Relationship Between Perceived Stress and Body Self-Image Among Students of Selected Nursing College: A Correlational Study

Abstract

Introduction: Body self-image is a multidimensional concept that encompasses how people think, feel, and act in relation to their own physical characteristics. Perceived stress is an individual’s feeling or thought about the amount of stress they are under at a particular point in time or over a particular period.
Methodology: A correlational non-experimental research design was used, and a purposive sampling of 100 students from a nursing college was done. The tools used were socio-demographic data and the body self-image questionnaire (BSIQ-SF). Descriptive statistics and the Spearman rank correlation test were used to find the relationship between the variables.
Results: The results showed a very weak correlation between perceived stress and body self-image (r = 0.009, p = 0.931). The study also found that 54% of the participants were dissatisfied with their body self-image, and 94% were experiencing moderate stress. Significant association was seen between weight and perceived stress (p = 0.010).
Conclusion: The study concluded that there is a weak correlation between perceived stress and body self-image among nursing college students. The findings suggest that nursing college students experience moderate stress and are dissatisfied with their body self-image. The study recommends interventional research to enhance individuals’ ability to appreciate their own body and reduce unrealistic body standards. The study’s findings have implications for nursing education and practice, highlighting the need to address body self-image concerns and perceived stress among nursing students to promote their mental health and well-being.