Enhancement Of Body Image Research Articles

Understanding muscularity, physique anxiety, and the experience of body image enhancement among men and women: A mixed‐methods study

AbstractThis study explores the growing trend of pursuing an ideal muscular physique, which escalates the risk of body image issues and engagement in enhancement behaviours. Employing a mixed‐methods approach, we examined the psychosocial dynamics surrounding these ideals and experiences, particularly the use of performance and image‐enhancing drugs (PIEDs). The quantitative arm of the study, involving 131 participants of mixed gender, investigated associations between social physique anxiety (SPA), drive for muscularity, male body attitudes, appearance comparisons, and self‐compassion. Concurrently, qualitative interviews with 16 individuals engaged in PIEDs interrogated the reasons for body image concerns and adaptive coping strategies around increasing body appreciation. The study emphasises the convergence of muscular ideals across genders and advocates for continued research in this domain.

Tailoring Garment Fit for Personalized Body Image Enhancement: Insights from Digital Fitting Research

In the context of the Fashion Apparel Industry 4.0, a transformative evolution is directed towards the Online Apparel Mass Customization (OAMC) strategy, which provides efficient and personalized apparel product solutions to consumers. A critical challenge within this customization process is the determination of sizes. While existing research addresses comfort evaluation in relation to wearer and garment fit, little attention has been given to how garment fit influences the wearer’s body image, which is also an important purchase consideration. This study investigates the impact of garment fit on the wearer’s body scale perception using quantitative research design. A digital dataset of avatars, clothed in varying sizes of T-shirts, were created for the body scale perception experiment, and an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model was developed to predict the effect of T-shirt fit on body image. With only a small number of garments and body measurements as inputs, the ANN model can accurately predict the body scales of the clothed persons. It was found that the effect of apparel fit on body image varies depending on the wearer’s gender, body size, and shape. This model can be applied to enhance the online garment shopping experience with respect to personalized body image enhancement.

Role performance and factors affecting quality of life in bladder cancer survivors with ileal orthotopic neobladder

ObjectiveBladder cancer survivors with neobladder experience changes in role performance and quality of life (QoL) due to various symptoms and problems, but related studies are limited. Therefore, this study attempted to explore the QoL and factors influencing it in bladder cancer survivors with neobladder. MethodsA cross–sectional descriptive design was used. Data were collected from 100 bladder cancer survivors with a neobladder using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ–C30 and Muscle–Invasive Bladder Cancer Module, the Patient Activation Measure 13, the Enforced Social Dependency Scale, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Factors affecting the QoL were identified using multiple regression analysis. ResultsQoL significantly differed by daily pad usage, need for clean intermittent catheterization, and role performance. QoL was correlated with urinary symptoms and problems, future perspective, abdominal bloating and flatulence, body image, role performance, and social support. Role performance, body image, and the need for clean intermittent catheterization were identified as the factors affecting QoL. ConclusionsThe study highlights the importance of bladder cancer survivors continuing their roles at home, at work, and in society after neobladder reconstruction. Specifically, continuing recreational and social activity positively affects QoL, even if the activity range is modified. To help with their role performance, institutional support and changes in social perception are needed. Additionally, education and interventions, including body image enhancement, symptom management, and self–care, should be developed and applied to improve their QoL.

The Effects of Psychological Interventions on Menstrual Health in Exercising Women: A Comprehensive Experimental Study

Purpose. This comprehensive experimental study explores the effects of psychological interventions on menstrual health in physically active women. The research aims to investigate the influence of stress reduction techniques, body image enhancement programs, and counseling on menstrual irregularities, stress levels, body image perceptions, and psychological well-being. It also examines the interplay between psychological factors and menstrual health, contributing to women's reproductive well-being. Material & Methods. The study employs a rigorous randomized controlled trial design with 40 physically active women aged 18-23. Participants are divided into an intervention group receiving psychological interventions and a control group without interventions. The interventions include mindfulness meditation, deep breathing exercises, mirror affirmations, media literacy workshops, and gratitude journaling. Data is collected over six months through menstrual calendars, the Perceived Stress Scale, the Body Image Assessment Scale, and the Psychological Well-being Scale. Statistical analyses involve repeated measures ANOVA and regression analyses. Results. The intervention group experiences significant improvements in menstrual regularity, stress reduction, body image perception, and psychological well-being. Menstrual regularity significantly improves (p<0.001), stress levels decrease (p<0.001), body image perception improves (p<0.001), and psychological well-being enhances (p<0.001). Correlations indicate positive relationships between psychological well-being and menstrual regularity (r=0.31, p=0.021) and negative relationships with stress levels (r=–0.42, p<0.001) and body image perception (r=0.28, p=0.031). Conclusion. This study demonstrates the positive impact of psychological interventions on menstrual health, stress reduction, body image perception, and psychological well-being in physically active women. The findings underscore the potential of integrating psychological strategies into women's healthcare, offering holistic approaches to address both menstrual irregularities and related psychological concerns.

Effect of an Intervention on Self-Esteem, Body Image Satisfaction, and Eating Disorders in Adolescents

Background: In the area of adolescent health, there is growing evidence that effective health promotion interventions among adolescents, providing skills and knowledge, may have direct effects on a range of health outcomes. Thus, the study aimed to assess the effect of mixed-method intervention on self-esteem, body image satisfaction, eating disorders among adolescent school students. Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted among high school students in a metropolitan city. At baseline, self-esteem, perception of body image, and pressure by media of participants were assessed using validated self-reported measures. The mixed-method intervention was a body image enhancement program conducted over 6 weeks through six 45–60 min sessions. Postintervention, participants' scores in the above-mentioned domains were assessed using the same self-reported measures. Data analysis was done using SPSS 23.0, and Fisher's exact test, paired t-test, etc., were applied as appropriate. Results: Out of 60 participants, 47% were girls and 53% were boys. Baseline self-esteem scores of girls were lower as compared to boys and were significantly higher in both postintervention. Body image satisfaction among girls improved from 53.57% to 78.57% after intervention. At baseline, higher proportion of girls had likelihood of developing an eating disorder which reduced postintervention. Conclusions: The school-based mixed-method intervention was effective in improving self-esteem, body image satisfaction, and reducing the influence of sociocultural attitudes on appearance in adolescent students.

Evaluation of interventions in people with digestive stoma through the Nursing Interventions Classification

To determine which nursing interventions are used in individuals with a digestive stoma and the relationships between nursing interventions used and sociodemographic and clinical variables. The present study is an observational, cross-sectional, descriptive. Data from 102 individuals in the general surgery unit of a first-level hospital (University Hospital Complex of Granada, Spain) were analyzed. Data on the use of nursing interventions and sociodemographic and clinical variables were collected. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate data analyses were conducted. Interventions: Decision-Making Support (5250) and Ostomy Care (0480) were the most prevalent interventions in the sample. The period of care (postoperative and follow-up) was the most common significant variable (p < 0.05) among the interventions observed. Anxiety Reduction (5820), Nutritional Counseling (5246), Self-Esteem Enhancement (5400), and Body Image Enhancement (5220) were also relevant findings. The present study contributes to determining which nursing interventions are used in individuals with a digestive stoma. This study could be useful in planning nursing interventions in individuals with a digestive stoma.

Leveraging social media induced visual culture for body image enhancement: The case of socialization in a contemporary society

There are a variety of mediums through which the phenomenon of socialization is elicited. One of such means is social media platforms. But benefiting from this medium is dependent on the attribute of being technologically savvy intergenerational dynamics notwithstanding. This mixed methods study investigates the influence of social media on cultural connotations of socialization and body image enhancement, and how they shape changes in appearances. Use was made of survey [n=361] data to explore social media dynamics in relation to the process of socialization, while the interview [n=10] data explicated the issues raised in the frame of cross-sectional design. Bivariate and thematic analyzes were respectively conducted. The findings indicate that intergenerational outcomes of the uses of social media between younger and older people is skewed towards younger people and the inherent gap therefore pertains. The Cramer’s V test value of .612 intimates a strong association between social media’s visual images and the type of body image enhancement undertaken. This has implications for technological literacy among older Ghanaian adults. The culture of body image enhancement is learned and therefore has been learned through social media induced socialization by virtue of social media’s oriented social interaction. Put differently, this form of socialization unleashes the availability, accessibility and exposure to certain images that precipitate a desired need for transformation of an existing body image. By and large, culture is created and transmitted from generation to generation. This paper offers newer insights into the phenomenon of socialization and the attendant lifestyle change nemesis, outlining the fact that the effects of social media imagery in both text and visual images is socialization.

Breast unit and caring, gordon nursing model and NNN taxonomies: the nursing care planning from efficacy in trials to effectiveness in clinical practice

Background: The Breast Unit, regulated by international guidelines, is a new opportunity to cure and to care that allows women with breast cancer to deal with their illness supported by a Multidisciplinary Team. The complexity of this disease requires adopting the bio-psycho-social-spiritual paradigm, typical of Caring, focused on “taking care of the person” rather than focusing only on illness treatment. Materials and methods: In this study 10 women with breast cancer in Trieste’s Breast Unit were enrolled and “Gordon Nursing Model” has been used. NANDA-I connections with NOC and NIC support Diagnostic Reasoning. NANDA-I defines the person’s health problems of exclusive nursing competence; the NOC Taxonomy defines the relative health outcomes shared with the person and the NIC Taxonomy defines the Nursing Interventions. Results: The main Dysfunctional Patterns found were the “Coping and Stress Tolerance” and the “Self-Perception and Self-Concept”. For the first pattern, the NANDA-I diagnosis was “Ineffective Coping (00069)”, the NOC identified was “Coping (1302)”, while the NIC was “Coping Enhancement (5230)”. For the second pattern the NANDA-I Diagnosis was “Disturbed Body Image (00118)”; NOC: “Body image (1200)”; NIC: “Body Image Enhancement (5220)”. Conclusions: This study shows the importance and the effectiveness of having a tool with solid scientific background that allows a complete Assessment. The Gordon Model turns out to be “complete” (it investigates the person in its totality), “fast” (it reduces the assessment time) and with a “high scientific value” (it uses the NNN Taxonomies that allow a wide variety of choices, to make research and to compare results on an international scale).

The relationship between psoriasis and depression: A multiple mediation model

This study examined the relationship between psoriasis and depression, proposing a multiple mediation model to analyse the relationship. A total of 193 patients with psoriasis aged 20–67 years completed the Beck Depression Inventory, the Stigmatization Scale, the Appearance Schemas Inventory-Revised, and the Body Emotions Scale. The Body Surface Area index was used to assess severity of psoriasis. Serial multiple mediation analysis revealed that experiences of stigmatization, maladaptive beliefs about appearance and its salience to one's self-evaluation, and negative emotional attitudes towards the body, jointly, sequentially mediated the relationship between the presence of skin lesions of psoriasis and depressive symptoms. These results highlight the importance of the associations between stigmatization and cognitive and affective aspects of body image in relation to depression in patients with psoriasis. We suggest that prevention and intervention programs for psoriasis patients that target body image enhancement would be worthy of further research.

The state of mind of contemporary male gym-goers: goals, inspirations and motivations

Investment of effort and financial resources into enhancing and maintaining the physical state of the body is often attributed to cosmetics and beauty enhancement products in the women’s market but is reported to differ for the men’s market. Instead, such efforts were reported to take place in gyms as it engages men with facilities that enable the enhancement of body image and projection of body impression to others. While the increasing concerns to be physically attractive is obvious among contemporary men, the question of what are the underlying motivations that has transpire such vain sporting behaviours remains in the dark. The current research is quantitative in nature (using survey research and regression analysis) and attempts to fill in this gap by providing insights on the goals, inspirations and motivations that subsides in the mind of contemporary male gym-goers. Implications and recommendations from the research findings are also provided.

Effects of a single session of physical exercise on body state image

Despite the fact that athletes and physically active persons are generally more satisfied with their bodies than sedentary people, physical activity seems to exert both negative and positive influences on body image. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a single session of exercise in state body image modification. In particular, we observed if a single session of sport or fitness activity could have a positive influence on state body image, considered as an episodic, evaluative and affective perception of the own physical appearance. Results showed an increase of the mean state body image rate (assessed with the Body Image States Scales, BISS) after a one-hour session of sport or fitness activities in a sample of 295 individuals. Intensity and fun seemed to be key-factors in state body image enhancement. These findings could have significant implications in the treatment of BI disturbances and in their prevention.

Setting the scene: hailing women into a running identity

Readers should also refer to the journal's website at http://www.informaworld.com/rqrs and check volume 2, issue 2 to view the visual material in colour. With the ethos of providing ‘all women whatever their age, size or ability the opportunity to run together’, the Women’s Running Network (WRN) emphasises its accessibility to the ‘true beginner’. The network provides a social and physical space in and through which (often) previously inactive, non‐elite, non‐competitive women of all ages learn to experience and perceive their bodies in a different way. The literature exploring all‐female leisure settings has highlighted the importance of these environments for promoting physical and psychological empowerment, enhancement of body image, and improved perceptions of women and the female body. However, within this social field, the specific ways in which women learn to live with and through their bodies – and indeed are taught to do so – have received limited attention. In this paper, I focus upon the role of the visual and material culture of the WRN to examine how women are told and shown particular gendered and embodied identities. I suggest that, via narrative text and images, the WRN hail women of a specific social location to seek out and embody the ethos of the network. Using the concepts of gendered identity performance and commercialised feminism, I highlight how the visual culture of the WRN can be interpreted as constructing a moral, gendered obligation for sport/exercise participation through midlife and beyond. I conclude by discussing how the visual and material culture of the WRN has implications for framing and facilitating would‐be participant’s potential identity performance, socialisation experiences, embodiment and physicality within this women’s‐only context.

Radiotherapy-induced skin changes and quality of life

Quality of life is broadly recognised within oncology as an essential component of cancer care and has been studied extensively in patients with breast cancer. 1 Yet, among the three pillars of breast cancer treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy), research on radiotherapy-related quality of life has lagged behind. Specifi cally, the study of quality of life as it relates to normal tissue eff ects in patients with breast cancer is woefully understudied. The reasons for this relative lack of attention are unclear, but the results are worrying. Insuffi cient understanding of the eff ects of radiotherapy on quality of life can impair doctor– patient communication, inhibit therapeutic progress, and limit a patient’s understanding of radiotherapy and its outcomes. Therefore, the report of the START trials today in The Lancet Oncology, by Hopwood and colleagues, is much needed. 2 It makes an important contribution to the area of radiotherapy by looking at several aspects of quality of life (breast, arm, and shoulder eff ects, and body image). In doing so, these researchers show a consideration of the patient’s point of view that is too often absent. The study’s fi ndings provide a strong foundation for further pursuit of understanding of the patient’s experience of adverse skin changes after radiotherapy. Indeed, at least fi ve areas of future research are readily apparent. 40% of women reported moderate or striking concerns for at least one body image item up to 5 years after treatment, and body image concerns did not diff er between radiotherapy regimens. This combination of results suggests the fi rst two directions for future research: scale development and interventions. First, with regard to scale development, the body image scale used in the study was designed to measure overall body image, rather than breast satisfaction per se. Therefore, development of a scale specifi cally to assess breast body image is needed to understand better the clinical eff ects. Second, with respect to interventions, the fi nding that body image scores did not diff er between radiotherapy regimens suggests that, at this time, a purely medical intervention strategy (eg, variation of radiotherapy regimens) might not be suffi cient to improve body image. A more comprehensive approach might be needed. For example, in broader scientifi c published work, behavioural medicine approaches (eg, cognitive behavioural therapy) have been shown to be eff ective for enhancement of body image. 3

An investigation of the usefulness of videofeedback in the treatment of obesity

AbstractObesity is not classified as an eating disorder because of the lack of compelling evidence that it results from or is characterized by abnormal eating behaviour. However, in common with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, the obese condition is associated with body image distortion (Bruch, 1973; Garner et al., 1976). Although the role of body image disturbance in the development and maintenance of eating disorders is as yet unclear, it is generally accepted that normalization of body image is an important aspect of treatment, and may even be a precondition for recovery (Bruch, 1962). To date the role of body image for obesity has not been afforded the same importance. The present study was designed to examine body image in obesity, and to determine the effectiveness of three interventions (videofeed‐back, C.B.T. and dietetic) in terms of improvement in body image. Weight changes achieved by interventions were also noted, and the limitations associated with any attempt to attribute these to manipulation of body image acknowledged. Thirteen female obese patients were monitored over a treatment period of five months with 10 of these also being followed up over a two‐year period. Although small sample size prevents a meaningful comparison between treatments, and only modest weight losses were associated with each, the videofeedback group demonstrated the most notable improvements in body image. Results suggest that the potential benefit of incorporating videofeedback into obesity treatment programmes, in terms of enhancement of body image, warrants more extensive study, as does the possible association with behaviours affecting weight change.

Enhancement of Body-Image: A Structured Art Therapy Group with Adolescents

AbstractThis paper presents a structured, short-term art therapy group designed to enhance the self and body image of adolescents with emotional disturbances. The concept of self and body image is reviewed with a focus on the developmental phase of adolescence. The focused exercises utilized in the group is described with explanations and descriptions of purpose.The influence of the group on the development of the self concept is explored in general, and the specific therapeutic use of the group in this context is emphasized. This art therapy group has been developed and used at the Summit Institute, a psychiatric residential treatment facility for emotionally disturbed adolescents and young adults in Jerusalem, Israel, and has been found effective in providing group members with an experience whereby they can begin to perceptually, emotionally and cognitively work through conflictual issues related to their self and body image.