Weight Stigma and Social Support Determining Collective Self-Esteem in University Students

Yuni Kurniawaty (Physiotherapy Study Program, St. Vincentius a Paulo Catholic College of Health Sciences, Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia)
Gabriel Wanda Sinawang (Nursing Science Study Program, St. Vincentius a Paulo Catholic College of Health Sciences, Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia)
Sri Winarni (Nursing Science Study Program, St. Vincentius a Paulo Catholic College of Health Sciences, Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia)

Jurnal Promkes: The Indonesian Journal of Health Promotion and Health Education
Vol. 14 No. SI2 (2026): Jurnal Promkes: The Indonesian Journal of Health Promotion and Health Educat

Background: Weight stigma is a social determinant of health that can negatively impact students' psychosocial well-being, particularly their collective self-esteem, a key component of academic group identity. Social support acts as a protective factor, reinforcing positive perceptions of social groups. Objective: To analyze the influence of weight stigma and social support, as social determinants of health, on the collective self-esteem of students at the Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic College of Health Sciences in Surabaya. Methods: A quantitative correlational study was conducted. The study population consisted of 347 students, from whom a sample of 71 respondents was selected using purposive sampling (inclusion criteria: BMI < 18.5 or > 24, and consent to participate). The instruments used were the Interpersonal Support Rating Scale (ISEL), the Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire (WSSQ), and the Collective Self-Esteem Scale (CSE). Data analysis was performed using multiple linear regression. Results: Weight-related stigma has a significant effect on collective self-esteem (p = 0.043; r = -0.237), contributing 5.4%. Social support also has a significant effect (p = 0.006; r = 0.320), contributing 10.048%. Simultaneously, these two variables have a significant effect (p = 0.003), with a coefficient of determination (R²) of 15.5%, indicating that the combination of risk and protective factors explains the variations in students' collective self-esteem. Weight-related stigmatization is inversely proportional to collective self-esteem: the more students are stigmatized, the lower their collective self-esteem. Conversely, social support is positively correlated with collective self-esteem and is a stronger predictor of its increase. Conclusion: These results highlight the importance of health promotion interventions in higher education, particularly reducing stigma on campuses and strengthening social support systems, as preventive and promotional strategies to improve students' psychosocial well-being.