The effect of self-esteem, attitude towards the body, and eating habit on cognitive reactivity

Dian Veronika Sakti Kaloeti*  -  Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Indonesia
Lusi Nur Ardhiani  -  Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Indonesia

(*) Corresponding Author
DOI: 10.21580/pjpp.v5i1.4561

An increase in the prevalence of unhealthy lifestyles, including dietary problems, is being experienced by students, especially women. This study aims to examine the model of whether self-esteem, attitude towards the body, eating habits, and Body Mass Index (BMI) affects cognitive reactivity in female students. The non-probability convenience sampling technique was employed. A total of 140 female students in Semarang, Indonesia, aged 18-22 participated in this study. The measuring instruments used were the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), the Dresden Body Image Questionnaire (DBIQ), and the Adult Eating Habit Questionnaire (AEHQ). Analysis was made using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results show that self-esteem significantly and positively affected attitudes towards the body (R2=36.3%, p<.01), and significantly and negatively affected BMI (R2=1.7%, p<.05) and cognitive reactivity (R2=35.8%, p<.01).  Furthermore, attitudes towards the body significantly mediated the relationship between self-esteem and eating habits (β = 0.166, p<.01), and also significantly mediated the relationship between self-esteem and BMI (β = -0.157, p<.01). Based on the results, the development of psychological interventions regarding self-esteem as health promotion in relation to lifestyle is highly recommended.

Keywords: Body Mass Index; BMI; cognitive reactivity; female university student; psychological factors; self-esteem

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