The Federal Centre for Health Education’s (BZgA)representative study Youth Sexuality 9th Iteration is a representative repeat survey. A large-scale survey of young people, their parents and young adults was launched for the ninth time in the summer of 2019. It follows on from predecessor studies conducted between 1980 and 2014. The goal of the study is to acquire reliable data about the attitudes and behaviours of young people in the Federal Republic of Germany with regards to sexuality and contraception.
When adolescents grow into adults, there are many physical and psychological changes that take place. The confrontation young people have with themselves and their bodies takes place within the context of societal norms and expectations that have a crucial impact on the young people’s sense of wellbeing and self-worth.
This fact sheet presents an overview of the subjective body image the adolescents and young adults between the ages of 14 and 25 experience. The attempt to bring in objective metrics (such as including body mass index (BMI) or the like) was deliberately rejected.
Results: An Overview
- Boys and young men generally have a more positive attitude about their bodies than girls and young women.
- Subjective body image: there is no general positive development with increasing age.
- Subjective body image: a supportive social environment is important.
- Girls and young women are more open to cosmetic surgery.