PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify body esteem, body figure discrepancy and depression in women college students. METHOD: The data were collected during April and May, 2004 using a questionnaire. The participants were 364 women college students attending universities in Seoul and Gangwon-Do. RESULTS: The BMI for under weight, normal weight and overweight for the college women were 49.2%, 48.3%, 2.5% respectively. But 52.6% of the students perceived themselves as obese and only 11.5% described themselves as being 'thin'. The mean scores for BMI, body esteem, body figure discrepancy and depression were 20.11+/-2.20, 2.36+/-.79, 1.07+/-.58 and 1.20+/-.48 respectively. Significant difference was found in body esteem score (F=26.389, p<.0001) and body figure discrepancy (F=64.167, p<.0001) according to BMI scores. There were negative correlations between body esteem and body figure discrepancy (r=-.582, p=.0001), between body esteem and depression (r=-.120, p=.028), between body esteem and BMI (r=-.422, p=.0001), and a positive correlation between body figure discrepancy and BMI (r=.630, p=.0001). Factors such as body figure discrepancy, BMI and depression explained 36.7% of the variance in students' body esteem. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that an intervention program is necessary for women college students to increase their body-esteem.
Depression* ; Female ; Gangwon-do ; Humans ; Overweight ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seoul

PURPOSE: this study was carried out to identify family environmental factors related to changes in sexual attitudes through a sexuality education based on correct sexual attitude for middle school students. METHODS: The subjects were 141 students (67 boys and 74 girls) in 4 classes of the first grade of a coeducational middle school, in Seoul. The school nurse provided the sexuality education for 18 hours over 16 weeks. RESULTS: After the sexuality education, there was a significant increase in sexual attitude(t=59.06, p<.001). For family environmental factors related to changes in sexual attitude, 'relationship with parents' was a significant factor for both boys and girls. For the girls, there were many other related factors such as 'parents' openness', 'family structure', and 'economic status'. Significant factors were 'Family structure' for attitude to abortion and 'parents' openness' for attitude to intercourse before marriage. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, systematic sexuality education is needed to enhance correct sexual attitudes in youth. To increase the effect of sexuality education, it should include contents to improve relationships with patents. Also, for parents, programs to improve relationships with their children and to change the values such as openness may also be required.
Adolescent ; Child ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Marriage ; Parents ; Seoul ; Sex Education* ; Sexuality