Role of BMI in Spiritual Intelligence, Narcissism, and Body Image of College Students

Abstract

Spiritual intelligence is our capacity for developing meaning, vision and value and allows us to dream and to strive. Narcissism is characterized by indulgence in excessive self-love, selfishness, feelings of superiority, disregard for others, lack of empathy, illusions of grandiosity, and the use of people for one’s self gain. Body image relates to a person’s perceptions, feelings and thoughts about his or her body. A 3x2 factorial design was employed to observe the main and interaction effects of BMI (low, normal and high) and gender on spiritual intelligence, narcissism and body image in college students. Further, a correlational design was used to determine the predictors of the dimensions of body image from spiritual intelligence and narcissism. A non probability purposive sampling technique was used to gather data from 360 college students (180 boys and 180 girls) of low, normal and high BMI. There was a significant influence of BMI on fatness evaluation and negative effect. Significant gender differences were seen in some of the dimensions of all the three variables. Also, interaction effect between BMI and gender were reported in certain cases. Results also showed that spiritual intelligence, critical existential thinking, personal meaning production, transcendental awareness, conscious state expansion and narcissism were found to be significant predictors of various criterion variables. Spiritual intelligence can be explored in more than one population in order to gain a better understanding of its influence over body image. Based on the results of the current research study, interventions could be designed which aim at enhancing the understanding of spirituality and spiritual intelligence. This would, in turn, contribute to the fostering of a desirable body image in college students.