Investigating the relationship between body image and academic achievement of healthy adolescents and those with thalassemia major in the city of Tehran in 2016 Download PDF

Background and aim: One of the most important factors affecting the academic achievement of students is their body image and since adolescence is associated with great physical and mental changes, adolescents experience many problems in this regard and external factors such as disease can double its severity. In this regard, this study was conducted to investigate the relationship between body image and academic achievement of healthy adolescents and those with thalassemia major. Materials and methods: This descriptive correlational study was conducted on 300 teenage students across high schools in the city of Tehran. Using purposive sampling technique, they were divided into two groups: healthy adolescents and those with thalassemia major. Data were collected using multidimensional body self-relation questionnaire and students’ GPA in the first semester of 2015-2016. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics and utilizing SPSS 16 software. Findings: In this study, the mean ± SD of body image of healthy adolescents and those with thalassemia major were 159.38 ± 13.22 and 122.16 ± 16.46, respectively. Also, the mean ± SD of academic achievement of healthy adolescents and those with thalassemia major were 19.24 ± 10.87 and 16.17 ± 1.78, respectively. Regarding the healthy adolescents, results indicated that there is no statistically significant relationship between their body image and academic achievement (p= 0.84). However, in those with thalassemia major, results indicated that there is a statistically significant relationship between their body image and academic achievement (p< 0.001). Conclusion: Findings revealed that healthy adolescents have a better body image and higher academic achievement compared to those with thalassemia major and there is no significant relationship between body image and academic achievement in healthy adolescents. However, this relationship is significant in those with thalassemia major.