Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Journal of Indian Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, cilt.21, sa.3, ss.259-265, 2025 (ESCI, Scopus)
Background: Adolescents constitute an important part of the world population, and this period can be challenging. Physical and mental challenges and problems may arise in adolescence. One of these may be the risk of body dissatisfaction. Considering the negative consequences of body dissatisfaction, adolescents may experience unhappiness. This study was conducted to determine the effects of adolescents’ sociodemographic characteristics and body perceptions on their happiness levels. Methods: This study was based on a cross-sectional design. The population of the study consisted of 910 adolescents aged 14–18. The study was carried out on the online platform. Adolescents were coincidental included from the population until the determined sample size of the study was reached. In this study, data were gathered through the use of the Descriptive Information Form, the Body-Cathexis Scale, and the Happiness Scale. Students self-reported their height and weight, which were then entered into the World Health Organization’s AnthroPlus software. Using this program, height-for-age Z scores and body mass index-for-age Z scores were calculated. Number, percentage distribution, mean, standard deviation, and linear regression techniques were used in the analysis of the data. Results: The effect of the variables we examined on the Happiness Scale was found to be significant at the P < .05 level. The effect of characteristics related to qualitative data on happiness level was determined and it was found as R = 0.336, R2= 0.113. It was determined that age, gender, perceived family income, satisfaction with body weight, and the body-cathexis scale affect the level of happiness of adolescents. Conclusions: It was determined that the sociodemographic characteristics of the adolescents (age, gender, perceived family income), satisfaction with body weight, and the body-cathexis scale affected their happiness levels by 11.3%. Public health strategies that promote healthy lifestyle behaviors (nutrition, physical activity, etc.) for adolescents can encourage adolescents to evaluate their own lives in a positive way.