Marital status and its impact on self-esteem and body mass index among working individuals

Pavithra Sankara Subramanian, Shree Soni & Arti Oza

Volume 6 Issue 1, March 2026

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between marital status, self-esteem, and body mass index (BMI) among working-class individuals, with the aim of understanding how these factors interact to influence well-being in the workplace. A comparative and correlational research design was employed to examine variations in self-esteem across different marital status and BMI categories. The study was conducted over a six-month period among working professionals in urban workplaces across India. A total of 200 participants (100 males and 100 females) were selected for the study. Self-esteem was assessed using the Self-Esteem Scale developed by Dr. Santosh Dhar and Dr. Upinder Dhar (2024), while BMI was calculated using standardized measurements of height and weight. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and F-test. The results of a two-way ANOVA revealed significant main effects of BMI and marital status on self-esteem. Self-esteem levels increased progressively from underweight to obese categories, with overweight and obese individuals reporting higher scores. Married participants demonstrated significantly higher self-esteem compared to unmarried participants. A significant interaction effect between BMI and marital status was also observed, indicating that married overweight and obese individuals reported the highest self-esteem, while unmarried underweight individuals reported the lowest. These findings suggest that self-esteem in the workplace is influenced by both physical characteristics and relational factors. Marital support appears to play a positive role in enhancing psychological well-being, particularly among individuals with higher BMI. The study highlights the importance of integrating social support, emotional well-being, and body image considerations into workplace wellness and mental health initiatives.

Keywords

Author information & Contribution

Pavithra Sankara Subramanian. Corresponding author. MSc in Clinical Psychology, Consultant, Deloitte, India. Email: pavithrassubramanian@gmail.com

Shree Soni. MSc in Clinical Psychology, Canada.

Arti Oza. Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, St. Xavier’s College, Ahmedabad, India.

"Pavithra Sankara Subramanian and Shree Soni contributed to the conception, study design, data collection, statistical analysis, and full manuscript drafting and revision. Dr. Arti Oza served as the research supervisor and provided methodological oversight, guidance, and critical review of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript and agree to be accountable for the integrity and accuracy of its content."

Disclosure statement

Funding

Institutional Review Board Statement

Data and Materials Availability

AI Declaration

Notes

Acknowledgement

References

Achak, D., Azizi, A., Boutib, A., Chergaoui, S., Youlyouz-Marfak, I., Elmadani, S., & Marfak, A. (2025). Self-esteem, body image, and associated factors among female and male university students: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 14(1), 45. https://doi.org/10.4103/jehp.jehp_960_24

Ahmed, U., Fatima, Z., & Zulfiqar, Z. (2025). Media and body image: Analyzing self-objectification theory across different ages of women. SAGE Open, 15(4), 21582440251379748. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440251379748

Albarracín, M., Bouchard-Joly, G., Sheikhbahaee, Z., Miller, M., Pitliya, R. J., & Poirier, P. (2024). Feeling our place in the world: An active inference account of self-esteem. Neuroscience of Consciousness, 2024(1), niae007. https://doi.org/10.1093/nc/niae007

Aniulis, E., Moeck, E. K., Thomas, N. A., & Sharp, G. (2022). The real ideal: Misestimation of body mass index. Frontiers in Global Women’s Health, 3, 756119. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgwh.2022.756119

Campedelli, V., Ciacchella, C., Veneziani, G., Meniconzi, I., Paone, E., Silecchia, G., & Lai, C. (2022). Body image and body mass index influence on psychophysical well-being in bariatric patients: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Personalized Medicine, 12(10), 1597. https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm12101597

Clark, O., Lee, M. M., Jingree, M. L., O’Dwyer, E., Yue, Y., Marrero, A., Tamez, M., Bhupathiraju, S. N., & Mattei, J. (2021). Weight stigma and social media: Evidence and public health solutions. Frontiers in Nutrition, 8, 739056. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2021.739056

Crocker, J. (1999). Social stigma and self-esteem: Situational construction of self-worth. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 35(1), 89–107. https://doi.org/10.1006/jesp.1998.1369

Dhar, S., & Dhar, U. (2024). Self-esteem scale (Psychological test). National Psychological Corporation.

Fiaz, S., & Qureshi, M. A. (2023). Looking at both sides: Outcomes of positive workplace relational systems—A phenomenological study. Heliyon, 9(4), e15156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15442

Floricica, C. M., Luminita, S. M., & Sabina, M. A. (2021). Identifying the relationship between self-esteem and satisfaction in a couple. Technium Social Sciences Journal, 23, 436–444. https://doi.org/10.47577/tssj.v23i1.4599

Garriga, A., & Pennoni, F. (2022). The causal effects of parental divorce and parental temporary separation on children’s cognitive abilities and psychological well-being according to parental relationship quality. Social Indicators Research, 161(2), 963–987. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-021-02767-0

Gómez-Jorge, F., & Díaz-Garrido, E. (2023). The relation between self-esteem and productivity: An analysis in higher education institutions. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1112437. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1112437

Grundström, J., Konttinen, H., Berg, N., & Kiviruusu, O. (2021). Associations between relationship status and mental well-being in different life phases from young to middle adulthood. SSM–Population Health, 14, 100774. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100774

Harris, M. A., & Orth, U. (2020). The link between self-esteem and social relationships: A meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 119(6), 1459–1477. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000265

Jelić, M. (2022). How do we process feedback? The role of self-esteem in processing self-related and other-related information. Acta Psychologica, 227, 103592. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2022.103592

Kertechian, K. S., & El-Farr, H. (2025). Body image in the workplace: Assessing the impact on self-esteem and employee engagement. Acta Psychologica, 259, 105355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.105355

Kołodziej-Zaleska, A., & Przybyła-Basista, H. (2016). Psychological well-being of individuals after divorce: The role of social support. Current Issues in Personality Psychology, 4(4), 206–216. https://doi.org/10.5114/cipp.2016.62940

Leary, M. R. (2005). Sociometer theory and the pursuit of relational value: Getting to the root of self-esteem. European Review of Social Psychology, 16(1), 75–111. https://doi.org/10.1080/10463280540000007

Leary, M. R., & Baumeister, R. F. (2000). The nature and function of self-esteem: Sociometer theory. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 32, 1–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2601(00)80003-9

Mahadevan, N., Gregg, A. P., & Sedikides, C. (2019). Is self-regard a sociometer or a hierometer? Self-esteem tracks status and inclusion, narcissism tracks status. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 116(3), 444–466. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000189

Mallaram, G. K., Sharma, P., Kattula, D., Singh, S., & Pavuluru, P. (2023). Body image perception, eating disorder behavior, self-esteem, and quality of life: A cross-sectional study among female medical students. Journal of Eating Disorders, 11(1), 225. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-023-00904-4

Manalo, M. T. I. M., Ng, A. T. R., Yu, G. P. A., & Ilac, E. J. D. (2022). Self-perceptions of older never-married women in a fluid and changing Asian society: A narrative inquiry. Journal of Women & Aging, 34(5), 658–674. https://doi.org/10.1080/08952841.2021.1944824

Meadows, A., & Higgs, S. (2022). Challenging oppression: A social identity model of stigma resistance in higher-weight individuals. Body Image, 42, 237–245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.06.004

Merino, M., Tornero-Aguilera, J. F., Rubio-Zarapuz, A., Villanueva-Tobaldo, C. V., Martín-Rodríguez, A., & Clemente-Suárez, V. J. (2024). Body perceptions and psychological well-being: A review of the impact of social media and physical measurements on self-esteem and mental health with a focus on body image satisfaction and cultural and gender factors. Healthcare, 12(14), 1396. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12141396

Muris, P., & Otgaar, H. (2023). Self-esteem and self-compassion: A narrative review and meta-analysis on their links to psychological problems and well-being. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 16, 2961–2975. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S421483

Myers, T. A., & Crowther, J. H. (2009). Social comparison as a predictor of body dissatisfaction: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 118(4), 683–698. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016763

Nikolić Turnić, T., Jakovljević, V., Strižkova, Z., Polukhin, N., Ryaboy, D., Kartashova, M., & Reshetnikov, V. (2024). The association between marital status and obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Diseases, 12(7), 146. https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases12070146

Omoponle, A. H. (2023). Social adjustment as a necessity among students with negative body image: The roles of parenting processes and self-esteem. Journal of Culture and Values in Education, 6(3), 62–80. https://doi.org/10.46303/jcve.2023.20

Orth, U., & Robins, R. W. (2022). Is high self-esteem beneficial? Revisiting a classic question. American Psychologist, 77(1), 5–17. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000922

Oyibo, K., & Vassileva, J. (2019). The relationship between personality traits and susceptibility to social influence. Computers in Human Behavior, 98, 174–188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2019.04.017

Perinelli, E., Alessandri, G., Cepale, G., & Fraccaroli, F. (2022). The sociometer theory at work: Exploring the organizational interpersonal roots of self-esteem. Applied Psychology, 71(1), 76–102. https://doi.org/10.1111/apps.12322

Pray, R., Riskin, S., & Riskin, S. I. (2023). The history and faults of the body mass index and where to look next: A literature review. Cureus, 15(11), e48825. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.48825

Reitz, A. K. (2022). Self-esteem development and life events: A review and integrative process framework. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 16(11), e12709. https://doi.org/10.1111/spc3.12709

Rohner, J. C., & Rasmussen, A. (2011). Physical attractiveness stereotype and memory. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 52(4), 309–319. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9450.2011.00876.x

Rosenberg, M., Schooler, C., Schoenbach, C., & Rosenberg, F. (1995). Global self-esteem and specific self-esteem: Different concepts, different outcomes. American Sociological Review, 60(1), 141–156. https://doi.org/10.2307/2096350

Samari, E., Vaingankar, J. A., Tan, B., Chang, S., Tan, Y. W. B., Archana, S., & Subramaniam, M. (2025). Gender-based analysis of body dissatisfaction among youths in Singapore: Findings from the National Youth Mental Health Study. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 16, 1505161. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1505161

Singhal, S., & Prakash, N. (2021). Relationship between self-esteem and psychological well-being among Indian college students. Journal of Interdisciplinary Cycle Research, 12(8), 748–756. https://doi.org/18.0002.JICR.2020.V12I8.008301.317121879

Solmaz, S. (2025). Enhancing subjective well-being in young professional athletes: The role of self-esteem and perceived social support in moderating neuroticism. SAGE Open, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440251323673

Subramanian, P., Soni, S., & Oza, A. (2024). Gender differences in the relationship between self-esteem and BMI in the workplace. International Journal of Indian Psychology, 12(1), 337–370. https://doi.org/10.25215/1201.034

Sui, Y., & Wang, H. (2014). Relational evaluation, organization-based self-esteem, and performance: The moderating role of allocentrism. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 21(1), 17–28. https://doi.org/10.1177/1548051813486833

Tiggemann, M. (2022). Digital modification and body image on social media: Disclaimer labels, captions, hashtags, and comments. Body Image, 41, 172–180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.03.005

Wood-Barcalow, N., Tylka, T. L., & Judge, C. (2021). Positive body image workbook: A clinical and self-improvement guide. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108758796

Wu, J., Shao, Y., & Zang, W. (2025). Perceived social support and self-esteem predict cyberbullying among rural left-behind adolescents. Scientific Reports, 15, 24676. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10803-7

Yıldırım, M., Çağış, Z. G., Aziz, I. A., Rizzo, A., Turan, M. E., Nucera, G., Khabbache, H., Szarpak, Ł., Chirico, F., & Zaffina, S. (2024). The mediating role of self-esteem in the relationship between social support and affective experiences among undergraduate students in Turkey. Acta Psychologica, 250, 104540. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104540

Young, P. J., Kagetsu, N. J., Tomblinson, C. M., Snyder, E. J., Church, A. L., Mercado, C. L., & Deitte, L. A. (2023). The intersection of diversity and well-being. Academic Radiology, 30(9), 2031–2036. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acra.2023.03.020

Cite this article:

Subramanian, P.S., Soni, S. & Oza, A. (2026). Marital status and its impact on self-esteem and body mass index among working individuals. International Review of Social Sciences Research, 6(1), 22-40. https://doi.org/10.53378/irssr.353305