Body dissatisfaction is a feeling of dissatisfaction with one's body shape that is commonly experienced by female students due to the influence of beauty standards, comparisons with others, and evaluations of their bodies. Among nursing students, the demand to appear neat and professional also influences body perception. Self-esteem is an individual's evaluation of their own self-worth, which is influenced by self-acceptance and self-respect. Low self-esteem can affect psychological well-being and is associated with the development of body dissatisfaction. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the relationship between self-esteem and body dissatisfaction among female Diploma III Nursing students at Universitas Muhammadiyah Ponorogo.
This study employed a descriptive correlational design with a cross-sectional approach. The study sample consisted of 67 respondents selected using the total sampling technique. The research instruments used were the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) to measure self-esteem and the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ-34) to measure body dissatisfaction. The data were analyzed using the Chi-Square test with a significance level of α = 0.05.
The results showed that the majority of respondents had low self-esteem, with 39 respondents (58.2%), while most respondents had high body dissatisfaction, with 37 respondents (55.2%). The Chi-Square test yielded a Pearson Chi-Square value of 27.162 with a significance value (p-value) of 0.000 (p < 0.05), indicating that H₀ was rejected and H₁ was accepted. This finding indicates that there is a significant relationship between self-esteem and body dissatisfaction among female Diploma III Nursing students at Universitas Muhammadiyah Ponorogo. Efforts to reduce body dissatisfaction can be made by enhancing self-acceptance and self-respect, enabling students to accept their body condition more positively, appreciate themselves, develop a positive body image, and become less influenced by beauty standards and comparisons with others.