-Tes Analysis o Rela ionship Sa is ac ion be ween Female and Male Young Adul s
Independen
Samples Tes
Rela ionship Sa is ac ion
Equal
a iances
assumed
Equal
a iances no
assumed
Le ene's Tes o
Equali y o
Va iances
F
0.033
Sig.
0.855
- es o Equali y
o Means
-0.407
-0.408
d
233
229.67
Signi icance
(2-Sided)
0.684
0.684
Mean Di e ence
-0.508
-0.508
S d. E o Di e ence
1.25
1.247
95% Con idence
In e al o he
Di e ence
Lowe
-2.97
-2.966
Uppe
1.953
1.949
The - es analysis o ela ionship sa is ac ion be ween he wo g oups (G oup 1: N = 126, M = 27.73, SD = 9.663; G oup
0: N = 109, M = 28.24, SD = 9.422) shows ha he e is no s a is ical signi icance di e ence ( (233) = –0.407, p = 0.684)
wi h a mean di e ence o -0.508 o wi hin 95% con idence in e al (-2.970, 1.953). Al hough he means o he wo
g oups di e sligh ly, he di e ences a e no signi ican enough o claim ha one g oup is mo e sa is ied in ela ionships
han he o he . This is in conco dance wi h o he esea ch ha ha e been conduc ed o es ablish ac o s ha a ec
ela ionship sa is ac ion no only include gende bu also ac o s such as communica ion, con lic esolu ion and
pe sonali y [23]. These indings u he unde sco e he na u e o ela ionship sa is ac ion as complex and equi e
conside a ion o in e pe sonal and con ex ual ac o s a he han gende only. I is impo an o ecognize ha
ela ionship sa is ac ion is a unc ion o a ious a iables o imp o e ela ionship counselling and in e en ions ha
a e no based on gende s e eo ypes.
4. Discussion
The esul s indica e ha he e is a s a is ically signi ican nega i e co ela ion be ween asse i eness and body image,
bu he e is no signi ican ela ionship be ween asse i eness and ela ionship sa is ac ion, and body image and
ela ionship sa is ac ion. A possible eason o he nega i e co ela ion be ween asse i eness and body image could
be ha people wi h low body image sa is ac ion may lack sel -con idence and asse i eness in social se ings. This
inding is in line wi h o he esea ch, o example, Tiggemann and Ro hblum (1988) who es ablished ha body
dissa is ac ion was ela ed o low asse i eness among women [42]. In esea ch conduc ed by Ba done-Cone e al.
(2007), i was es ablished ha people wi h nega i e body image had low le els o asse i eness [5]. The e o e, i can be
Wo ld Jou nal o Ad anced Resea ch and Re iews, 2025, 27(01), 1409-1420
1417
concluded ha body image conce ns a ec social beha io and in e pe sonal communica ion. Howe e , he lack o
co ela ions be ween asse i eness and ela ionship sa is ac ion as well as body image and ela ionship sa is ac ion
could mean ha o he ac o s, which a e no ela ed o asse i eness and body image, a e he key de e minan s o
ela ionship sa is ac ion. When looking a he ac o s ha sugges he absence o a signi ican ela ionship be ween
asse i eness and ela ionship sa is ac ion among young adul s, se e al impo an issues can be iden i ied. Fi s , i is
impo an o no e ha ela ionships a e no a simple phenomenon and ha e many aspec s. On he one hand,
asse i eness is conside ed as an impo an ac o o good in e pe sonal communica ion bu on he o he hand, i s link
wi h ela ionship sa is ac ion may no be e y s ong. This is because, young adul s mus con end wi h se e al ac o s
ha a e likely o in luence ela ionship dynamics including emo ional in elligence, communica ion s yles, and con lic
managemen skills. So, asse i eness alone may no be he ul ima e p edic o o ela ionship sa is ac ion. The e a e
indi idual di e ences which ma e qui e a bi . Young adul s di e g ea ly in pe sonali y, a achmen s yles and
expec a ions o ela ionships, all o which also can mode a e he ela ionship be ween asse i eness and sa is ac ion.
Plus, gende no ms and socializa ion pa e s p o ide p essu e and di ec ion abou how o app oach asse i eness and
ela ionships.
The e a e a ew hings ha s and ou when looking a why body image doesn' always co ela e s ongly wi h
ela ionship sa is ac ion in young adul s. Fi s ly, ela ionships a e abou a lo mo e han looks: Communica ion and
sha ed alues and so on. These hings ma e mo e han looks when i comes o ela ionship happiness. No e as well
ha collec i e ideas abou body image a e no he same e e ywhe e, in luencing how we obse e ou own sel es wi hin
ela ionships. Lis op ions include social media, body/image issues, subs ance issues; add o ha people ha e di e en
ools o coping wi h hose issues, wi h a ying deg ees o impac on you ela ionship. Las ly, du ing young adul hood,
people a e s ill igu ing ou who hey a e, which can change how hey see hei bodies and ela ionships. So, while body
image is impo an , i 's jus one piece o he puzzle when i comes o ela ionship sa is ac ion o young adul s.
4.1. Implica ions
P og ams aimed a educa ional and he apeu ic pu poses, conce ning body image and asse i eness, may enable young
adul s o pa icipa e in social and in ima e ela ionships mo e e ec i ely. Fo example, body posi i i y wo kshops and
asse i eness aining could imp o e people's social in e ac ions and, he e o e, hei posi i e sel -concep and
con idence. Howe e , asse i eness on i s own does no necessa ily lead o highe ela ionship sa is ac ion. Howe e ,
hese skills may aid in mo e meaning ul social in e ac ion. Rela ionship counselling can be helped by he unde s anding
ha ela ionship sa is ac ion is no solely a unc ion o asse i eness and body image ac o s. You can help young adul s
by sugges ing ha hey look a o he , mo e undamen al ela ional quali ies like communica ion, empa hy, and con lic
esolu ion o build be e ela ionships. Communi y p og ams and policies can assis in educing he impac o socie al
p essu es conce ning body s anda ds h ough he p omo ion o di e se and ealis ic ep esen a ions o physical
appea ance. These ini ia i es can be e y e ec i e in shaping posi i e body image and asse i eness and, hus, ha e
implica ions o in e pe sonal in e ac ions and ela ionship dynamics. Fu he esea ch could be done o explo e how
cul u al, socie al, and gende - ela ed ac o s a ec body image and asse i eness in di e en ela ional con ex s.
Longi udinal s udies may o e mo e speci ic de ails on how hese ac o s change wi h ime and hus gi e a mo e
accu a e pic u e o hei impac on adul ela ionships.
5. Conclusion
O e all, his s udy sheds ligh on he complex in e ela ions be ween body image, asse i eness, and ela ionship
sa is ac ion in young adul s. The e was a weak bu s a is ically signi ican nega i e co ela ion be ween body image and
asse i eness bu no s a is ically signi ican co ela ions we e ound be ween asse i eness and ela ionship
sa is ac ion and body image and ela ionship sa is ac ion. These esul s sugges ha while body image may in luence
he way ha young adul s expe ience asse i eness in ela ionships, i has li le impac on ela ionship sa is ac ion.
Pe haps his is because how sa is ied we a e wi h ou ela ionships se les on many ac o s besides asse i eness o
how we see ou bodies like emo ional suppo , communica ion s yles, and common in e es s. Hence, unde s anding
body image and asse i eness as in e wo en bu no de e mina i e o ela ionship sa is ac ion sugges s ha
in e en ions aimed a imp o ing young adul s' well-being should conside a holis ic app oach o ela ionship dynamics
and sel -pe cep ion.
Compliance wi h e hical s anda ds
Disclosu e o con lic o in e es
No con lic o in e es o be disclosed.
