Relational body image: Preliminary evidence that body image varies within a person from one specific relationship to another

Abstract

Although social factors influence body image, it remains unknown whether a given individual’s body image varies from one specific relationship to another. The present study examined this novel concept of relational body image by investigating the extent to which individuals’ body image differs across their relationships with specific others. These differences were expected to arise in part due to differences in how an individual perceives others’ personal body preoccupation, others’ acceptance of her body, and others’ body size relative to her own. Eighty-seven female undergraduates reported on their typical levels of body appreciation, appearance orientation, and intuitive eating with 10 people in their lives, and reported on the characteristics of these others. Intraclass correlations revealed that participants’ body image and eating varied across their different relationships. Furthermore, participants perceived differences in others’ acceptance of the participant’s body, body preoccupation, and body size. Multilevel modelling showed that participants reported more adaptive body image and eating patterns in relationships with others whom they perceived to be relatively more accepting of their body, less body preoccupied, and more similar in size to them. Findings provide initial support for the concept of relational body image.