Gender Differences in the Relationship Between Self-Esteem and BMI in the Workplace

Abstract

In contemporary society, the psychological dimensions of individuals play a pivotal role alongside their personalities. Self-esteem, a prominent psychological attribute, holds significance in understanding an individual’s actions, thoughts, and behavior. Our society often attaches stigmas to diverse body types, creating disparities in societal acceptance. The consequential criticisms, particularly related to body weight, exert a substantial influence on both mental and physical well-being. This study, titled “An Examination of Gender Disparities in the Relationship between Self-Esteem and BMI in the Workplace,” focuses on exploring and establishing insights into this dynamic. To assess self-esteem, we employed the Self-esteem Scale developed by Dr. Santosh Dhar and Dr. Upinder Dhar. Concurrently, body mass index (BMI) was calculated based on standardized measurements of weight and height recorded for each participant. Comparative analysis among different groups utilized statistical measures such as frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. The study involved 100 male subjects and 100 female subjects. The findings revealed that male subjects exhibited a higher level of self-esteem in comparison to their female counterparts. Additionally, individuals categorized as obese, according to BMI charts, demonstrated the highest levels of self-esteem. This trend was followed by overweight subjects, normal-weight individuals, and those classified as underweight, who exhibited the lowest self-esteem within the entire cohort. Furthermore, the study indicated that married individuals tended to have higher self-esteem compared to unmarried counterparts.