MAYURI, KDIVYA, V2016-12-272016-12-272015http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/93287Adolescence is a critical period of growth and emotional turmoil. It is a period beginning at about 11years and ends about 20 years of age (Ashford et al.2001) as they experience a tremendous amount of physical growth and development which begins during the developmental stage called Puberty and continues during adolescence. Though there are many factors that influence adolescents’ self esteem, body image is one critical factor. In the Indian Context, girls not only worry about weight, but complexion and boys about height which play a major role in their concern about body image. Interestingly, not much research has gone into this important area of adolescent concerns in the India. Therefore, this study is proposed on the perception of body image (skin complexion, facial features, blemish free skin, height, weight, etc.) and self-esteem among adolescents. The sample of the study consisted of 200 adolescents in the age range of 18-20 years with the simple random sampling from engineering colleges of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. The tools used in the study were as follows: Body image perception 16 scale (K. Mayuri & V. Divya, 2014) with Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale was used as measurement tools. This scale was used to assess the general perception, self assessment, and regrets about body, individual efforts, and activities taken up in maintaining the body, ranking of appearance and overall assessment with self esteem of adolescents. The results of the study revealed that young men and women were reasonably satisfied with their body images, but still had some regrets and would like to change some dimensions of the their body if possible. They were at the point of this study spending only on essential items for enhancing body image. Their families’ perceptions were very positive and even their friend’s perceptions too were very positive. Their self esteem scores were significantly related to self assessment and over assessment of their body images and gender differences were seen in regrets about body and individual efforts put in, in which girls had more regrets and put in more efforts than boys.  Unusually boys were concerned much about skin problems, and were concerned about complexion more than girls.  Interestingly boys placed more importance on fitness of body than girls.  Girls did not think about using make up, to cover their blemishes.  Though girls spend much on maintenance of body, boys also worry equally on the concepts of grooming. This study has in general indicated that the body image perceptions are related to self esteem of individuals, and clearly at the impressionable ages of late adolescence. Research published internationally has supported this finding and this study too indicates that self assessment of body image and overall assessment of body image correlate very well with self esteem. Though self esteem is an outcome of many factors, body perceptions are clearly important aspects of self esteem. During adolescence body image perceptions form important components for comparison with others and support from family and friends in this regard can go a long way in establishing a healthy body image perception and a sound self esteem. Finally it can be concluded that there is a strong sense of body image perception among adolescents, and they are concerned about changing unsatisfactory dimensions if they can being strongly influenced by the fashionable world and are trying to compete in almost all the aspects irrespective of their gender.enThesis