THE INFLUENCE OF SIGNIFICANT OTHERS ON PERCEPTION OF PHYSICAL SELF IN SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN (COOLEY, MEAD, BODY IMAGE).
Contributors: University of Pennsylvania. School of Nursing.
Published: 1984
Number of pages: 96
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The purpose of this research was to fill a gap in existing literature regarding influence of significant others on perception of physical self as expressed by Cooley's Looking Glass Self Theory and related theories by Mead and Schilder. These theories lack empirical support and operational definitions.

One hundred healthy children, ages five through nine, were interviewed to determine (1) perception of physical self, (2) liking of physical self, and (3) the influence children believe significant others had on these perceptions. Interviews consisted of both structured and unstructured questions, plus a drawing of self by the child. Content analysis was performed and results were examined for differences by age and sex.

Results indicated that school age children do have a relatively accurate perception of their physical selves and that, in general, liking of physical self was inversely proportional to age. The head appears to be the most important part of the school age child's perceived image of self in its frequency of mention. Hair and eye color are the characteristics most frequently mentioned as descriptors of physical self.

This study resulted in the generation of numerous hypotheses. These include (1) the number of significant others acknowledged as influencing perception of physical self increases with age, (2) females acknowledge more significant others than males, (3) 94% of children acknowledge their own role in developing their perception of physical self, and (4) with increasing age, children acknowledge both their own abilities and significant others as influencing perception of self.

Implications for content in both child development and nursing care of children related to body image/perception of physical self are addressed.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 45-12, Section: B, page: 3774.

Thesis (D.N.SC.)--UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL OF NURSING, 1984.

School code: 0839.