The Mediating Effect of Social Physique Anxiety in the Relationship Between Objectified Body Consciousness and Body-Esteem among Belly Dance Participants

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating effect of social physique anxiety in the relationship between objectified body consciousness and body-esteem among a sample of belly dance participants. The subjects consisted of 347 adult women (aged 20 and older) who participated in belly dancing in Korea. In July 2022, the convenience sampling and self-evaluation writing methods were used as URL delivery methods through an online Google questionnaire. For data analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, reliability analysis, frequency analysis, and Baron & Kenny’s (1986) mediator regression analysis were conducted using SPSS 26 and AMOS 26 software. The results are as follows. Social physique anxiety completely mediates the relationship between physical surveillance and body-esteem (a sub-factor of objectified body consciousness), but it does not have a mediating effect on the relationship between physical shame and body-esteem. Meanwhile, it partially mediates the relationship between control beliefs and body-esteem. Based on these findings, belly dance instructors must make efforts to develop, organize, and implement programs that help correct objectified body consciousness and foster positive and self-directed body-esteem by reducing social physique anxiety. It is hoped that the results of this study can be used as a theoretical basis for participating in belly dance as well as practical/basic data for the development and growth of belly dance on a larger scale.