The Comparison of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Obese women with Negative and Positive Body Image

Abstract

Objectives: With considering the increasing prevalence of obesity and its effect on people’s body image, women’s higher vulnerability, and the unquestionable role of women’s health on the society and future generations’ health, the effects of having a negative body image on women’s eating habits and mental health, and the lack of a successful long-term treatment protocol, the aim of present research was to compartment of emotional regulation strategies in obese women with positive and negative body images. Methods: This research was a causal-comparative. The statistical population of this research consisted of 100 obese women with a BMI≥30 who had referred to five nutritional clinics in Tehran, Iran. The clinics and the participants were selected using the available sampling method. The data collection tools were the SCIDI/II, BMI, the cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire, and Fisher’s body image scale. Results: founding indicated that obese women with a negative body image had higher mean scores in inefficient emotion regulation strategies such as self-blame, rumination or focus on thought, catastrophizing. Moreover, the mean scores of obese women with positive body images was higher in efficient emotional regulation strategies such as acceptance, positive refocusing, refocusing on planning, perspective taking, and positive reappraisal. Conclusion: Emotion regulation strategies are significant variables in obese people with positive and negative body images.