Relationship between feelings about body image and general happiness.

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between feelings about body image and general happiness in young adults. It was hypothesized that there would be a significant relationship between feelings abont bod, image and general happiness. The research sample consisted of 120 participants (25 males and 95 females) within the age range of 18 to 30 years. The participants were selected from various universities of Karachi, and they were recruited through convenient sampling. Feelings about body image were measured by redesigning Scale of Positive and Negative Experiences (SPANE) (Diener et al., 2009) with 12 items; to fit the purpose of our study. General Happiness was measured by using the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire(OHQ) (Hills, & Argyle, 2001) with 29 items. The collected data was analyzed using the software, Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS-version 21). Pearson product correlation was applied to test the hypothesis and a significant relationship was found between feelings about body image and general happiness. Individuals with more positive feelings about their bodies were happier and vice-versa. Limitations and recommendations of the study were also discussed.