Body Consciousness Research Articles

The Contributions of Interoceptive Awareness to Cognitive and Affective Facets of Body Experience

Experience of one’s own body relies on signals arising within the body as well as on exteroceptive information, and on appraisal of cognitive and affective aspects of these signals. The present study investigated the impact of sensitivity to internal signals, that is, interoceptive awareness, on interindividual differences in cognitive and emotional aspects of body experience. Subjects with accurate (n = 30) versus poor (n = 30) interoceptive awareness, classified via a heartbeat perception task, completed the Body Consciousness Questionnaire and the Body Appraisal Inventory. Possible effects of emotional state on body experience were controlled for using measures of mood and anxiety. While the groups did not differ in their emotional state, individuals with accurate cardiac interoceptive awareness exhibited higher subjective sensitivity to bodily sensations and a more positive body image, characterized by stronger body-related self-confidence, greater satisfaction with physical appearance, greater perceived bodily self-control, as well as reduced hypochondriacal concerns, sexual discontent, and shame. The present findings extend earlier research on the importance of perception of physical cues for emotion, cognition, and behavior regulation. Our results underline the contribution of interoceptive information to body experience, where interindividual differences in the accessibility of such information modulate cognitive and affective facets of body image.

Tu1270 Characterization of Variables Impacting on the Quality of Life of Israeli Patients With Crohn's Disease

sensations and is heightened in panic disorders. Private body consciousness is attendance to internal bodily states and is associated with greater frequency and intensity of chronic pain. Dissociation is neglect of body states and affects managing chronic diseases. Body awareness is healthy attention placed on the body and processes, and is improved in mindfulness based psychotherapy. Aims: The study aimed to identify, in CD patients, constructs meaningful in psychotherapy, hypothesizing that emotion processing distress and body connection issues would be present in severe disease. Methods: A prospective crosssectional study was conducted at St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Fifty outpatients participated; 36% were in remission, 30% had mild activity, and 34% had moderate-to severe activity. Participants completed validated surveys, including: the Emotional Processing Scale, Scale of Body Connection, Private Body Consciousness Scale, and Body Vigilance Scale. Scores were compared to control standards derived from the general population. The Harvey Bradshaw Index was used to assess CD severity. Results: Moderate-to severe disease patients emotion processing distress was significantly greater than healthy controls and remission (p<0.001, p<0.001; Figure 1). CD activity was significantly correlated to emotion processing distress (r=0.458, p=0.001). In remission Irritable Bowel Syndrome-like symptoms were associated with significantly greater emotional suppression (p<0.05). Moderate-to severe patients body vigilance was significantly greater than healthy controls and remission (p<0.001, p=0.0069; Table 1). Moderate-to severe patients private body consciousness was significantly greater than healthy controls and chronic pain controls (p=0.01, p<0.0001). Body awareness was significantly reduced in moderate-to severe disease than healthy controls (p<0.0001). Body dissociation was significantly correlated to emotion processing distress (r=0.69, p<0.001). Conclusions: This study, using validated psychological surveys indicates emotion processing distress and body awareness issues in moderate-to severe Crohn's, where theoretically, psychological treatments would be most helpful. Table 1. Body Vigilance AVG of Crohn's Disease Subgroups Versus Controls

Tu1271 An Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patient's Worst Fears: A Prospective Evaluation of Quality of Life Following Permanent Ileostomy Creation

sensations and is heightened in panic disorders. Private body consciousness is attendance to internal bodily states and is associated with greater frequency and intensity of chronic pain. Dissociation is neglect of body states and affects managing chronic diseases. Body awareness is healthy attention placed on the body and processes, and is improved in mindfulness based psychotherapy. Aims: The study aimed to identify, in CD patients, constructs meaningful in psychotherapy, hypothesizing that emotion processing distress and body connection issues would be present in severe disease. Methods: A prospective crosssectional study was conducted at St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Fifty outpatients participated; 36% were in remission, 30% had mild activity, and 34% had moderate-to severe activity. Participants completed validated surveys, including: the Emotional Processing Scale, Scale of Body Connection, Private Body Consciousness Scale, and Body Vigilance Scale. Scores were compared to control standards derived from the general population. The Harvey Bradshaw Index was used to assess CD severity. Results: Moderate-to severe disease patients emotion processing distress was significantly greater than healthy controls and remission (p<0.001, p<0.001; Figure 1). CD activity was significantly correlated to emotion processing distress (r=0.458, p=0.001). In remission Irritable Bowel Syndrome-like symptoms were associated with significantly greater emotional suppression (p<0.05). Moderate-to severe patients body vigilance was significantly greater than healthy controls and remission (p<0.001, p=0.0069; Table 1). Moderate-to severe patients private body consciousness was significantly greater than healthy controls and chronic pain controls (p=0.01, p<0.0001). Body awareness was significantly reduced in moderate-to severe disease than healthy controls (p<0.0001). Body dissociation was significantly correlated to emotion processing distress (r=0.69, p<0.001). Conclusions: This study, using validated psychological surveys indicates emotion processing distress and body awareness issues in moderate-to severe Crohn's, where theoretically, psychological treatments would be most helpful. Table 1. Body Vigilance AVG of Crohn's Disease Subgroups Versus Controls

Two-Dimensional Rubber-Hand Illusion: The Dorian Gray Hand Illusion.

The rubber-hand illusion provides a window into body representation and consciousness. It has been found that body-ownership extended to numerous hand-like objects. Interestingly, the vast majority of these objects were three-dimensional. We adopted this paradigm by using hand drawings to investigate whether rubber-hand illusion could be extended to two-dimensional hand samples, and we measured skin conductance responses and behavioural variables. The fact that this illusion extended to two-dimensional stimuli reveals the dominant role of top-down information on visual perception for body representation and consciousness.

The effect of Alexander technique training program: A qualitative study of ordinary behavior application.

The purpose of this study was to configure and apply the Alexander technique training program and assess the effect of program through physical, emotional and behavioral aspects. To achieve the research aims, qualitative research method had been conducted, subjecting 8 people, who were participating in Alexander Technique training program for this study. The study used focus group interview method for collecting date and employed for the interview method by mixing the semi-structured and unstructured questionnaire. The results were followings. First, one could develop body awareness and body consciousness through experiencing lived bodily sensation. Second, from Alexander Technique training program, people experienced psycho & physical’s equilibrium. Third, one could change not only the manner of use of body but also the attitude to the life from conscious attention to daily ordinary movement. The results provided empirical evidence of Alexander Technique training program’s functions in terms of physical, emotional and behavioral aspect through the process of consciousness control from lived body education.

Facebook Involvement, Objectified Body Consciousness, Body Shame, and Sexual Assertiveness in College Women and Men

Given the heightened attention to visual impression management on social media websites, previous research has demonstrated an association between Facebook use and objectified body consciousness among adolescent girls and young women in various Western countries, including the U.S. (e.g., Meier and Gray 2013). The current study aimed to test whether both young women and men using social networking sites are vulnerable to objectified body consciousness, and to extend this line of research to sexual health outcomes. We tested a path model of Facebook involvement, objectified body consciousness, body shame, and sexual assertiveness and examined whether the negative health consequences of objectified body consciousness were greater in magnitude for women than men. Participants in this study were U.S. college students in the Midwest, 467 women and 348 men, who on average reported using social networking sites for 6 years. They completed survey measures assessing their involvement in Facebook, body surveillance, appearance self-worth, and enjoyment of sexualization. They also reported on feelings of body shame and sexual assertiveness. For both women and men, Facebook involvement predicted objectified body consciousness, which in turn predicted greater body shame and decreased sexual assertiveness. The link between objectified body consciousness and body shame was greater in magnitude for women, but no gender difference was found in the association between body shame and sexual assertiveness. We suggest that social media foster a heightened experience of the self from an observer’s point of view, which has consequences for body image and sexual agency among women as well as men.

Emotions associated to mealtimes: Memorable meals and typical evening meals

This research contributes to the current interest in food-related emotions in eating occasions. Previous research has studied contextual influences on food-related emotions, but the food products used as stimuli were single food items (i.e., chocolate brownie, fruit, potato crisps) and not meals. In addition, the contexts were established and evoked by the researchers. The present work combines and extends previous approaches by focusing on the emotions associated with past real-life memorable meals as experienced by consumers. To further explore the relationship between meal emotions, memorability, and contextual dimensions, this work aimed to: (1) compare emotions associated to a memorable meal, as opposed to a routine meal occasion (typical evening meal); (2) establish relationships between emotion associations and the contextual factors of a memorable meal; and (3) explain heterogeneity in emotions associated to memorable and typical meals in terms of personal characteristics (gender, age, emotional intensity, and private body consciousness). Through online surveys with 1358 adult British participants, emotions associated with memorable meals were found to be more positive than negative; and more positive than those associated with a typical evening meal. Contextual characteristics of memorable meals exerted many influences on the emotional associations, and seemed to contribute the most in making that meal occasion memorable. On average, men and older consumers had more positive emotional associations, which may be related to life experiences and gender roles. Participants who scored higher on the positive scale of the emotional intensity questionnaire (EIS-R POS) had on average more positive emotional associations than those with lower scores on this personality trait, whereas respondents' Private Body Consciousness scale scores were in alignment with the intensity ratings for positive and negative emotion terms. Suggestions for future research linked to harnessing the positive experiences of meal time emotions to healthful eating behaviour are outlined.

If it's on Facebook, it must be true! Body image and social media

Literature has identified and supported links between exposure to media such as fashion magazines or television and body image concerns. With social media and networking sites becoming increasingly popular, the influence these media and sites can have on the body image of young persons deserves further investigation. Building on a recent study that revealed that young girls using Facebook had significantly more body image concerns than non-users, this study examines the influence of the use of social networking sites on the body image of 100 university students aged 18-25. A quantitative design with repeated measures where participants will complete online surveys about their use of social media over 4 months is being implemented. Use of social media, content posted on these sites, responses expected, wished for and obtained will be documented. The Objectified Body Consciousness Scale, the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire and the Eating Disorders Inventory 3 will be used to identify impacts of using social media and networking sites on body image. Results of this study will extend existing evidence exploring links between social media and body image concerns and contribute new information to the development of media literacy programs addressing negative body image.

성인 남성의 객체화 신체의식에 따른 외모관리행동 연구

The purpose of this study was to investigate male adult' appearance management behavior according to objectified body consciousness. The subjects were 648 male adults aged from 20 to 59 and measuring instruments consisted of objectified body consciousness, appearance management behavior, and subjects' demographics attributions. The data were analyzed by Cronbach's <TEX>${\alpha}$</TEX>, factor analysis, cluster analysis, multiple response analysis, cross tabs analysis, <TEX>${\chi}^2$</TEX> test, and t-test. The results were as follows. First, 3 dimensions (body shame, body surveillance, and control belief) were emerged on objectified body consciousness, and subjects were divided into 2 groups (objectified group, and non-objectified group) by this variable. Second, male adults were deeply aware of the need of appearance management, and showed the high level of intention to perform appearance management behavior. Third, objectified group showed much more active appearance management behavior than non-objectified group. This results concluded that objectified body consciousness is a very useful variable to understand male adult' appearance management behavior.

Objectified Body Consciousness, Body Image Discomfort, and Depressive Symptoms Among Breast Cancer Survivors in Taiwan

The literature comparing the effects of breast reconstructive surgery, breast-conserving surgery, and mastectomy on body image and mental health yields conflicting results. Objectified body consciousness may be a factor that influences the psychological well-being of breast cancer survivors. Women with average time of 19 months from breast cancer surgery were approached in outpatient clinics to participate in our study. Using structural equation modeling, we tested and verified a model that included self-reported objectified body consciousness, cancer-related body image discomfort, and depression among 193 breast cancer survivors in Taiwan. Our results provided support for the hypothesized indirect relation of objectified body consciousness with depression through the mediating role of cancer-related body image discomfort. Specifically, women with higher objectified body consciousness levels reported more cancer-related body image discomfort, which in turn was related to greater depression. Additionally, the degree of this mediation relationship across surgery types was different. These findings are significant to clinicians who should be cognizant of the potential role of objectified body consciousness in promoting cancer-related body image discomfort and depression in breast cancer survivors. Encouraging women to clarify their perceptions of their new bodies and providing care combined with psychological counseling after breast cancer surgery are critical.

Women’s Experiences of Sexual Attention: a Cross-Sectional Study of U.S. University Students

ABSTRACT. Objectives: This cross-sectional investigation of women's experiences of sexual attention examined the role of dispositional and situational variables in how women experienced sexual attention (as positive, negative, or neutral). Methods: Participants were 350 U.S. college women recruited from undergraduate psychology courses. They completed questionnaires on objectified body consciousness, social physique anxiety, self-esteem, body esteem, and social desirability. A subset (N = 275) also reported retrospectively on experiences with sexual attention in 1 of 4 contexts: at a bar/club, at a gym, at school, or at work. It was hypothesized that the context where sexual attention occurs would be associated with how positive or negative the encounter was experienced. Results: The relationship between context and experience of sexual attention approached but did not achieve significance. When controlling for demographic variables and social desirability, self-esteem and body esteem were negatively associated with self-objectification and social physique anxiety. White women younger than the age of 25 with higher body mass index were most likely to engage in self-objectifying behaviors. Themes identified from responses to open-ended questions describe reasons for experiencing sexual attention to be uncomfortable or pleasurable. Conclusions: There is wide variability in women's experiences of sexual attention. Self-esteem and body esteem may protect against self-objectification. Future studies should examine how contextual factors influence women's experiences of sexual attention.

Prediction of placebo responses: a systematic review of the literature.

Objective: Predicting who responds to placebo treatment—and under which circumstances—has been a question of interest and investigation for generations. However, the literature is disparate and inconclusive. This review aims to identify publications that provide high quality data on the topic of placebo response (PR) prediction.Methods: To identify studies concerned with PR prediction, independent searches were performed in an expert database (for all symptom modalities) and in PubMed (for pain only). Articles were selected when (a) they assessed putative predictors prior to placebo treatment and (b) an adequate control group was included when the associations of predictors and PRs were analyzed.Results: Twenty studies were identified, most with pain as dependent variable. Most predictors of PRs were psychological constructs related to actions, expected outcomes and the emotional valence attached to these events (goal-seeking, self-efficacy/-esteem, locus of control, optimism). Other predictors involved behavioral control (desire for control, eating restraint), personality variables (fun seeking, sensation seeking, neuroticism), or biological markers (sex, a single nucleotide polymorphism related to dopamine metabolism). Finally, suggestibility and beliefs in expectation biases, body consciousness, and baseline symptom severity were found to be predictive.Conclusions: While results are heterogeneous, some congruence of predictors can be identified. PRs mainly appear to be moderated by expectations of how the symptom might change after treatment, or expectations of how symptom repetition can be coped with. It is suggested to include the listed constructs in future research. Furthermore, a closer look at variables moderating symptom change in control groups seems warranted.

G.P.30: Total energy expenditure estimation can be improved by adjustments for body composition, mechanical ventilation and consciousness disturbance in patients with neuromuscular disorders

Nutritional management is important for patients with neuromuscular disorders (NMD). However, accurately estimating total energy expenditure (TEE) in these patients is quite difficult because various factors influence energy metabolism. We reasoned that adjusting common prediction equations based on body composition, mechanical ventilation (MV), and disturbance of consciousness (DOC) can refine estimates of TEE. We used the following four methods to evaluate basal energy expenditure (BEE): an original Harris–Benedict equation (HBE); the HBE adjusted for ideal body weight and muscle volume (Konagaya equation: KE); the HBE for actual body weight and adjusted for muscle volume (actual body weight Konagaya equation: AKE); and the Ganpule equation with body composition data (GE). When estimating TEE from an estimated BEE, adjustments were based on MV and DOC. Then, the appropriateness of estimated TEE was assessed by comparison with total energy intake adjusted for body weight change. Estimates for more than half of the subjects were overestimated with four of the eight methods (HBE, adjusted HBE, KE and adjusted KE). The adjusted GE method produced the highest percentage (69.7%) of appropriate TEE estimates. The AKE method produced 60.6%, adjusted AKE and GE produced 57.6% of appropriate TEE estimates. The adjusted GE and the adjusted AKE were especially effective in patients who were obese, comatose, or both. Therefore, we propose that adjusted GE be used if body composition data are available. For cases in which body composition data are not available, adjusted AKE is recommended especially for obese and/or comatose patients. We hope that these modified equations contribute to the proper and improved nutritional management of NMD.

Exploring self-compassion as a refuge against recalling the body-related shaming of caregiver eating messages on dimensions of objectified body consciousness in college women

Guided by an overarching body-related shame regulation framework, the present investigation examined the associations between caregiver eating messages and dimensions of objectified body consciousness and further explored whether self-compassion moderated these links in a sample of 322 U.S. college women. Correlational findings indicated that retrospective accounts of restrictive/critical caregiver eating messages were positively related to body shame and negatively related to self-compassion and appearance control beliefs. Recollections of experiencing pressure to eat from caregivers were positively correlated with body shame and inversely associated with appearance control beliefs. Higher self-compassion was associated with lower body shame and body surveillance. Self-compassion attenuated the associations between restrictive/critical caregiver eating messages and both body surveillance and body shame. Implications for advancing our understanding of the adaptive properties of a self-compassionate self-regulatory style in mitigating recall of familial body-related shaming on the internalized body-related shame regulating processes of body objectification in emerging adulthood are discussed.

Enhancing performance proficiency at the expert level: Considering the role of ‘somaesthetic awareness’

ObjectivesTraditional theories of motor learning (e.g., Fitts & Posner, 1967), along with certain contemporary psychological perspectives (e.g., Weiss & Reber, 2012; Wulf, 2013), postulate that expert performers must relinquish paying conscious attention to, and/or attempting to exert control over, their bodily movements in order to achieve optimal performance. Challenging such largely unquestioned conceptual approaches, however, is an emerging body of evidence (e.g., see Montero, 2010; Shusterman, 2011) which indicates that ‘somatic reflection’ (i.e., a conscious focus on bodily movement) is an important mediator of continuous improvement (i.e., the fact that certain performers continue to improve their skills even after becoming experts) at the elite level of sport. The present position paper seeks to elucidate and resolve this apparent paradox concerning the role of bodily awareness in expertise. DesignLiterature review and position statement. MethodTo achieve this latter aim, we draw on empirical evidence (e.g., from research on somatic attention) and theory (e.g., Shusterman's, 2008, theory of body consciousness) to elucidate the role of bodily awareness in facilitating continuous improvement at the elite level of sport. Results and conclusionIn doing so, we sketch some theoretical and practical implications of Shusterman's (2008, 2011, 2012) theory of ‘somaesthetics’ for contemporary research on expertise in sport.

Effect of a body awareness therapy in young healthy.

Introduction: Body Awareness Therapy (BAT) can be used in various clinical settings, in both the prevention and rehabilitation, particularly by improving body awareness, aspects of pain and health mint, however, their scientific evidence is still scarce. Objective: This study aimed to verify the influence of BAT sessions on body awareness in healthy young adults. Method: This is a clinical trial with a sample of young people between 18 and 25, healthy, of both genders, students of the degree course in physiotherapy FCT/UNESP. Data collection occurred in three phases: before the intervention, after the end of 16 sessions (immediate effect) and two months after the latter - follow up (late effect). In general each of these moments data were collected and applied BAQ questionnaire - Body Consciousness Questionnaire. How intervention, 16 sessions of BAT, once a week, lasting 50 minutes was performed. Results: The sample consisted of 28 individuals with 19.85 ± 1.54 years, five males and 23 females. There was improvement in the perception of body awareness (p&lt;0.0001), both immediately after about two months after the intervention program. Conclusion: We conclude, therefore, that after 16 sessions of BAT, one can observe a significant increase in the perception of body awareness of individuals.

Counteracting Media's Thin-Body Ideal for Adolescent Girls: Informing Is More Effective Than Warning

The present study investigated whether information or warnings about depictions of the thin-body ideal in mass media are effective in counteracting media-induced negative body perceptions of adolescent girls. Based on counter-advertising and reactance theories, our hypotheses were tested in a 3 (weight labels: information vs. warning vs. no label) × 2 (media models' body shape: thin vs. normal weight) × 2 (self-esteem: lower vs. higher) design (N = 178). Body dissatisfaction, objectified body consciousness, and body comparison with media models served as dependent variables. Pretested media models were systematically combined with various textual weight labels and presented on the front page of a magazine targeted toward girls. The results indicated that a simple information label that provided the weight status of thin media models induced less negative body perceptions in adolescent girls when compared with the use of warning labels or images only. Especially, girls with lower self-esteem then exhibited lower levels of body dissatisfaction and objectified body consciousness. When compared with exposure to images only, the warning labels had little effect on body perceptions by adolescent girls. Thus, informing is more effective than warning in counteracting the undesired effects of the thin-body ideal promoted by the media.

Virtually Perfect: Image Retouching and Adolescent Body Image

Most studies of ideal-body media effects on body image focus on the extreme thinness of the models, not their idealness. In modern media, this idealness is often created or maximized via digital image editing. This experiment tested the effects of image editing outside the research-typical context of exclusive thinness. Original unretouched photographs were manipulated by a professional retoucher to produce unretouched and retouched image conditions. In a third condition (retouched-aware), the retouched images were explicitly labeled as retouched. Adolescents ( N = 393, average age 15.43) were randomly assigned to one of these conditions or a no-exposure control, and they completed a questionnaire following exposure. Objectified body consciousness increased and physical self-esteem decreased among male and female adolescents in the retouched-aware condition only. This boomerang effect of retouching awareness is explored in the discussion.

Factors associated with the modulation of pain by visual distortion of body size

Modulation of pain using visual distortion of body size (VDBS) has been the subject of various reports. However, the mechanism underlying the effect of VDBS on pain has been less often studied. In the present study, factors associated with modulation of pain threshold by VDBS were investigated. Visual feedback in the form of a magnified image of the hand was provided to 44 healthy adults to examine changes in pain. In participants with a higher pain threshold when visual feedback of a magnified image of the hand was provided, the two-point discrimination threshold decreased. In contrast, participants with a lower pain threshold with visual feedback of a magnified image of the hand experienced unpleasant emotions toward the magnified image of the hand. Interestingly, this emotional reaction was strongly associated with negative body consciousness in several subjects. These data suggested an analgesic effect of visual feedback in the form of a magnified image of the hand is only when tactile perception is vivid and the emotional reaction toward the magnified image is moderate. The results also suggested that negative body consciousness is important for the modulation of pain using VDBS.

PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDIATORS BETWEEN PAIN AND SELF-REPORTED HEALTH IN ELITE ATHLETIC ATHLETES: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY TO INFORM OVERUSE INJURY PREVENTION

BackgroundUnderstanding how sensations of pain affect health status appraisal among athletics athletes is of importance for prevention of overuse injuries. Identification of psychological mediators of the association opens for new...