Effects of Turner Syndrome on Women’s Self-Esteem and Body Image

The present study examined if women with Turner Syndrome (n = 24) differed from women without Turner Syndrome (n = 63) in self-esteem and body image. Women with Turner Syndrome were recruited through the Turner Syndrome Society of Canada and from Turner Syndrome Facebook groups, while the comparison group was comprised of undergraduate university students. Questionnaire measures included the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg 1965), the State Self-Esteem Scale (Heatherton and Polivy 1991), and the Body-Esteem Scale (Mendelson and White 1982). It was hypothesized that women with Turner Syndrome, who tend to be short in stature, would have lower self-esteem and poorer body image than women without Turner Syndrome. While women with Turner Syndrome scored significantly lower on body esteem and on general, social, and appearance-related self-esteem, it is notable that they did not differ from women without Turner Syndrome on performance-related self-esteem. Implications related to the promotion of positive body image and self-esteem in girls and young women with Turner Syndrome are discussed.