Objective
To determine the body shape concern among pharmacy-biochemistry students and its association with several social and labor variables and nutritional status.
Methods
A total of 346 students (80.3% female) with mean age 20.2 (SD = 2.4) years were asked to answer the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ). The factorial and convergent validities and the internal consistencies (α) of the BSQ were calculated. The goodness-of-fit indices, the chi-square by degree of freedom ratio (χ2/df), the comparative fit index (CFI), the normed fit index (NFI), and the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) were also used for data analysis. The mean score of body shape concern was estimated using an algorithm generated from the confirmatory factor analysis. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the mean scores with variables of interest.
Results
The BSQ presented adequate validity (χ2/df = 3.29; CFI = .87, NFI = .82, RMSEA = .08), and reliability (α = .97) after fit. Female students showed more body shape concern than male students (p < .001). Furthermore, the students who rated the course as dissatisfactory relative to their initial expectation (p = .048), consumed drugs under academic pressure (p < .001), thought about quitting the course (p = .002), and were overweight/obese (p < .001) also presented greater body shape concern.
Conclusion
The variables gender, dissatisfaction with the course, drug intake due to academic pressure, desire of quitting the course, and the nutritional status were significantly associated with the body shape concern among the participating students.
Body image; pharmacy students; questionnaires
