Research in perceptions of normal and ideal body size among nurses (nursing students) / 中国实用护理杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To understand the perceptions of normal and ideal body size in registered nurses and nursing students,and to analyze the impacts of individual weight levels and misperception of body weight on their such cognitions.Methods A cross-sectional survey of 407 nursing students from two hospitals and 466 registered nurses from one hospital was conducted with the questionnaire survey.Sociodemographic information,actual weight,perceived weight levels and scores for figure rating scale were included.Results FRS scores for normal and ideal body size to male were significantly higher than to female either in registered nurses or in nursing students; FRS scores for ideal body size to both sexes were significantly lower than those for normal body size among registered nurses and nursing students.There were no statistically significant associations between FRS scores for normal and ideal body size and individuals' weight levels and misperceptions of body weight among registered nurses and nursing students.Conclusions There existed differences in rating female and male body size among registered nurses and nursing students,with “bigger” normal and ideal body sizes to male,Nurses preferred to “thinner” ideal body size in comparison to normal body size.