Introduction
Body image has implications for the well-being of children and adolescents. It may affect attendance at physical education (PE) classes and students’ mental and physical well-being. However, little is known about the role of PE in body image education. Hence, it is crucial to research the implications of body image in the context of PE, potential concerns, and strategies to promote a positive attitude toward one’s body, grounded in biblical principles.
Literature Review
Haug et al.’s Study
Consequently, it is imperative to examine scientific data regarding the impact of body image in physical education classes. Growing amounts of body-related anxiety are a hallmark of adolescence. In physical education, the body is evaluated based on its physical capabilities and is exposed to both body and societal comparisons. Hence, the goal of Haug et al.’s (2023) research was to ascertain if motivational types mediated the relationship between physical education attendance among teens and physical attributes.
According to the findings, weekly PE attendance was inversely correlated with gender (female), family wealth, health problems, not being on a diet but still trying to reduce weight, and body perception (too fat). In the case of health complaints, this link was primarily attributed to students’ independent motivation; in the case of food behavior and body perception, it was only partially explained (Haug et al., 2023). The findings add new insights into the relationship between physical characteristics and PE, bolstering the idea that autonomous motivation is a key mechanism and providing a direction for future investigation.
Jankauskiene et al.’s 2019 Study
Moreover, a recent study shows that bad body image may be associated with health-compromising behaviors. The goal of Jankauskiene et al.’s (2019) study was to determine the prevalence of health-compromising eating behaviors (HCEB) and health-compromising workout behaviors (HCPAB) among 736 teenagers aged 16 to 19 years, including both sexes. Additionally, testing the relationships among them and body image, the internalization of societal ideas about beauty, and exercise was their primary goal.
The study’s findings demonstrated a comparatively high incidence of HCEB, with girls and participants with greater body mass index (BMI) showing a significantly higher frequency of the condition. Additionally, the study showed that adolescents were more prone to excessive exercise (HCPAB) than HCEB. Female gender, HCPAB, an infatuation with being overweight, and an evaluation of body weight as being unduly high were all significant predictors of HCEB. Higher HCEB, more frequent physical activity, and higher levels of perceived pressure to meet popular beauty standards all predicted higher HCPAB (Jankauskiene et al., 2019). Hence, both eating disorders and working out too much are some of the primary causes of poor body image.
Barker et al.’s Study
However, there were more studies on body image among young people. Barker et al. (2023) conducted a narrative review to provide a comprehensive understanding of body image as a pedagogical problem in physical education. One of the primary conclusions is that PE has been identified as a viable intervention target and a contributing factor to low body image.
Additionally, therapies based on their overarching theories were presented for treating body image in PE. These comprised the following:
- embodied principles;
- critical reflection principles;
- cognition and/or behavior principles; and
- the notion that exercise improves one’s perception of one’s body.
Lastly, the researchers reviewed suggestions from studies for educators and practitioners, focusing on professional development, pedagogical intervention features, and gender (Barker et al., 2023). Hence, PE itself can contribute to lowered body image, and to counter that, a wide range of practices has been developed by researchers.
Jankauskiene et al.’s 2022 Study
Furthermore, teenagers who are worried about their bodies might not participate in physical education. In a cross-sectional study, Jankauskiene et al. (2022) evaluated 715 Lithuanian teenagers for associations among good body image, student incentives for physical education, and teachers’ support for independent training. The findings demonstrated a significant correlation between a teacher’s encouragement of students’ autonomy and their good body image. These findings imply that PE programs have a significant role in encouraging students to have favorable body ideals. Hence, the more a teacher encourages students to work out on their own, the more positive their body image becomes.
Fischetti et al.’s Study
Finally, various studies suggest that women are more prone to low body image than men. Accordingly, the goal of Fischetti et al. (2020) was to look into gender disparities in teenagers’ perceptions of their own unease and dissatisfaction with their bodies among 100 students (14-15 years). Moreover, they reviewed the role of physical education in fostering a positive mental image of corporeity. The findings show that while exercise improved participants’ body image, girls were more dissatisfied with their physical appearance than boys. Hence, females are more likely to develop a negative opinion of their appearance.
Biblical Principles
There are several Bible verses related to body image. A bright example of that is “The Lord does not look at the things people look at…the Lord looks at the heart” (English Standard Version Bible, 2001, 1 Samuel 16:7). This basically means that God does not care what a person looks like but is more interested in their intentions, personality, and spirituality.
Another relevant quote is “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” (English Standard Version Bible, 2001, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). This quotation serves as a helpful reminder to Christians that their bodies are the Holy Spirit’s temples and should be regarded as such. Accordingly, the 2 Bible principles chosen for this paper are the notion that only a person’s intentions are important in the eyes of God and that their bodies are temples.
Application
Thus, the aforementioned principles can be used in conjunction with scientific evidence to encourage adolescents to view their bodies more positively. Research found that body image can be improved by teachers encouraging autonomous exercise (Haug et al., 2023; Jankauskiene et al., 2022). Additionally, researchers found that eating disorders and working out too much can cause negative body image (Jankauskiene et al., 2019). With the principle that the body is a temple, teachers can bolster their willingness to pursue autonomous training and improve their eating habits. Moreover, studies have shown that PE can contribute to subpar body image, and some solutions include a more holistic instructional approach (Barker et al., 2023).
Furthermore, girls are more prone to the condition despite the reality of their physical appearance (Fischetti et al., 2020). These problems can be overcome by the principle that God only cares about an individual’s personality, thereby reducing societal pressure on adolescents, especially females. Hence, both chosen Bible principles can be used to improve adolescents’ body image during PE.
Conclusion
Therefore, the topic of one’s own body perception is highly complex. Physical education can both improve and degrade an adolescent’s body image. However, by using scientific evidence and biblical principles, PE teachers can improve students’ views of their bodies. This can be done by encouraging autonomous exercise, advising better eating habits, and adopting a holistic approach to instruction. If that is done correctly, then students will not see any problems with their physical appearance.
References
Barker, D., Varea, V., Bergentoft, H., & Schubring, A. (2023) Body image in physical education: a narrative review. Sport, Education and Society, 28(7), 824-841.
English Standard Version Bible. (2001). ESV Online.
Fischetti, F., Latino, F., Cataldi, S., & Greco, G. (2020). Gender differences in body image dissatisfaction: The role of physical education and sport. Journal of Human Sport and Exercise, 15(2), 241–250.
Haug, E., Castillo, I., Samdal, O., & Smith, O. R. F. (2023). Body-related concerns and participation in physical education among adolescent students: the mediating role of motivation. Front. Psychol. 14, 1-10.
Jankauskiene, R., Baceviciene, M., Pajaujiene, S., & Badau, D. (2019). Are adolescent body image concerns associated with health-compromising physical activity behaviours? Int J Environ Res Public Health, 16(7), 1-13.
Jankauskiene, R., Urmanavicius, D., & Baceviciene, M. (2022). Association between motivation in physical education and positive body image: Mediating and moderating effects of physical activity habits. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 20(1), 1-17.