Malta, renowned for its stunning architecture and breathtaking coastline, now has another feather in its cap. According to a recent study conducted by Anglia Ruskin University, Malta has been ranked as the country with the highest levels of body confidence in the world. In this global survey, over 56,000 individuals from 65 different nations were questioned about their body image. The results revealed that Malta, Taiwan, Bangladesh, and Kazakhstan emerged as the most body confident countries, while Australia, India, and the UK ranked the lowest.
Previous research has already established that there is a correlation between high levels of body appreciation and positive well-being traits such as improved self-esteem and healthy eating habits. However, studies examining how body appreciation varies across countries have been limited. Therefore, the researchers sought to address this gap and engaged a total of 56,968 participants from 65 nations. These participants were asked to rate their agreement with ten statements, including phrases like “I respect my body” and “I appreciate the different and unique characteristics of my body.”
The research findings confirmed that a more positive body image is strongly associated with better psychological well-being and overall life satisfaction. Professor Viren Swami, the lead author of the study, emphasized that this research is one of the largest studies ever conducted on body image, involving the collaboration of over 250 scientists from around the globe. He further expressed the significance of promoting positive body image on a global scale, due to the substantial impact it has on psychological well-being.
Breaking down the results by country, Malta emerged as the most body confident nation, closely followed by Taiwan, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, South Korea, and the Philippines. Conversely, Australia, India, the UK, Ireland, Ukraine, Germany, and the USA ranked lowest in terms of body confidence.
Moreover, the study also identified certain influencing factors related to body appreciation. It was observed that individuals living in rural areas and those who are single tend to have higher levels of body appreciation. Professor Swami suggested that people in urban areas may experience more pressure to conform to Western society’s body ideals. Additionally, individuals from culturally distinct countries demonstrated higher body appreciation. The researchers also highlighted the positive impact of being in nature, as previous studies have revealed a link between nature and positive body image.
The hope is that these findings will inspire authorities worldwide to promote positive body image. As the researchers concluded in the study published in Body Image, this work holds great value for scholars, practitioners, and policy-makers aiming to foster positive body image outcomes among diverse national, cultural, and linguistic groups.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
