Optimism, Social Anxiety, and Body Satisfaction: Examining the Mediating Role of Life Orientation

Abstract

Contemporary society offers numerous challenges to psychological well-being, particularly concerning body image issues and social anxiety that seem prevalent among young adults. This paper tries to explore the existing relationship between dispositional optimism and social anxiety and body satisfaction with life orientation serving as a mediating variable. A quantitative cross-sectional design was employed on 200 young adult participants, comprising 100 males and 100 females, aged 18-25 years (M = 21.4, SD = 2.1). Scales used were Body Image Satisfaction Rating Scale, Revised Life Orientation Test (LOT-R), and Social Interaction Anxiety Scale. Correlation analysis revealed a modest positive relation between optimism and body satisfaction (r = 0.19), a small negative relation between optimism and social anxiety (r = -0.13), as well as a moderate negative relation between social anxiety and body satisfaction (r = -0.35). Regression analyses confirmed life orientation to be a significant predictor of all three variables. While partially found its mediation role in the relationship between optimismand body satisfaction, it fully mediated the relationship between optimismand social anxiety.In terms of gender differences, women reported lower body satisfaction but higher social anxiety compared to men while there is also a stronger connection between optimism and body-bearing for women.Results add evidence on protective psychological factors against experiencing an adverse body image as well as social anxiety , thereby opening up possible directions for intervention development based on these factors.