Predictive relationship between body esteem and interpersonal competence among university students

Background and Study Aim. This study examined the influence of body esteem on interpersonal confidence among Filipino university students within a collectivist sociocultural framework Material and Methods. Utilizing a quantitative, cross-sectional design, data were collected from 341 respondents (234 males and 107 females) enrolled in a state university in Region III, Philippines, using the Body Esteem Scale–Revised (BES-R) and the Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire (ICQ). Both instruments were refitted and validated separately by sex using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), yielding acceptable model fit indices (CFI = 0.847–0.905, TLI = 0.823–0.894, RMSEA = 0.068–0.119) and strong reliability (CR = 0.720–0.937; AVE = 0.428–0.682). Results. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that, among males, sexual attractiveness significantly predicted interpersonal confidence (β = 0.278, t = 3.56, p < 0.001), explaining 13.2% of the variance (Adjusted R² = 0.132, F(3,230) = 12.86, p < 0.001). Among females, upper body strength was a positive predictor (β = 1.094, t = 7.56, p < .001), while sexual attractiveness was a negative predictor (β = –.326, t = –3.14, p = .002), accounting for 70.7% of the variance (Adjusted R² = .707, F(3,103) = 86.08, p < .001). Diagnostic analyses confirmed that assumptions of normality, linearity, homoscedasticity, and independence were met (Durbin–Watson = 2.019–2.140) Conclusions. The study was limited to a single university and relied on self-report data, which may restrict its generalizability. It is recommended that future research include more diverse samples and that universities implement gender-sensitive wellness programs promoting body functionality, self-acceptance, and social confidence Keywords: Body, Body-esteem, interpersonal, Filipino, esteem