Psychological gender, self-esteem, body-esteem, and the use of wellness treatments in women with excessive body weight

Introduction: Psychological gender is a set of features culturally assigned for a man or woman. It has an impact on self-esteem and life activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between psychological gender, and overall level of self-esteem, body-esteem, and use of wellness treatments in women with excess body weight.

Material and methods: The study included 120 adult women with excessive body weight. The mean age was 36.9 ± 12.30 years, average body weight was 81.99 ± 9.50 kg, and mean BMI was 29.88 ± 2.78 kg/m2. Half of the respondents at least once in the past year used wellness treatments (group A), and the other half never did (group B). We used: the Sex-Roles Inventory (IPP), Self-Esteem Scale (SES), Body-Esteem Scale (BES), silhouette test (FRS), and our own questionnaire.

Results: Group A and B were homogeneous due to age, body mass, and body mass index (p > 0.001). The groups did not differ (p = 0.06) in IPP, although an unspecified type of psychological gender dominated in group A (50%) and feminine type was the most popular in group B (40%). The groups did not differ in terms of SES (p = 0.14), both dominated by low self-esteem. In all categories of BES (sexual attractiveness, weight concern, physical condition), low results dominated in both groups. There were no significant differences between the groups except the category of physical condition, in which group B achieved higher results (p < 0.05). In FRS the actual silhouette was estimated as bigger than the ideal silhouette in group A (p < 0.001) and B (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences between the groups in that area (p = 0.4099). There was no correlation between the results of IPP, SES, and BES.

Conclusions: There is no relationship between the use of wellness treatments by women with excessive body weight and their psychological gender, self-esteem, sexual attractiveness, and weight concern. However, women enjoying wellness differ in terms of physical condition from women who do not benefit from this type of treatment.