Body Image, Self-esteem, and Self-Confidence

Individuals who have a positive body image and self-esteem have more self-confidence. They are more resilient to the daily stresses and challenges that they may face in life. 

Body image refers to our attitudes, beliefs, and feelings about how we look and what our body can do. A positive body image means feeling comfortable in your body.
Self-esteem is closely tied to body image. It refers to how worthy and confident a person feels and the level of self-respect a person has for themselves.

Self-confidence refers to the belief in one’s capabilities, leading to a sense of self-assurance and trust in one’s skills and judgement.

Body image and self-esteem being to develop early in life and are heavily influenced by:

• parents and caregivers,
• peers,
• educators, and
• the social and physical environment children grow up in.

Looking Beyond Appearance

A variety of factors outside of body image can contribute to students feeling good about themselves. This includes intellectual abilities, physical abilities, social skills, interests and talents. Engage students in activities that explore and identify non-appearance based characteristics. This encourages them to concentrate less on their physical appearance and build confidence.