The Mediating Role of Social Support in the Relationship between Psychological Capital and Body Image in Students of a Military University

In today's society, dissatisfaction with body image has increased dramatically among young people due to the emphasis on the criteria of physical appearance as a criterion for attractiveness and social acceptance. The aim of this study was to determine the mediating role of social support in the relationship between psychological capital and body image in military students.

This descriptive-correlational study was conducted in 2018-19 among all students studying for bachelor and master degrees at the University of Police in Tehran, Iran. Using the available sampling method, 300 people were selected as samples and answered social support questionnaires, psychological capital, and body image. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation coefficient and path analysis in SPSS 25 software.

The results showed that in psychological capital, the component of self-efficacy had a negative relationship and the components of hope and optimism had a positive and significant relationship with the perception of social support from friends, family and others. Also, psychological capital and social support had a positive and significant relationship with students' satisfaction with body image.

Psychological capital in students plays a decisive role in body image. Also, high social support can have a positive effect on people's attitudes toward themselves.