Focus on the Beauty of Body: The Mediation Role of Body Appreciation Between Perfectionism and Body-Related Shame and Body-Related Guilt.

Zhang Liang,Cai Ying,Bi Dan,Liu Xiaoyan,Tao Yanqiang,Ying Ronghua,Zhang Yan,Shen Lingting

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.638641

Abstract

Objectives: According to traditional views, perfectionists are prone to experience shame and guilt. As a relative part of negative body image, body appreciation reflects an appreciation attitude toward physical characteristics, functionality, and health, accepting and appreciating all parts and functions of the body, predicting body-related shame and guilt.Methods: Therefore, body appreciation was examined for its potential mediating role in the relationship between two dimensions of perfectionism (e.g., healthy perfectionism and unhealthy perfectionism) and body-related shame and body-related guilt among 514 females.Results: The results highlight that body appreciation partially mediated the relationship between perfectionism and body-related shame and body-related guilt. Implications for enhancing body appreciation among females between experiencing healthy or unhealthy perfectionism and body-related shame and body-related guilt feelings are discussed.Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of considering body appreciation in addressing perfectionism dimensions and body-related shame and body-related guilt. Research and clinical implications are also addressed.

Highlights

Women generally have a negative body image, low self-confidence, negative avoidance of thoughts, and constant dissatisfaction with their appearance and weight (Frederick et al, 2016), which result in negative appearance evaluations (Frederick et al, 2007; Fiske et al, 2014)
Unhealthy perfectionism negatively predicted body appreciation, which is consistent with the previous study (Iannantuono and Tylka, 2012)
The current study is the first study investigating the mediating role of body appreciation between different aspects of perfectionism and body-related shame and body-related guilt

Summary

Introduction

Women generally have a negative body image, low self-confidence, negative avoidance of thoughts, and constant dissatisfaction with their appearance and weight (Frederick et al, 2016), which result in negative appearance evaluations (Frederick et al, 2007; Fiske et al, 2014). This dissatisfaction may lead to physical anxiety (Cash et al, 2004), excessive. Body-related shame and body-related guilt are self-conscious emotions that often co-occur, they have been differentiated in prior scholarship along cognitive, affective, and motivational dimensions (Lewis, 1971; Tangney, 1992).

Objectives

Discussion

Conclusion