Abstract
BackgroundThe discrepancy between actual and ideal body image is considered an index of body dissatisfaction and a risk factor for eating disorders. While discrepancy has been traditionally tested with figural drawing rating scales, in recent times the use of implicit measures has been explored.MethodsThis study employs the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP) to examine actual-ideal body-size discrepancy in a sample of 130 Spanish college students, as well as its utility to predict symptoms of eating disorders and other body-image relevant measures. Participants completed the Contour Drawing Rating Scale (CDRS). The three smallest and the three largest contour drawings of the CDRS were used as target stimuli in two different IRAP tasks: one in combination with the sample phrases “I am” and “I am not” (that assessed implicit actual body image), another in combination with the phrases “I want to be” and “I don’t want to be” (that assessed implicit ideal body image). After completing both IRAP tasks, participants completed explicit measures of body-image psychological inflexibility, body dissatisfaction, and symptoms of eating disorders.ResultsResults showed a small implicit bias towards thinness. Participants were faster in affirming than denying that they are thin and that they desire to be thin. They were also faster in affirming than denying that they are fat and that they want to be fat, but to a smaller extent than with thinness. Specifically, the implicit desire to be (or not be) fat emerged as an independent predictor of eating disorder symptoms, psychological inflexibility, and body dissatisfaction that significantly increased the predictive power of CDRS scores.ConclusionsThese findings underscore the need for further research on specific body image implicit beliefs towards fatness, both in subclinical and clinical populations, in order to examine whether willingness to accept the idea that one can have a larger body size can be a suitable target for prevention and intervention in eating disorders.
Highlights
The discrepancy between actual and ideal body image is considered an index of body dissatisfaction and a risk factor for eating disorders
Experimental procedures that require respondents to answer under time pressure tap into more automatic reactions that are less amenable to deliberate manipulation
In order to determine if D-Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP) scores were significantly different from zero, one-sample t-tests were conducted
Summary
The discrepancy between actual and ideal body image is considered an index of body dissatisfaction and a risk factor for eating disorders. The discrepancy between actual body image (perceived current body size) and ideal body image (desired body size) is frequently employed as a measure of body dissatisfaction [1, 2]. Most frequently, this discrepancy consists of desiring a thinner body. According to self-discrepancy theory, perceiving one’s body to be larger than desired might lead to dissatisfaction and depression due to unfulfilled hopes and wishes. These emotional reactions would motivate behavior (including problematic eating behavior) aimed at reducing this body image discrepancy [3]. While body dissatisfaction is clearly associated with unhealthy eating habits and is a risk factor for the emergence and maintenance of eating disorders [11], it appears that psychological (in)flexibility regarding one’s body size can mediate how body dissatisfaction leads to problematic eating behavior [12]
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