Body Image Dissatisfaction and Its Associated Factors among Female Students at Sultan Qaboos University, Oman: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Students worldwide have increasingly been reported to be strongly preoccupied with body image dissatisfaction (BID). Objective: To explore the prevalence of BID among female tertiary education students in Oman as well as to examine the relationship between sociodemographic variables, soc...

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Main Authors: Safiya Al-Busaidi, Tamadhir Al-Mahrouqi, Sahar Al-Omrani, Faiza Al-Hajri, Azza Al-Salahi, Sachin Jose, Samir Al-Adawi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2025-04-01
Series:Saudi Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences
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Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/sjmms.sjmms_728_24
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author Safiya Al-Busaidi
Tamadhir Al-Mahrouqi
Sahar Al-Omrani
Faiza Al-Hajri
Azza Al-Salahi
Sachin Jose
Samir Al-Adawi
author_facet Safiya Al-Busaidi
Tamadhir Al-Mahrouqi
Sahar Al-Omrani
Faiza Al-Hajri
Azza Al-Salahi
Sachin Jose
Samir Al-Adawi
author_sort Safiya Al-Busaidi
collection DOAJ
description Background: Students worldwide have increasingly been reported to be strongly preoccupied with body image dissatisfaction (BID). Objective: To explore the prevalence of BID among female tertiary education students in Oman as well as to examine the relationship between sociodemographic variables, social media use, and BID expression. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional survey study was conducted between January 1, 2022, and March 31, 2022, and included female undergraduate students from Sultan Qaboos University, Oman. The Arabic-validated self-administered questionnaires of Body Shape Questionnaire-34 and the Social Media Addiction Scale were used to elicit data. Results: A total of 463 students were included (mean age: 21.5 ± 3 years; single: 90.9% unmarried). Of these, 17.9% reported BID (95% CI: 14.54–21.73%). In the multivariate analysis, significant correlations were observed between BID and the subscales of social media addiction: time displacement (OR: 1.353; P = 0.001), compulsive tendencies (OR: 1.424; P = 0.001), and social consequences (OR: 1.200; P = 0.013). In addition, compared with respondents who had a normal BMI, the risk of BID was eight-fold higher among those who were overweight (OR = 8.514, 95% CI= 4.059-17.858; P <0.001) and 25 times higher among those who were obese (OR = 25.697, 95% CI = 8.266-79.886; P <0.001). Conclusions: This study found that about one-fifth of undergraduate female students from Oman experienced body image dissatisfaction, with higher prevalence among those who are overweight or obese. Significant associations were found between BID and social media use. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions and awareness programs to address body image concerns and mitigate the impact of social media on student mental health.
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spelling doaj-art-148c0bd32f4046caa9ee5748db6277d62025-08-20T03:48:52ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsSaudi Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences1658-631X2025-04-0113210611310.4103/sjmms.sjmms_728_24Body Image Dissatisfaction and Its Associated Factors among Female Students at Sultan Qaboos University, Oman: A Cross-sectional StudySafiya Al-BusaidiTamadhir Al-MahrouqiSahar Al-OmraniFaiza Al-HajriAzza Al-SalahiSachin JoseSamir Al-AdawiBackground: Students worldwide have increasingly been reported to be strongly preoccupied with body image dissatisfaction (BID). Objective: To explore the prevalence of BID among female tertiary education students in Oman as well as to examine the relationship between sociodemographic variables, social media use, and BID expression. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional survey study was conducted between January 1, 2022, and March 31, 2022, and included female undergraduate students from Sultan Qaboos University, Oman. The Arabic-validated self-administered questionnaires of Body Shape Questionnaire-34 and the Social Media Addiction Scale were used to elicit data. Results: A total of 463 students were included (mean age: 21.5 ± 3 years; single: 90.9% unmarried). Of these, 17.9% reported BID (95% CI: 14.54–21.73%). In the multivariate analysis, significant correlations were observed between BID and the subscales of social media addiction: time displacement (OR: 1.353; P = 0.001), compulsive tendencies (OR: 1.424; P = 0.001), and social consequences (OR: 1.200; P = 0.013). In addition, compared with respondents who had a normal BMI, the risk of BID was eight-fold higher among those who were overweight (OR = 8.514, 95% CI= 4.059-17.858; P <0.001) and 25 times higher among those who were obese (OR = 25.697, 95% CI = 8.266-79.886; P <0.001). Conclusions: This study found that about one-fifth of undergraduate female students from Oman experienced body image dissatisfaction, with higher prevalence among those who are overweight or obese. Significant associations were found between BID and social media use. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions and awareness programs to address body image concerns and mitigate the impact of social media on student mental health.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/sjmms.sjmms_728_24adiposity profilebody image dissatisfactiondigital culturefemaleomansocial mediaundergraduate students
spellingShingle Safiya Al-Busaidi
Tamadhir Al-Mahrouqi
Sahar Al-Omrani
Faiza Al-Hajri
Azza Al-Salahi
Sachin Jose
Samir Al-Adawi
Body Image Dissatisfaction and Its Associated Factors among Female Students at Sultan Qaboos University, Oman: A Cross-sectional Study
Saudi Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences
adiposity profile
body image dissatisfaction
digital culture
female
oman
social media
undergraduate students
title Body Image Dissatisfaction and Its Associated Factors among Female Students at Sultan Qaboos University, Oman: A Cross-sectional Study
title_full Body Image Dissatisfaction and Its Associated Factors among Female Students at Sultan Qaboos University, Oman: A Cross-sectional Study
title_fullStr Body Image Dissatisfaction and Its Associated Factors among Female Students at Sultan Qaboos University, Oman: A Cross-sectional Study
title_full_unstemmed Body Image Dissatisfaction and Its Associated Factors among Female Students at Sultan Qaboos University, Oman: A Cross-sectional Study
title_short Body Image Dissatisfaction and Its Associated Factors among Female Students at Sultan Qaboos University, Oman: A Cross-sectional Study
title_sort body image dissatisfaction and its associated factors among female students at sultan qaboos university oman a cross sectional study
topic adiposity profile
body image dissatisfaction
digital culture
female
oman
social media
undergraduate students
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/sjmms.sjmms_728_24
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