MIRROR IMAGES AND FRIEND COMPARISONS: UNDERSTANDING BODY IMAGE, SOCIALIZING, AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN UNIVERSITY

Abstract

This study investigates the differences in body image, socializing, and academic achievement between genders and across different age groups among university students. An independent samples t-test was employed to analyze the data, revealing significant disparities in perceptions based on these variables. The analysis highlighted that women perceive their body image, socializing, and academic achievement differently compared to men, with women reporting lower scores. This finding was substantiated by significant results from both the equal variances assumed (t(104) = -8.362, p < .001) and not assumed (t(77) = -14.000, p < .001) t-tests, with a mean difference of -0.71795. Additionally, the study examined age-based differences, indicating that older students perceive these aspects more positively than their younger counterparts. The results were confirmed by significant t-test values assuming equal variances (t(104) = 6.107, p < .001) and not assuming equal variances (t(77) = 10.224, p < .001), with a mean difference of 1.51282.Educational achievement was also positively related with both body image satisfaction (r = 0.78) and socializing patterns (r = 0.79); correlations being highly significant at p <. 001). Nevertheless, the strength of correlation between body image satisfaction and socializing patterns was considered weak (r = 0.093) such that; it did not reach statistical significance level (p = 0.067). These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to address the distinct challenges faced by different demographic groups in the university setting, promoting a more inclusive and supportive academic environment.