Abstract
Drawing from diverse theoretical frameworks, we examined predictors of discrepancy between current and ideal body image in a sample of 396 Greek adolescents. The participants completed assessments of the frequency of comparing oneself with someone of perceived better appearance, appearance evaluations, frustration of basic psychological needs, and appearance self-compassion. We found that upward appearance comparisons negatively predicted appearance evaluation, which in turn was a negative predictor of body image discrepancy. Moderated mediation analyses showed that appearance self-compassion buffered, whereas psychological need frustration augmented the negative effects of upward comparisons on appearance evaluation. Our findings contribute to the growing literature on body image discrepancies in adolescence by examining moderating factors that amplify or buffer such discrepancies, hence identifying viable intervention pathways.
Highlights
The degree of preoccupation of adolescent boys and girls with their physical appearance and body image has been identified as a significant problem by researchers and health practitioners alike
Being female and having a higher body mass index (BMI) were associated with larger body image discrepancy and more upward appearance comparisons
Larger body image discrepancy was associated with lower appearance evaluation and self-compassion
Summary
The degree of preoccupation of adolescent boys and girls with their physical appearance and body image has been identified as a significant problem by researchers and health practitioners alike. In Australia, concerns with body image have been rated as one of the three top concerns of adolescent girls and boys in the Mission Australia Annual National Youth Survey (2018). There is a significant amount of empirical evidence in the literature linking body dissatisfaction with an array of maladaptive outcomes, such as poor psychological health (e.g., low self-esteem, depression), low physical activity, and disordered eating (Neumark-Sztainer, Paxton, Hannan, Haines, & Story, 2006). Understanding which factors predict adolescents’ perceptions of their body weight and, how such perceptions differ from internalized “ideal standards” is an important consideration for researchers and clinicians. The present study aims to contribute to the growing literature on this topic by examining moderating factors that amplify or buffer such discrepancies
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