PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND BODY IMAGE: GENDER DIFFERENCES

Sa？etak A review of the literature suggest a lack of research on correlation between the physical activity level and body image, which include a both gender samples. The primary aim of this paper was to examine the relation between the physical activity level (sufficiently physically active vs. insufficiently physically active) and body image satisfaction, in total and gender separately. A sample was consisted of 1030 people (521 female and 509 male students) aged 18 to 30 (M=19.74; SD=1.28), from six Faculties of the University of Zagreb. The data were collected by filling standardized questionnaires: a shortened version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF, Craig et al., 2003) and Figure Rating Scale (FRS, Stunkard et al., 1983). The results point to gender differences in body image satisfaction, whereby male students are significantly more satisfied with their body image than female students. In the total and a gender separate sample, the results suggest to a significantly higher level of body image satisfaction in sufficiently physically active students compared to insufficiently physically active. Number of sports or recreational training hours on weekly basis is significantly associated with body image satisfaction in men, but not in women. In the total and a gender separate sample, no statistically significant difference was found in body image satisfaction between the athletes and recreational practitioners. There were also no significant differences in body image satisfaction among people practicing dominantly aerobic or anaerobic type of exercise