Is lifestyle a determining factor for body satisfaction in higher education?

Abstract

People's lives are in increasingly hurry due to several factors interfering in their lifestyle. However, little is known about how much such lifestyle affects one's body satisfaction. This study investigated the impact of lifestyle on body satisfaction of the students, professors and administrative staff of a Brazilian university. A total of 659 students (n=460), professors (n=49) and administrative staff (n=150) of a federal northeastern Brazilian university answered the Body Satisfaction Situational Scale and Fantastic Lifestyle Questionnaire. Linear regression indicated that work has a positive impact on the satisfaction with external parts for students, while, for the administrative staff, it was having lower alcohol consumption and being with family/friends, for professors, body satisfaction suffered impact from higher alcohol consumption, aggressive behavior, sleep deprivation, lower stress management and unsafe attitudes (p < .05). It is concluded that lifestyle profile can be considered a determining factor for body satisfaction in higher education, contributing or not for higher body satisfaction.