Physical self-concept and social physique anxiety: Invariance across culture, gender and age

Abstract

This study examined the effects of culture, gender and age on the structure and mean levels of physical self-concept (PSC) and social physique anxiety (SPA) in adolescents from Portugal and Spain. An additional aim was to examine the effects of these variables on the PSC-SPA correlation. Adolescents (N = 3528, age range 12-18 years) completed the social physique anxiety scale and physical self-worth scale from the physical self-perception profile. Single-and multi-sample confirmatory factor analyses supported a two-factor model of PSC and SPA in the overall sample and within and across the culture, gender and age subsamples. Latent means analyses indicated that females tended to have significantly higher average SPA levels and lower PSC levels relative to males. There was a general downward trend in PSC in males and females in each cultural group. SPA was relatively consistent in females and higher than males in most groups. SPA was relatively similar in males and females in younger age groups (born 1994-1996), but declined in older males. SPA was similar in Portuguese males and females in the youngest age group (born 1996), but males tended to have lower scores in older age groups. Results generally support hypotheses and are discussed relative to self-presentation models and coping with appearance-related stress. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.