INFLUENCE OF GENDER AND SELF-ESTEEM ON ATTITUDE OF STUDENTS TOWARDS OBESITY

Abstract

The study investigated the influence of gender and self-esteem on attitude of students towards obesity. A total of 150 undergraduates (63 males and 87 females of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka served as participants for the study. The ages of the participants ranged from 18 to 30 years, with a mean age of 24.9 years and standard deviation of 3.2. A 26 item scale on self-esteem and a 25-item scale on obesity were used in the study. Two way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test the research hypotheses. The first hypothesis which stated that there will be no significant difference between male and female students attitude towards obesity was confirmed, F(1,146) = 2.628, p >.05 level of significance. Also, the second hypothesis which stated that there will be no significant difference between students of high and low self-esteem on attitude towards obesity was confirmed at F(1,146) =.46, p >.05 level of significance. Finally, the third hypothesis which stated that there will be no significant interaction between gender and self-esteem on attitudes towards obesity among students was confirmed at F(1,146) = .001, p >.05 level of significance. Recommendations were made among others that people should moderate what they eat and also exercise their bodies regularly to avoid over weight.