Emotional Experiences of Female Nursing Students with a History of Body Shaming: A Phenomenological Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51143/jksi.v11i1.1166Keywords:
Body shaming, Emotional experience, Female nursing students, Phenomenology, Self-esteemAbstract
Body shaming experiences in young women can result in serious psychological consequences; however, in-depth exploration of nursing students’ emotional experiences remains limited. This study aimed to explore the emotional experiences of female students who had experienced body shaming. A qualitative phenomenological approach was employed involving five active eighth-semester students at STIKes Maharani Malang selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed using phenomenological thematic analysis. Four major themes emerged: Drizzle That Never Ceases (Cumulative Internalization of Suppressed Emotional Wounds), When the Shadow of the Body Becomes a Shackle (Shame-Induced Erosion of Self-Confidence), The Wound That Makes No Sound (Chronic Emotional Exhaustion from Cumulative Body Shaming), and When the Mirror Whispers “You Are Not Worthy” (Internalization of Negative Body Messages and Erosion of Self-Esteem). Body shaming exerts multidimensional effects on female students’ mental health, highlighting the need for trauma-informed interventions and responsive counseling services in nursing education.
References
Achmad, N., Susanto, H., Rapita, D. D., Zahro, A., Yulianeta, & Fatmariza. (2023). Shame culture and the prevention of sexual harassment in university: A case study in Indonesia. Research Journal in Advanced Humanities, 4(4), 90–98. https://doi.org/10.58256/g7ms0h54
Andi, A., Nito, P. J. B., & Latifah, L. (2024). Hubungan body shaming dengan tingkat kecemasan pada mahasiswa. Jurnal Keperawatan Jiwa, 12(4), 847-858. https://doi.org/10.26714/jkj.12.4.2024.847-858
Arnett, J. J. (2024). Emerging adulthood: The winding road from the late teens through the twenties. Oxford University Press.
Arumugam, N., Manap, M. R., De Mello, G., & Dharinee, S. (2022). Body shaming: Ramifications on an individual. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 12(4), 1067–1078. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v12-i4/13180
Azzahra, P. K. (2024). Hubungan body shaming dengan harga diri mahasiswa tingkat awal Fakultas Keperawatan Universitas Sumatera Utara [Skripsi]. Universitas Sumatera Utara.
Cerolini, S., Vacca, M., Zegretti, A., Zagaria, A., & Lombardo, C. (2024). Body shaming and internalized weight bias as potential precursors of eating disorders in adolescents. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1356647. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1356647
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Crusius, J., Corcoran, K., & Mussweiler, T. (2022). Social comparison: Theory, research, and applications. In D. Chadee (Ed.), Theories in social psychology (2nd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.
Faisyah, N. S., Syahputra, Y., Mulyadi, M., & Rahmat, C. P. (2025). The silent erosion: Investigating body shaming's influence on student self-esteem and its counseling implications at SMA PGRI Depok. Jurnal Keilmuan Pendidikan, 1(1), 13–22. https://doi.org/10.63203/040918800
Fitzgerald, A., & Clukey, L. (2022). Factors influencing nursing professional identity development: A qualitative study. Nursing Forum, 57(6), 1346–1353. https://doi.org/10.1111/nuf.12816
Fredrickson, B. L., & Roberts, T. A. (1997). Objectification theory: Toward understanding women's lived experiences and mental health risks. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 21(2), 173–206. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-6402.1997.tb00108.x
Goundar, P. R. (2025). Researcher positionality: Ways to include it in a qualitative research design. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 24. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069251321251
Hamill, C. (2010). Bracketing: Practical considerations in Husserlian phenomenological research. Nurse Researcher, 17(2), 16–24. https://doi.org/10.7748/nr2010.01.17.2.16.c7547
Hastari, A. T., Wiyatno, A., Farhana, M., Juliantini, R., Syamsul, S. J. N., & Saputri, S. (2023). Pengaruh body shaming terhadap tingkat kepercayaan diri pada mahasiswa. Journal of Communication and Social Sciences, 1(1), 8–15. https://doi.org/10.61994/jcss.v1i1.131
Insani, M. F., & Yuliana, N. (2023). Komunikasi intrapersonal dalam proses penerimaan diri mahasiswi korban body shaming. Jurnal Common, 7(2), 176–188. https://doi.org/10.34010/common.v7i2.11482
Juanamasta, I. G., Aungsuroch, Y., Preechawong, S., & Gunawan, J. (2023). Factors related to professional self-concept of nursing students and nurses: A systematic review. Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research, 28(6), 642–648. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijnmr.Ijnmr_222_20
Kerbyson, M., & Clark, K. D. (2024). Clinical observations of weight stigma among nursing students: A descriptive approach. Obesity Science & Practice, 10(5), e70008. https://doi.org/10.1002/osp4.70008
Lim, M. T., Eres, R., & Vasan, S. (2022). Understanding the effects of collectivism and social connectedness on mental health among young adults. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(9), 5678. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19095678
Liu, X., Zhang, Y., & Chen, H. (2023). Shame, social evaluation, and psychological well-being among Asian university students: A cross-cultural perspective. Current Psychology, 42(28), 24463–24475. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03565-0
Liyanovitasari, L., & Setyoningrum, U. (2022). Gambaran Harga Diri Remaja yang Mengalami Body Shaming. Pro Health Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan, 4(2), 259–262. https://doi.org/10.35473/proheallth.v4i2.1758
Lohr, S. L. (2019). Sampling: Design and analysis (2nd ed.). Chapman & Hall/CRC
Matos, A. P., Ferreira, C., & Duarte, C. (2022). The role of self-criticism and body shame in body image disturbance. Body Image, 41, 177–186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.02.007
Mingoia, J., Hutchinson, A. D., Gleaves, D. H., & Wilson, C. (2021). The relationship between social networking site use and the internalization of body image ideals among young people: A meta-analysis. Body Image, 37, 131–142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2021.02.011
Novitasari, E., & Hamid, A. Y. S. (2021). The relationships between body image, self-efficacy, and coping strategy among Indonesian adolescents who experienced body shaming. Enfermería Clínica, 31, S185–S189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enfcli.2020.12.019
Nurfitri, A. D., Putri, A. R., Khikmawati, A., Rafli, M. A., & Fahmy, Z. (2023). Pengaruh perilaku body shaming terhadap tingkat kepercayaan diri pada mahasiswa psikologi. Al-Ittizaan: Jurnal Bimbingan Konseling Islam, 6(1), 35–41. https://doi.org/10.24014/ittizaan.v6i1.17430
Nurhaeni, A., Marisa, D. E., Oktiany, T., Rahayu, R., Purbaningsih, E. S., & Wahyuni, L. (2025). Exploring the relationship between body shaming and self-concept among adolescents. Indonesian Journal of Global Health Research, 7(3), 879–888. https://doi.org/10.37287/ijghr.v7i3.6264
Opesemowo, O. A. G., & Adegbuyi, T. A. (2025). Bullying, Body Shaming, and Academic Behavior Among University Students in Nigeria. International Journal of Bullying Prevention. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42380-025-00312-6
Orth, U., & Robins, R. W. (2022). Development of self-esteem across the lifespan. In The handbook of personality development. Guilford Press.
Putri, Y. R., & Lessy, Z. (2022). Fenomena bodyshaming pada mahasiswi BKI IAIN Surakarta. Hisbah: Jurnal Bimbingan Konseling dan Dakwah Islam, 19(1), 125–137. https://doi.org/10.14421/hisbah.2022.191-08.
Saunders, J. F., Nutter, S., Waugh, R., & Hayden, K. A. (2024). Testing body-related components of objectification theory: A meta-analysis of the relations between body shame, self-objectification, and body dissatisfaction. Body Image, 50, 101738. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2024.101738
Schlüter, C., Kraag, G., & Schmidt, J. (2023). Body shaming: An exploratory study on its definition and classification. International Journal of Bullying Prevention, 5(1), 26–37. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42380-021-00109-3
Shorey, S., & Molassiotis, A. (2022). Examining characteristics of descriptive phenomenological nursing studies: A scoping review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 78(11), 3462–3476. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15244
Siu, E., Chan, C., Hitchcock, B., Evans, M., & Metallinos-Katsaras, E. (2024). Body Type and Body Dissatisfaction in Instagram Posts by Dietetics and Nursing Students. Topics in Clinical Nutrition, 39(3), 213–222
Syafira, E. D., Rakhmad, W. N., & Widagdo, M. B. (2022). Pengalaman komunikasi wanita dalam memaknai body shaming. Interaksi Online, 10(2), 127–137.
Syeda, H., Shah, I., Jan, U., & Mumtaz, S. (2023). Exploring the impact of body shaming and emotional reactivity on the self-esteem of young adults. CARC Research in Social Sciences, 2(3), 60–67. https://doi.org/10.58329/criss.v2i3.30.
Vabo, G., Slettebø, Å., & Fossum, M. (2022). Nursing students’ professional identity development: An integrative review. Nordic Journal of Nursing Research, 42(1), 4–14. https://doi.org/10.1177/20571585211029857
Yadav, S., Moyon, K. V., & Bhanot, D. (2023). Appearance teasing and identity formation amongst young adults: An interpretative phenomenological analysis. The Qualitative Report, 28(12), 3647–3676. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2023.6234
Yin, M., Zhang, X., & Chen, S. (2023). Rumination increases mental fatigue and reduces perceived coping efficacy in college students: Evidence from daily diary studies. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1127843. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1127843
Yip, K. (2024). Positionality and reflexivity: Negotiating insider-outsider positions within and across cultures. International Journal of Research & Method in Education, 47(3), 222–232. https://doi.org/10.1080/1743727X.2023.2266375
Zhang, Y., Wang, X., & colleagues. (2024). The association between aspects of expressive suppression emotion regulation strategy and rumination traits: A network analysis approach. BMC Psychology, 12, 501. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-01501-6
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References
Achmad, N., Susanto, H., Rapita, D. D., Zahro, A., Yulianeta, & Fatmariza. (2023). Shame culture and the prevention of sexual harassment in university: A case study in Indonesia. Research Journal in Advanced Humanities, 4(4), 90–98. https://doi.org/10.58256/g7ms0h54
Andi, A., Nito, P. J. B., & Latifah, L. (2024). Hubungan body shaming dengan tingkat kecemasan pada mahasiswa. Jurnal Keperawatan Jiwa, 12(4), 847-858. https://doi.org/10.26714/jkj.12.4.2024.847-858
Arnett, J. J. (2024). Emerging adulthood: The winding road from the late teens through the twenties. Oxford University Press.
Arumugam, N., Manap, M. R., De Mello, G., & Dharinee, S. (2022). Body shaming: Ramifications on an individual. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 12(4), 1067–1078. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v12-i4/13180
Azzahra, P. K. (2024). Hubungan body shaming dengan harga diri mahasiswa tingkat awal Fakultas Keperawatan Universitas Sumatera Utara [Skripsi]. Universitas Sumatera Utara.
Cerolini, S., Vacca, M., Zegretti, A., Zagaria, A., & Lombardo, C. (2024). Body shaming and internalized weight bias as potential precursors of eating disorders in adolescents. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1356647. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1356647
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Crusius, J., Corcoran, K., & Mussweiler, T. (2022). Social comparison: Theory, research, and applications. In D. Chadee (Ed.), Theories in social psychology (2nd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.
Faisyah, N. S., Syahputra, Y., Mulyadi, M., & Rahmat, C. P. (2025). The silent erosion: Investigating body shaming's influence on student self-esteem and its counseling implications at SMA PGRI Depok. Jurnal Keilmuan Pendidikan, 1(1), 13–22. https://doi.org/10.63203/040918800
Fitzgerald, A., & Clukey, L. (2022). Factors influencing nursing professional identity development: A qualitative study. Nursing Forum, 57(6), 1346–1353. https://doi.org/10.1111/nuf.12816
Fredrickson, B. L., & Roberts, T. A. (1997). Objectification theory: Toward understanding women's lived experiences and mental health risks. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 21(2), 173–206. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-6402.1997.tb00108.x
Goundar, P. R. (2025). Researcher positionality: Ways to include it in a qualitative research design. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 24. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069251321251
Hamill, C. (2010). Bracketing: Practical considerations in Husserlian phenomenological research. Nurse Researcher, 17(2), 16–24. https://doi.org/10.7748/nr2010.01.17.2.16.c7547
Hastari, A. T., Wiyatno, A., Farhana, M., Juliantini, R., Syamsul, S. J. N., & Saputri, S. (2023). Pengaruh body shaming terhadap tingkat kepercayaan diri pada mahasiswa. Journal of Communication and Social Sciences, 1(1), 8–15. https://doi.org/10.61994/jcss.v1i1.131
Insani, M. F., & Yuliana, N. (2023). Komunikasi intrapersonal dalam proses penerimaan diri mahasiswi korban body shaming. Jurnal Common, 7(2), 176–188. https://doi.org/10.34010/common.v7i2.11482
Juanamasta, I. G., Aungsuroch, Y., Preechawong, S., & Gunawan, J. (2023). Factors related to professional self-concept of nursing students and nurses: A systematic review. Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research, 28(6), 642–648. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijnmr.Ijnmr_222_20
Kerbyson, M., & Clark, K. D. (2024). Clinical observations of weight stigma among nursing students: A descriptive approach. Obesity Science & Practice, 10(5), e70008. https://doi.org/10.1002/osp4.70008
Lim, M. T., Eres, R., & Vasan, S. (2022). Understanding the effects of collectivism and social connectedness on mental health among young adults. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(9), 5678. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19095678
Liu, X., Zhang, Y., & Chen, H. (2023). Shame, social evaluation, and psychological well-being among Asian university students: A cross-cultural perspective. Current Psychology, 42(28), 24463–24475. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03565-0
Liyanovitasari, L., & Setyoningrum, U. (2022). Gambaran Harga Diri Remaja yang Mengalami Body Shaming. Pro Health Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan, 4(2), 259–262. https://doi.org/10.35473/proheallth.v4i2.1758
Lohr, S. L. (2019). Sampling: Design and analysis (2nd ed.). Chapman & Hall/CRC
Matos, A. P., Ferreira, C., & Duarte, C. (2022). The role of self-criticism and body shame in body image disturbance. Body Image, 41, 177–186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.02.007
Mingoia, J., Hutchinson, A. D., Gleaves, D. H., & Wilson, C. (2021). The relationship between social networking site use and the internalization of body image ideals among young people: A meta-analysis. Body Image, 37, 131–142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2021.02.011
Novitasari, E., & Hamid, A. Y. S. (2021). The relationships between body image, self-efficacy, and coping strategy among Indonesian adolescents who experienced body shaming. Enfermería Clínica, 31, S185–S189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enfcli.2020.12.019
Nurfitri, A. D., Putri, A. R., Khikmawati, A., Rafli, M. A., & Fahmy, Z. (2023). Pengaruh perilaku body shaming terhadap tingkat kepercayaan diri pada mahasiswa psikologi. Al-Ittizaan: Jurnal Bimbingan Konseling Islam, 6(1), 35–41. https://doi.org/10.24014/ittizaan.v6i1.17430
Nurhaeni, A., Marisa, D. E., Oktiany, T., Rahayu, R., Purbaningsih, E. S., & Wahyuni, L. (2025). Exploring the relationship between body shaming and self-concept among adolescents. Indonesian Journal of Global Health Research, 7(3), 879–888. https://doi.org/10.37287/ijghr.v7i3.6264
Opesemowo, O. A. G., & Adegbuyi, T. A. (2025). Bullying, Body Shaming, and Academic Behavior Among University Students in Nigeria. International Journal of Bullying Prevention. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42380-025-00312-6
Orth, U., & Robins, R. W. (2022). Development of self-esteem across the lifespan. In The handbook of personality development. Guilford Press.
Putri, Y. R., & Lessy, Z. (2022). Fenomena bodyshaming pada mahasiswi BKI IAIN Surakarta. Hisbah: Jurnal Bimbingan Konseling dan Dakwah Islam, 19(1), 125–137. https://doi.org/10.14421/hisbah.2022.191-08.
Saunders, J. F., Nutter, S., Waugh, R., & Hayden, K. A. (2024). Testing body-related components of objectification theory: A meta-analysis of the relations between body shame, self-objectification, and body dissatisfaction. Body Image, 50, 101738. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2024.101738
Schlüter, C., Kraag, G., & Schmidt, J. (2023). Body shaming: An exploratory study on its definition and classification. International Journal of Bullying Prevention, 5(1), 26–37. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42380-021-00109-3
Shorey, S., & Molassiotis, A. (2022). Examining characteristics of descriptive phenomenological nursing studies: A scoping review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 78(11), 3462–3476. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15244
Siu, E., Chan, C., Hitchcock, B., Evans, M., & Metallinos-Katsaras, E. (2024). Body Type and Body Dissatisfaction in Instagram Posts by Dietetics and Nursing Students. Topics in Clinical Nutrition, 39(3), 213–222
Syafira, E. D., Rakhmad, W. N., & Widagdo, M. B. (2022). Pengalaman komunikasi wanita dalam memaknai body shaming. Interaksi Online, 10(2), 127–137.
Syeda, H., Shah, I., Jan, U., & Mumtaz, S. (2023). Exploring the impact of body shaming and emotional reactivity on the self-esteem of young adults. CARC Research in Social Sciences, 2(3), 60–67. https://doi.org/10.58329/criss.v2i3.30.
Vabo, G., Slettebø, Å., & Fossum, M. (2022). Nursing students’ professional identity development: An integrative review. Nordic Journal of Nursing Research, 42(1), 4–14. https://doi.org/10.1177/20571585211029857
Yadav, S., Moyon, K. V., & Bhanot, D. (2023). Appearance teasing and identity formation amongst young adults: An interpretative phenomenological analysis. The Qualitative Report, 28(12), 3647–3676. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2023.6234
Yin, M., Zhang, X., & Chen, S. (2023). Rumination increases mental fatigue and reduces perceived coping efficacy in college students: Evidence from daily diary studies. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1127843. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1127843
Yip, K. (2024). Positionality and reflexivity: Negotiating insider-outsider positions within and across cultures. International Journal of Research & Method in Education, 47(3), 222–232. https://doi.org/10.1080/1743727X.2023.2266375
Zhang, Y., Wang, X., & colleagues. (2024). The association between aspects of expressive suppression emotion regulation strategy and rumination traits: A network analysis approach. BMC Psychology, 12, 501. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-01501-6
