<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>This study investigated body characteristics and gender differences that contribute to self-perception of physical attractiveness among adolescents. Quantitative data were collected with a questionnaire administered to 430 adolescents aged 15 to 17 years selected through a multistage sampling technique from secondary schools in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The questionnaire included the Physical Attractiveness Rating Scale (PARS) and the Physical Attribute Questionnaire (PAQ). Independent sample t-test, and Multiple Regression Analyses were used for analyses. Statistical significance was set at p &lt; .05. The mean overall attractiveness rating on the PARS was 1.66 (SD = 0.11), with ears and face rated as the most attractive body parts. The mean attractiveness score on the PAQ was 19.34 (SD = 3.47). Male and female participants differed with self-perception of physical attractiveness on the PARS [t (428) = 3.13 p = .003]; females perceived some body characteristics, namely mouth (t = 3.52; p &lt; .05), teeth (t = 3.04; p &lt; .05), nose (t = 2.40; p &lt; .05), face (t = 1.98; p &lt; .05), hair texture (t = 2.41; p &lt; .05), hips (t = 3.85; p &lt; .05) and thighs (t = 2.47; p &lt; .05) as more attractive than males. Participants’ evaluation of individual body characteristics predicted self-perception of physical attractiveness (F = 2.85, p &lt; .05, R2 = 0.16 and Adjusted R2 = 0.10). Study concluded that evaluation of individual body characteristics influenced self-perceived physical attractiveness. Gender influenced the perception of some specific body characteristics and overall physical attractiveness among studied adolescents.</p>
</abstract>

This study investigated body characteristics and gender differences that contribute to self-perception of physical attractiveness among adolescents. Quantitative data were collected with a questionnaire administered to 430 adolescents aged 15 to 17 years selected through a multistage sampling technique from secondary schools in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The questionnaire included the Physical Attractiveness Rating Scale (PARS) and the Physical Attribute Questionnaire (PAQ). Independent sample t-test, and Multiple Regression Analyses were used for analyses. Statistical significance was set at p < .05. The mean overall attractiveness rating on the PARS was 1.66 (SD = 0.11), with ears and face rated as the most attractive body parts. The mean attractiveness score on the PAQ was 19.34 (SD = 3.47). Male and female participants differed with self-perception of physical attractiveness on the PARS [t (428) = 3.13 p = .003]; females perceived some body characteristics, namely mouth (t = 3.52; p < .05), teeth (t = 3.04; p < .05), nose (t = 2.40; p < .05), face (t = 1.98; p < .05), hair texture (t = 2.41; p < .05), hips (t = 3.85; p < .05) and thighs (t = 2.47; p < .05) as more attractive than males. Participants’ evaluation of individual body characteristics predicted self-perception of physical attractiveness (F = 2.85, p < .05, R2 = 0.16 and Adjusted R2 = 0.10). Study concluded that evaluation of individual body characteristics influenced self-perceived physical attractiveness. Gender influenced the perception of some specific body characteristics and overall physical attractiveness among studied adolescents.

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder: Self-Perception of Physical Attractiveness Among Secondary School Adolescents

European Review Of Applied Sociology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

This study investigated body characteristics and gender differences that contribute to self-perception of physical attractiveness among adolescents....

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder: Self-Perception of Physical Attractiveness Among Secondary School Adolescents

Published Online: Jul 04, 2022

Page range: 30 - 41

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/eras-2022-0004

Keywords
self-perceived physical attractiveness, adolescents, gender, Nigeria

© 2022 Kikelomo Adebanke Kolawole et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder: Self-Perception of Physical Attractiveness Among Secondary School Adolescents

Published Online: Jul 04, 2022

Page range: 30 - 41

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/eras-2022-0004

Keywordsself-perceived physical attractiveness, adolescents, gender, Nigeria

© 2022 Kikelomo Adebanke Kolawole et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
self-perceived physical attractiveness, adolescents, gender, Nigeria