Clinical trial NCT04256967: Body Image Among University Students
Official title: Body Appearance Pressure and Body Image Among University Students
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Conditions: Body Image
Body Image Disturbance
Physical Activity
Dietary Habits
Quality of Life
Lead sponsor: Norwegian School of Sport Sciences
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: University College of Southeast Norway
name: University of Agder
name: Ostfold University College
First posted: 2020-02-05
Enrollment: 993
Sex: ALL
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Observational model: CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective: CROSS_SECTIONAL
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: The sample represents students at University Colleges and Universities located in the south, east, west, and north of Norway. Both students in a sport science or physical activity and health science study program, and students who follow non-sport science study programs are represented.

Brief summary: A negative body image negatively affects the total health of students and the quality of life in University students. Body image and the experience of body appearance pressure have not been investigated previously among the Norwegian student population. It is reasonable to suggest that sport science students experience an increased pressure to have an athletic body to be able to identify as a sport science student and for future job opportunities. Such pressure would negatively influence students' attitudes and practice as future communicators of lifestyle knowledge after completing their studies. Objective: The study objective is to assess body image and body appearance pressure among Norwegian University students, and to investigate differences between different academic disciplines and gender. The study uses a cross-sectional design with a questionnaire to measure outcomes in male and female students in Norway.

Detailed description: Background: A negative body image negatively affects the total health of students and the quality of life in University students. Body image and the experience of body appearance pressure have not been investigated previously among the Norwegian student population. It is well known that students studying sport science are exposed to an enhanced focus on lifestyle and the body beyond what focus that already exist in the society. It is reasonable to suggest that sport science students experience an increased pressure to have an athletic body to be able to identify as a sport science student and for future job opportunities. Such pressure would negatively influence students' attitudes and practice as future communicators of lifestyle knowledge after completing their studies. Objective: The study objective is to assess body image and body appearance pressure among Norwegian University students, and to investigate differences between different academic disciplines and gender. Methods:

The study uses a cross-sectional design with a web-based questionnaire to measure outcomes in 1764 male and female students in Norway. In addition to descriptive data on the sample, a Pearson's correlation, independent t-test og chi-square will be used to investigate associations and differences between groups. Statistical significance is defined at a p-value of \<.05. Implications: Results from the study provides a description of the sample and will provide a foundation for targeted actions, interventions for optimization in terms of study environment to reduce negative body image and potential reported pressure to have a specific body, and promotion of positive body image and prevention of negative body experiences. This could contribute to a healthier student environment and enhances the chance to develop students who adapts and take knowledge with them into their future work life, and apply this knowledge in a safe and health promotive way.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Students at Norwegian University Colleges or Universities
* Students who are able to read and write in Norwegian
* Fulltime students

Exclusion Criteria:

* Students who are not able to read or write in Norwegian
* Part-time students

Primary outcomes:
measure: Self-developed
timeFrame: March 2020-July 2020
measure: Body Appreciation Scale-2
timeFrame: March 2020-July 2020
measure: Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q)
timeFrame: March 2020-July 2020
measure: Male body dissatisfaction scale (MBDS)
timeFrame: March 2020-July 2020
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
measure: Physical Appearance Comparison Scale-Revised (PACS-R)
timeFrame: March 2020-July 2020
measure: Social attitudes towards appearance questionnaire (SATAQ-4 R) men
timeFrame: March 2020-July 2020
measure: Social attitudes towards appearance questionnaire (SATAQ-4 R) women
timeFrame: March 2020-July 2020
measure: Rosenberg self-esteem scale
timeFrame: March 2020-July 2020
measure: Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS)
timeFrame: March 2020-July 2020
measure: Physical activity level
timeFrame: March 2020-July 2020
measure: Dietary supplementation consumption
timeFrame: March 2020-July 2020
Locations:
city: Oslo
country: Norway
facility: Norwegian school of sport sciences
Study officials:
affiliation: The Norwegian School of Sport Sciences
name: Jorunn Sundgot-Borgen, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Sundgot-Borgen C, Sundgot-Borgen J, Bratland-Sanda S, Kolle E, Torstveit MK, Svantorp-Tveiten KME, Mathisen TF. Body appreciation and body appearance pressure in Norwegian university students comparing exercise science students and other students. BMC Public Health. 2021 Mar 19;21(1):532. doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-10550-0.
citation: Sundgot-Borgen C, Mathisen TF, Torstveit MK, Sundgot-Borgen J. Explanations for use of dietary- and muscle enhancing dietary supplements among university students: a national cross-sectional study. BMC Nutr. 2022 Feb 24;8(1):17. doi: 10.1186/s40795-022-00510-1.