TY  - EJOU
AU  - Kim, Young Mi 

TI  - Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: The Role of Self-Esteem and Attachments in Early Adolescent Body-Esteem
T2  - International Journal of Mental Health Promotion

PY  - 2024
VL  - 26
IS  - 12
SN  - 2049-8543

AB  -  <b>Background:</b> Early adolescents become increasingly conscious of their body image, which can profoundly impact their mental health and well-being. In South Korea, societal pressures and expectations regarding physical appearance are particularly intense, making the study of body-esteem in Korean adolescents especially pertinent. This study explores the roles of self-esteem, peer attachment, and maternal attachments in shaping body-esteem among early adolescents. <b>Methods:</b> Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed using data from 1326 Korean middle school students (Mean<sub>age</sub> = 13.32, SD = 1.73). <b>Results:</b> The results revealed that self-esteem had a significantly positive effect on both peer attachment and maternal attachment. However, while peer attachment positively influenced body-esteem, maternal attachment did not have a significant direnct effect on body-esteem. <b>Conclusions:</b> These findings suggest that during early adolescence, peer relationships, rather than maternal bonds, play a more critical role in shaping body image. In a culture that emphasizes peer validation and societal beauty standards, peer relationships have a stronger impact on body-esteem. Interventions should focus on fostering supportive peer environments and enhancing self-esteem to promote positive body-esteem and mental health among adolescents.
KW  - Self-esteem; peer attachment; maternal attachment; body-esteem; early adolescence

DO  - 10.32604/ijmhp.2024.057597