Laus MF, Kakeshita IS, Costa TMB, Ferreira MEC, Fortes LDS, Almeida SS. Body image in Brazil: recent advances in the state of knowledge and methodological issues.
Rev Saude Publica 2015;
48:331-46. [PMID:
24897056 PMCID:
PMC4206138 DOI:
10.1590/s0034-8910.2014048004950]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2013] [Accepted: 12/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To analyze Brazilian literature on body image and the theoretical and
methodological advances that have been made.
METHODS
A detailed review was undertaken of the Brazilian literature on body image,
selecting published articles, dissertations and theses from the SciELO,
SCOPUS, LILACS and PubMed databases and the CAPES thesis database. Google
Scholar was also used. There was no start date for the search, which used
the following search terms: “body image” AND “Brazil” AND “scale(s)”; “body
image” AND “Brazil” AND “questionnaire(s)”; “body image” AND “Brazil” AND
“instrument(s)”; “body image” limited to Brazil and “body image”.
RESULTS
The majority of measures available were intended to be used in college
students, with half of them evaluating satisfaction/dissatisfaction with the
body. Females and adolescents of both sexes were the most studied
population. There has been a significant increase in the number of available
instruments. Nevertheless, numerous published studies have used
non-validated instruments, with much confusion in the use of the appropriate
terms (e.g., perception, dissatisfaction, distortion).
CONCLUSIONS
Much more is needed to understand body image within the Brazilian population,
especially in terms of evaluating different age groups and diversifying the
components/dimensions assessed. However, interest in this theme is
increasing, and important steps have been taken in a short space of
time.
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