THE IMPACT OF BODY SHAMING ON THE EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING OF

STUDENTS IN SCHOOL: A QUALITATIVE INTERVIEW

A Research

Presented to the Faculty of Domingo Lacson National High School

Senior High School Department

HUMSS 11-A4

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

For the Practical Research 1

(Qualitative Research)

Isabelle Pansoy Mariel Custodio

Thea Sargento Jhoshua Atienza

Ela Macairan Jilliane Nicor

Trixie Belonio Job Desamparado

Salvrick Diamante Kian Beniabon

Nick Damit
 MAY 2023

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE

CHAPTER I – INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY……………………………………………………..1

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM…………………………………………………….3

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE……………………………………………….3

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY……………………………………………………...6

SCOPE AND DELIMITATION…………………………………………………………7

OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS ……………………………………………7

CHAPTER II – METHODOLOGY

RESEARCH DESIGN……………………………………………………………………9

PARTICIPANTS…………………………………………………………………………9

PROCEDURES…………………………………………………………………………..10

DATA ANALYSIS……………………………………………………………………… 10

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS………………………………………………………….11

REFERENCES…………………………………………………………………………………12

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 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Recently, shame has been gaining more theoretical and research attention, both for being

a personal experience and an interpersonal process via stigmatizing and shaming. Past studies

have claimed that victims of body shaming view their physical body negatively, it can lead to

distress and disorders, something known as body image disturbances. With "body shame, “ we

shift our focus to negative experiences of the appearance or function of the body that may

involve other senses such as smell and touch. Moreover, past studies have suggested that by

focusing on shame, we can better understand stigma, internal/external shame, and humiliation

while focusing on developing self-awareness within its social/ cultural contexts.

Body shaming can make these feelings persistent and overwhelming, despite the fact that it is

completely normal and even common for people to occasionally experience some form of self-

doubt or shame. The Girls' Attitudes Survey, which was conducted in 2016, found that 47% of

girls between the ages of 11 and 21 admitted that their appearance limits what they can

accomplish. Body shaming has unfortunately become an everyday occurrence for the majority of

people. 94% of teenage girls say they have been subjected to body shaming, and 57% of people

between the ages of 12 and 20 believe that their appearance is to blame for their bullying.

According to another study conducted, 94% of teenage girls and 64% of teenagers have

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encountered some form of body shaming in the Philippines. These numbers are significantly

high, yet they continue to increase daily.

In the context of youth obesity interventions, there is growing interest in new ways to

understand obesity as a social phenomenon. However, these interventions rarely address the

complexities of social environments or the emotional effects of those environments (focusing

instead on family and individual behavior changes to encourage healthy eating and reduce

sedentary behavior). Given how understudied college students are as a population and the need

to better inform college-based interventions, there has been a specific call for additional studies

that identify such social mechanisms relevant to weight in relation to college students in

particular. Particularly, campus-based healthy weight interventions are increasingly utilizing

peer-to-peer social media connections for weight interventions. Understanding how friendships

mediate weight stigma and its negative effects on mental health can also help with the design of

more effective interventions.

Many people spend a significant portion of their time on social media sites, connecting

with friends, browsing through photos, or commenting on things that strike a chord with them.

Often, it is harmless fun, but one of the downsides is how open it is to body shaming.

Body shaming is defined as the act of making inappropriate and negative comments

about another person's weight or size. Frequently, this is something that overweight people are

subjected to but there's an increasing trend in criticizing those who look "too skinny". Nobody

should have to live in a world where they're made to feel bad about their bodies by others who

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are often critical enough of their appearance. The consequence of body shaming is severe,

whether you're changing yourself or someone else, and can contribute to mental health problems.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This study aims to focus on the emotional well-being of students in a school. The study is

conducted among the different strands of Senior high school students in the Senior high school

department of Domingo Lacson National High School during the school year 2022- 2023. The

result of the study will be used as a basis for proposing a proper treatment for body shaming.

This study specifically aims to answer:

1. How can you combat body shaming on your school campus?

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This study was conducted to determine the experiences of body shaming of students on our

school campus, Domingo Lacson National High School. To alleviate fathomable details of this

phenomenological research approach, a review of related literature and studies includes the

following:

The Social Comparison Theory (Festinger, 1954) as cited by Daniel Talbot (2019) posits that

people possess an intuitive predisposition to compare themselves to others in their immediate

social environment. These comparisons can be either “downward” (i.e., comparisons opposed to

another person who is observed to have a less desirable or acceptable body) or "upward (i.e.,

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comparisons opposed to another person who is observed to have a more desirable or acceptable

body; Collins, 1996). On the contrary, the Objectification Theory of Body Dissatisfaction

expounds that people are conditioned to see themselves as inanimate objects with no intrinsic

value to how they seem. This idea is strengthened by the fact that their bodies are constantly

subjected to observations and assessments made by others (Frederickson & Roberts, 1997;

Frederickson Roberts, Noll, Twenge, Quinn, & 1998) as cited by Daniel Talbot (2019).

According to the Tripartite Influence Model, body dissatisfaction is directly influenced by three

social forces: parents, peers, and media. The internalization of the 'ideal' body type and

appearance comparison is also taken into account by this model (Thompson, Coovert, &

Stormer, 1999) as cited by Daniel Talbot (2019).

Over time, bullying can become a traumatic event in a child’s life. There are endless lasting

effects that bullying can have on an individual, including effects on their physical, emotional,

psychological, academic, behavioral, social, and economic health. Several studies have shown

that the symptoms of bullying are remarkably similar to the symptoms of post-traumatic stress

disorder and that there is a correlation between the two. At times, adults who experienced

bullying in their youth may experience intrusive memories of being bullied many years later. In

one study, 57 percent of bullying victims reported enough symptoms to formally classify their

experience as trauma (Beverly Lickteig, 2016).

Body shaming statements could generate negative feelings among youth. This is a normal

reaction by reasonable people who encounter or face something bad and unacceptable such as

bad comments about other people’s physical appearance. This goes to show that there is still

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empathy in our society and the fact that the youth show such consideration is admirable because

they are the future generation that is going to lead the country. It is hoped that the passing of

specific legislation on body shaming will reduce if not prevent such an act among the public.

Such legislation would provide for all matters relating to body shaming and would facilitate

everyone to understand the offense and the penalties available if anyone is found guilty of the

offense (Mimi Sofiah Ahmad Mustafa, Ida Rahayu Mahat, Mohd Ab Malek Md Shah, Nor

Aishah Mohd. Ali, Rosilawati Sultan Mohideen, Sulaiman Mahzan, 2022).

The rise of social media usage in today’s society can have many different effects on body

image and the later development of eating disorders in many individuals. Research clearly shows

that media exposure contributes to body dissatisfaction and disordered eating (Bella Fleps,

2021). Studies have proven that participants who reduced their social media use had a

significant improvement in how they regarded both their overall appearance and body weight

after the three-week intervention, compared with the control group, who saw no significant

change (American Psychological Association, 2023). Another study found an association

between the frequency of comparing one's own physical appearance to that of people followed

on social media and body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness. Interestingly, the level of

education was a confounding factor in this relationship, while BMI was not. The widespread use

of social media by teenagers and young adults could increase body dissatisfaction as well as their

drive for thinness, therefore rendering them more vulnerable to eating disorders (Jiotsa B,

Naccache B, Duval M, Rocher B, Grall-Bronnec M., 2021). Findings of a study showed that

overweight/obese students of both genders who are body ashamed are less likely to seek or

maintain friendships, and this then additionally heightens their risk of depressive symptoms. The

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effects are most pronounced when students first arrive on campus, but the moderating effects

remain even as they integrate into campus life (Alexandra A. Brewis and Meg Bruening, 2018).

Reviews of the literature and other studies were used to create the framework and conclusions

of this phenomenological investigation for our research.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The result of the study will be significant in preventing the victim of body shaming in

today's youth and the unfair treatment that brought anxiety and depression in their lives. This

study is specifically beneficial to the following:

Students. The findings of the study help them realize that it's not capable to our society. The

findings can be further used if they'll understand and becoming aware of reality.

Parents. The result of our research is to know and to be aware of what is happening to their

children who are victims of body shaming. Also, to know and anticipate the problem and solve

it.

Teachers. The result of our research is for the teachers to know the bullying done by the other

students. So that they can protect and defend the victim of body shaming. Also, they need to

know how the victim feels and thinks when being bullied. They need to express their feelings

towards the victim that they are unique and equal.

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SCOPE AND LIMITATION

This qualitative research aims to explore, investigate, and determine the live experiences

of body shaming among Senior High School students. According to Sandelowski (2017),

phenomenological studies are defined as a methodological approach directed toward maintaining

"empirical intimacy" with a group of individuals and their experiences. As a descriptive cross-

sectional case study, it determines the way of living of the said students on their individual

experiences with body shaming. Glyndis (2006) defines this research as an intensive study about

a person or a group of people that aims to generalize understanding of the complex issue in its

real-life context. This research is directed to all Senior High School students of Domingo Lacson

National High School during the school year 2022-2023. This research will consider all Senior

High School students of Domingo Lacson National High School during the school year 2022-

2023. They will be selected using drawlands method. This method is defined as a random

sampling method wherein it uses paper with written names of the Grade 11 students in the Senior

High School of Domingo Lacson National High School and picks ten students in each section

randomly.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

The following terms are conceptually defined:

I. Body Checking -An obsessive-compulsive disorder, which involves

examining and comparing one's appearance to another's (Kraus, Lindenberg,

Zeeck, Kosfelder, & Voeks, 2015).

2. Body Dissatisfaction-A negative biased assessment of the mass and

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silhouette of one's own body (Joseph & Shiffrar, 201 1 ).

3. Body Image-The subjective personal analysis of an individual's body

(Reeves, Boyd, Roul, McGowan, & Cameron, 2017)

CHAPTER II

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 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

RESEARCH DESIGN

The study's qualitative methodology, specifically a

study using phenomenology. Philosophical conceptions of phenomenology include

a mode of inquiry and a broad perspective that all qualitative research is conducted from

cited as (Kafle, 2011). Turner, Johnson, and Christensen claim that the main

The purpose of a phenomenological investigation is to clarify the significance, framework, and

core of a person's or a group of people's life experiences revolving around a particular issue or

phenomenon (Goes & Simon, 2013). The phenomenologist seeks to comprehend

By giving a thorough account of human behavior as seen by the study's participants

textured explanation of real-world experience.

PARTICIPANTS

All senior high school students at Domingo Lacson National High School who will be

enrolled there during the academic year 2022–2023 are the participants for this study. All

Domingo Lacson National High School Senior High School students enrolled in the 2022–2023

academic year are included in this study. They'll be chosen utilizing the drawland approach. This

procedure is known as a random sample method because it selects ten students at random from

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each section of the Senior High School of Domingo Lacson National High School's Grade 11

students on paper with their names written on it.

PROCEDURES

The focus of this study is to determine the lived experiences of physical cyberbullying of

Senior High students at Domingo Lacson National High School. The study utilize the descriptive

survey design, used in this research to obtain the research data. According to Lokesh (2010),

survey studies are designed to obtain persistent and precise information concerning the current

state of the phenomenon and whenever possible to draw varied general conclusions from the

facts discovered. Survey methods are non-experimental for they deal with the relationships

among non-manipulated variables. Since the events or conditions have already occurred or exist

the researcher merely selects the relevant variable for the analysis of their relationships (Best &

Khan, 2010).

DATA ANALYSIS

The study was conducted at Domingo Lacson National High School (DLNHS) to look over

the extent and physical cyberbullying experiences. The increase of cyberbullying in an

increasingly digitized world, especially among teenagers, where physical bullies can take

advantage of social media networks, smart devices, and etc. technology in order to bully other

students.

The focus of the study is the common experiences of cyberbullying of students, in school.

Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used to analyze the study data. Quantitative

data were gathered through surveys that inquired about students' experiences of cyberbullying,

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the social pressures they faced, the support provided by the school, the frequency of

cyberbullying incidents, and their perceptions of its impact. Qualitative data were collected

through focus group interviews with participating students and interviews with school staff to

gain a deeper awareness of real-life experiences of physical cyberbullying.

The results of the analysis revealed that physical cyberbullying in DLNHS could be a far-

reaching phenomenon, with most students detailing that they have been a victim of cyberbullying

in some form in the past. The larger part of the students too reported feeling unsafe when using

social media and technology, and most of them reported that the school does not provide

satisfactory support for victims of cyberbullying. The analysis also appeared that there are a

number of factors that impact the prevalence of physical cyberbullying within the school, such as

the estimate and nature of the school, the accessibility of innovation, and the state of mind of

school staff in tackling cyberbullying. The analysis of research data in this consideration has

uncovered a critical issue within the Domingo Lacson National Tall School. They come about

propose that physical cyberbullying may be a genuine issue that has to be tended to by the school

in arrange to guarantee the security and well-being of all its understudies. The consideration

moreover gives a few valuable experiences into the variables that impact physical cyberbullying,

and the require for more bolster and direction for casualties of cyberbullying and those who may

be powerless to it.

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

It is crucial for a researcher to be aware of the significance of ethical considerations and to

uphold them all the way through the research. As a result, ethical issues were seriously

considered and properly addressed throughout the project. Several ethical concerns had to be

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taken into consideration while conducting this study. The competitors' average age was one of

the primary moral concerns. The researcher had to make sure that every participant was over the

age of 18, as parental consent is required if a subject is under 18. Another significant ethical

issue was confidentiality. Participants were instructed to leave their names off of all

questionnaires in order to retain their anonymity. All paperwork, transcripts, and data were held

in a secure place until needed; therefore, holding the issue of confidentiality in high esteem.

Before commencing the questionnaires, consent was sought from all participants and they were

briefed on the topic of the research. Participants were also informed that their participation was

optional and they had the right to withdraw at any time and their answers would not be used in

the analysis.

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 CHAPTER III

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

Presented in this chapter is the result of the data analysis. Discussions are also provided to

give a comprehensive explanation of the themes that were generated in response to the objectives

set in this study.

Shaping into a better version

Most of the students that have been body shamed are shaping themselves to become better

versions than what they are known for. Each of the students have different ways in accepting

body shame for themselves, and they are open to changing for the better.

RECIPIENTS:

RP1: “Ginapakita ko na lang sa akon acads nga kaya ko mag-eskwela miskan gina-amo ko

na nila…”

RP2: “Naging extrovert ko when it comes to making friends ti amo na ngaa dyutay na lang ang

ga body shame sakon kag kavibe ko naman sila…”

RP3: “Mas ginataas ko na lang confidence ko para indi na sila manuya sa akon…”

RP4: “Gafocus lang ko sa eskwela eh kag ginapataas grado ko…”

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 Unbothered by body shaming

Majority of the students responded that they are not really affected by the negative comments

they receive about their body. The students did not want anything to change about how their

body looks.

RECIPIENTS:

RP1: “Palangga ko na kaugalingon ko kag wala na ko kailangan bag-uhon sa akon

kaugalingon…”

RP2: “Lawas ko man ni ya, indi ila, amo na ngaa wala ko nahuya…”

RP3: “As in wala gid ko labot sa ila, ginamind ko lang ang own world ko…”

RP4: “Wala man ko labot, ga-eskwela lang ko…”

Dealing with the bullies

The students were mostly experiencing bullies that shamed them for how their body looks.

However, the students have their own way of dealing with them when they experience this.

RECIPIENTS:

RP1: “Ginabaton ko lang miskan ginasuyaan ko nila, syempre migohay man kami mo…”

RP2: “Waay ko na lang sila ginasapak…”

RP3: “Nahadlok sila sa akon sa tuod lang. Nahadlok pa gid sila dahil sa tingog ko pa gid…”

RP4: “Gina-ignore ko na lang kag ginasugid sa teachers kung manuya sila…”

RP5: “Biskan ano ko bi ka sunlog nila, kabalo ko man ko gyapon kung ano himuon ko ya kag

ang level ko sa ila mas taas man dyapon…”

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RP6: “Ginapabay-an ko na lang kag wala ko gapa apekto sa ila…”

DISCUSSION

In this study, we discuss the impacts of body shaming among the 10 students we interviewed

from Domingo Lacson National High School. The students provided their own ways of dealing

with body shame through not giving it any mind and not letting it affect them yet, they chose to

also shape themselves to become better while being proud of their body.

CHAPTER IV

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

CONCLUSION

The information provided based on the research focused on exploring the impacts of body

shaming on the emotional well-being of students at Domingo Lacson National High School. The

study employed a qualitative methodology with a phenomenological approach, aims to gain a

comprehensive understanding of the participants' real-world experiences. The participants

consisted of all senior high school students enrolled during the academic year 2022-2023,

selected through a random sampling method.

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For gathering study data, the processes required using a descriptive survey methodology. We

used both quantitative and qualitative data collection strategies. Surveys were used to get

quantitative data, while individual interviews including school staff and focus groups with

participating students were used to gather qualitative data. Quantitative and qualitative methods

were also used in the data analysis process.

The analysis findings revealed that physical cyberbullying was a common issue among the senior

high school students at Domingo Lacson National High School. Many students reported

experiencing body shaming in various forms, feeling unsafe while using social media and

technology, and perceiving different support from the school for cyberbullying victims. The

analysis also identified factors influencing the prevalence of physical cyberbullying, including

the school environment, accessibility of technology, and the attitude of school staff towards

addressing the issue.

Based on the research data, it was concluded that body shaming is a significant problem at

Domingo Lacson National High School, requiring immediate attention from the school to ensure

the safety and well-being of all students. The study also emphasized the need for additional

support and guidance for the body shamed victims and those vulnerable to it. Ethical

considerations were carefully addressed throughout the research, including ensuring participants'

confidentiality, obtaining informed consent, and providing the option to withdraw from the

study.

In summary, this research shed light on the experiences of body shaming among high school

students, emphasizing the need for proactive measures to address this issue within the school

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setting. The findings can serve as a basis for developing interventions and support systems to

mitigate body shaming and create a safer environment for students.

RECOMMENDATIONS

For School Heads, this study aims to alarm them about the effects of body shaming to the

emotional well-being of students, so they must help by spreading awareness and educate the

students on what the effects of body shaming does to the victims.

For Teachers, this study aims to alarm the teacher in terms of keeping attached of their

students who are being bullied. Also, they need to give attention and help boost the confidence of

their students so they won’t feel like they’re different.

For Parents, they should motivate their child to think better about their body and create a

shame-free environment for their child in their household.

For Future Researchers, this study will benefit them to be more motivated in conducting

studies related to the “Impact of Body Shaming on the Emotional Well-Being of Students in

School”

REFERENCES

Festinger, L. (1954). A theory of social comparison processes. Human Relations, 7(2), 117-140.

doi:10.1177/001872675400700202

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Fredrickson, B. L., & Roberts, T. (1997). Objectification theory: Toward understanding women's

lived experiences and mental health risks. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 21(2), 173-206.

doi:10.1111/j.1471-6402.1997.tb00108.x

Bella Fleps (2021), Social media effects on body image and eating disorders, Illinois State

University

Mustafa, M. S. A., Mahat, I. R., Shah, M. A. M. M., Ali, N. A. M., Mohideen, R. S., & Mahzan,

S. (2022). The Awareness of the Impact of Body Shaming among Youth. International Journal of

Academic

Research in Business and Social Sciences, 12(4), 1096–111

American Psychological Association. (2023, February 23). Reducing social media use

significantly improves body image in teens, young adults [Press release].

https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2023/02/social-media-body-image

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