“What you see in the mirror”: Community mental health practitioners define body image

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis qualitative study examined mental health providers’ perceptions of body image. This is the first known study to explore this topic within the body image literature. In order to conduct this research, 216 community mental health providers (38.4% of whom identified as social workers) were surveyed. Thematic analysis was used to capture key patterns in responses from participants. The findings suggest a multifaceted approach to understanding body image as well as the complexity of defining body image. Implications for practice and research are discussed.