Co-relational study of body types and fundamental neurotic reactions among adolescents of urban sector of Peshawar, Pakistan

The purpose of research was to determine the relationship between constitutional variation and fundamental neurotic behavioural reactions. A review of current literature was undertaken in order to summarise some of the possible effects of body type on one's behaviour and development of neurotic patterns. This research gives an overview of causes of clinical symptoms among adolescents. Information was gathered from one hundred and eighty adolescents N = (180) of various colleges of Peshawar district in Pakistan. Criterion of selection of the research sample was the body weight that was identified by calculating Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is a statistical measure of the weight of a person scaled according to height. The sample was classified into the three groups based on their body type. Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS), developed by Lovinbond (1995) was used as an instrument to collect the required data. The DASS is the set of three self-report scales designed to measure the negative emotional states of depression, anxiety and stress. The endomorphs and the ectomorphs had moderate depression level, that is, M = 17.9, SD = 5.9; M = 16.4, SD = 5.2 respectively, whereas, the mesomorphs had mild depression level, that is, M = 11.1, SD = 3.5. The t-statistic showed endomorphs scored significantly high on depression scale than the mesomorphs, t (7.6); p > 0.05 two tailed. While significantly high level of depression was found among the ectomorphs than the mesomorphs, t (6.5); p > 0.05 two tailed, moderate level of stress was found among endomorphs (M = 22.8, SD = 7.5) and ectomorphs (M = 18.6, SD = 6.5). The mesomorphs scored low on stress and had mild level of stress. (M = 16.1, SD = 4.5). The t - statistics has shown no significant difference among the ectomorphs and the endomorphs, t (-1.47); p > .143. It is therefore concluded that those who deviated from the standard body type were more depressed, anxious and under stress whereas females showed more signs of neurotic symptoms than their male counterparts. Keywords: