Appearance comparisons styles and eating disordered symptoms in women

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between styles of upward and downward appearance comparisons and eating disordered symptoms in women. Data on upward and downward appearance comparisons, body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness, dietary restraint, and negative body talk were collected from 321 female college students. Results indicated that upward appearance comparisons were linked to higher levels of drive for thinness, body dissatisfaction, dietary restraint, and negative body talk, whereas downward appearance comparisons were linked to higher levels of drive for thinness and dietary restraint, but showed no relationship to body dissatisfaction and negative body talk. There was an interaction effect between upward and downward comparisons and body image variables. Taken together, this study suggests that downward appearance comparison does not buffer the negative effects of upward appearance comparison, and in some cases can increase negative body image outcomes.