Gender Differences in Adolescents’ Body Image in Indonesia’s Island and Coastal Regions: A Literature Review

Abstract

Background: Adolescents' body image perceptions are closely linked to their nutritional status and mental health. Gender has traditionally been viewed as a primary determinant of body image; however, recent empirical evidence—particularly from Indonesia's under-researched island and coastal regions—reveals inconsistent patterns, pointing to a clear gap regarding when and why gender differences in body image emerge or disappear across contexts. Objective: This narrative literature review aims to (1) map and synthesize existing evidence on gender differences in adolescents' body image perceptions across international and Indonesian contexts, and (2) identify contextual moderating factors—stage of puberty, geographic location, and sociocultural background—that explain the inconsistency of findings across studies, offering a novel comparative synthesis not addressed by prior reviews. Methods: The review was structured using the Population, Exposure, Outcome (PEO) framework, with a literature search conducted across PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Garuda, yielding 14 key studies published between 2002 and 2025. Results: Most studies (12 out of 14) reported gender differences in body image, generally showing that females are more prone to body dissatisfaction. In contrast, two recent studies in Indonesia (Surabaya and Pekanbaru) found no significant differences, and evidence from the Sangihe Islands showed that girls remain more vulnerable to nutritional problems linked to negative body image. Conclusions and recommendations: Gender is not a single or universal determinant of adolescent body image. Future research and health promotion programs need to consider local sociocultural norms, stages of puberty, and geographic context, particularly for adolescents in Indonesia's island, coastal, and border regions.