Body Image Preoccupation Research Articles

The relationship between body image, eating disorders risk, and the professional help-seeking attitudes of college students in Vietnam

This study investigates the relationship between body image, eating disorder risk, and the professional help-seeking attitudes of college students in Vietnam. We conducted a study with 232 college students (166 females and 66 males). The Attitudes Towards Professional Help-Seeking (ATSPPH), the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), and the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) served as the foundation for the questionnaire. In order to evaluate this research, the PLS-SEM approach was utilized. The results demonstrate that (i) body image, in particular, has a strong and positive link with eating disorder risk; (ii) professional help-seeking attitudes are strongly correlated with body image; (iii) there is a positive correlation between eating disorder risk and professional help-seeking attitudes; and (iv) eating disorder risk will mediate the relationship between body image and professional help-seeking attitudes. This article highlights a relationship between body image preoccupation and professional help-seeking attitudes through mediated eating disorder risk. It is necessary to identify individuals at risk of eating disorders and then consider and devise appropriate strategies to overcome or minimize binge eating or frequent or planned skipping meals; early intervention will reduce the risk of developing an eating disorder. The paper’s rationale helps raise awareness about the negative effects of body image concerns, the risk of eating disorders, and more. The paper also highlights the professional help-seeking attitudes of Vietnamese youth.

The role of maternal psychological control and pressure on body image in a child's drive for thinness

Abstract Background The drive for thinness (DFT), an indicator of disordered eating, is strongly predicted by body dissatisfaction (BD). In early adolescence, there are other predictors of DFT which rise from the mother-child relationship such as maternal psychological control (PC) and the motheŕs pressure on the child's body image (MP). The explanation of DFT by the child's self-perception of BD and PC as well as the mother’s perception of MP among early-adolescent boys and girls has great importance for public health and is therefore the aim of this study. Methods The research sample consisted of 191 Slovak adolescents (53.4% of girls, Mage=12.54, SD = 0.58) who completed the Children’s Body Image Scale, DFT subscale of Eating Disorders Inventory, Psychological Control Scale-Youth Self-Report; and their mothers (Mage=40.45, SD = 4.71) who completed the Parental Influence Subscale. Structural equation modelling was performed. Results A hypothesized model was tested to explain DFT by PC and BD, associated with four sources of MP. The tested model did not fit the data well enough. A modified model, where three insignificant sources of MP were excluded, fitted the data well (SRMR=.06, CFI=.95, RMSEA=.04, PCLOSE=.74) and explained 22% of the variance in DFT. The model was statistically equivalent for both genders. DFT was associated with BD (β=.42; <.001), PC (β=.2; <.05) and indirectly with the source of MP - child's body image preoccupation (CBI) (β=.15; <.05), through BD. CBI was associated with BD (β=.27; <.05). Conclusions The results point to the importance of BD, PC and CBI - a factor reflecting motheŕs direct pressure on the child's body image, in explaining DFT among early adolescent boys and girls. Other sources of MP (reflecting the motheŕs concern about her own body image) were not significant in this context. BD and disordered eating prevention strategies for adolescents indicate a respectful mother-child relationship, avoiding pressure and control. Key messages A motheŕs direct pressure on child's body image, psychological control and body dissatisfaction are significant in explaining the drive for thinness among early adolescents. Body dissatisfaction and disordered eating prevention strategies for adolescents indicate a respectful mother–child relationship, avoiding pushing a child to think, feel, or act as the mother wants.

Disordered Eating, Eating Disorders, and Body Image in Midlife and Older Women.

We review the evidence for the reported increase in disordered eating and body image disturbance occurring in women in middle age and later life. We describe the contributing factors that relate to the unique experience of eating disorders (EDs) at midlife and beyond. We review evidence for several key factors in this observation, specifically the bio-psycho-social and relational components of later life EDs. We present treatment considerations, screening tools for evaluation, and treatment recommendations for this special population suffering with EDs. Eating disorder symptoms and body image preoccupation have been identified in increasing numbers of women over age 50. Reports indicate that women are seeking treatment for chronic, recurrent, or late onset EDs. However, health care providers generally have not screened for these conditions, and often pursue other medical diagnoses. Age does not immunize women from body image preoccupation, weight and shape concerns, disordered eating, and eating disorders.

Psychometric evaluation of the Body Image Concern Inventory in an undergraduate sample

BackgroundThis study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Body Image Concern Inventory (BICI); a self‐report measure of dysmorphic appearance concern.MethodsInternal consistency, concurrent validity, and construct validity were investigated among 761 female undergraduates. Criterion validity was also investigated with respect to body dysmorphic disorder (BDD).ResultsThe BICI appears internally consistent and displayed predictable relationships to depression, anxiety, self‐esteem, functional impairment, and body image disturbance. Three factors appeared to underlie the BICI (i.e. appearance preoccupation, appearance concern, coping behaviour), accounting for 52.13%, 7.77%, and 5.80% of the observed variance. Further analysis revealed that nine items could be removed from the BICI without notable change to its validity or reliability. This resulted in a shorter version of the BICI that demonstrated improved factor structure and internal consistency, with equivalent degrees of concurrent and criterion validity. Neither measure operated effectively as a diagnostic screen for BDD, reflected by low sensitivity and specificity values.ConclusionsBoth appear to be reliable and valid measures that should predominantly be employed as continuous measures of body image preoccupation.

A Readiness Ruler for Assessing Motivation to Change in People with Eating Disorders.

We examined the psychometric properties of the Eating Disorder Readiness Ruler a simple self-report instrument designed to enable rapid assessment of readiness to change problematic eating behaviours in people with clinical eating disorders. We administered the ED-RR, the Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire and a measure of autonomous and controlled motivation for change to 206 individuals receiving outpatient treatment for an eating disorder. A principal axis factoring analysis of the ED-RR yielded a significant two-factor solution (explaining 59% of variance)-one factor pertaining to restriction and body image preoccupation (four items), the other to binge-eating and vomiting symptoms (two items). The ED-RR showed good internal consistency (alpha coefficients for the two factors being .77 and .84 respectively). Furthermore, individuals reporting higher readiness showed higher scores on independent measures of autonomous motivation and greater symptom reductions over time. Results suggest that the ED-RR is a psychometrically sound tool with potential clinical utility. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

Sexual resourcefulness and the impact of family, sex education, media and peers

Building on a recently developed theoretical model of sexual self-control, 178 undergraduate women completed measures of learned resourcefulness, reasons for consenting to unwanted advances, and sexual self-efficacy – variables consistently shown to be unique predictors of sexual resourcefulness. Additional measures assessed in this investigation included media internalisation, peer values, parental and school discussions of sexual topics, body image preoccupation, body image satisfaction, and perceived timing of pubertal development. Along with the aforementioned unique predictors of sexual resourcefulness, receiving more information from the mother about dealing with unwanted sexual advances emerged as another direct contributor. Also in concurrence with past research, it was found that women scoring lower in sexual resourcefulness and having more reasons for consenting were more likely to engage in unwanted non-coercive sexual activities, with greater media pressures, higher appearance orientation and lower learned resourcefulness having a shared impact. Implications, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.

P01-269 - Psychopathological distress, body image perception and social phobia in patients with hearing aids and cochlear implants

ObjectivesHearing-impaired adults with hearing aids or cochlear implants have been proved to suffer from social isolation and that the under-use of these devices is possibly related to its impact on one's body image. The aim of the research was to evaluate the presence of social phobia and body image preoccupation, handicap perception, social functioning and psychopathological distress in patients with hearing aids or cochlear implant.MethodA clinical group of 70 hearing aid and/or cochlear implant wearers was compared with a control group of 75 healthy adults (age: 18-65) referred to the ENT Clinic of Modena University from 01/01/09 to 01/ 09/09. Both groups were administered the following psychometric instruments: Social Functioning Questionnaire, Brief Symptom Inventory, Liebowitz Social Phobia Scale, Body Uneasiness Test. Hearing-impaired subjects were also assessed by means of the following tests: International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids, Attitude towards Hearing Loss Questionnaire, Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults.Resultsthe case group statistically differed from the control group as to lower level of social functioning (p< .05), higher level of somatization (p< .01), obsessive compulsive behaviour (p< .01), interpersonal sensitivity (p< .01), depression (p< .01), anxiety (p< .05), phobic anxiety (p< .01), paranoid ideation (p< .01), psychoticism (p< .01), social phobia (p< .001) and body image preoccupation (p< .05).ConclusionSocial phobia and body image preoccupation are critical aspects in determining the psychosocial well-being and the compliance, the benefit and the personal satisfaction of hearing-impaired subjects in using the hearing aid and/or cochlear implant.

Eating attitudes and their correlates among Canadian women concerned about their weight

This article examines the components of the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26) and their association with selected demographic, psychosocial and health measures among women aged 15 years or older identified as concerned about their weight and who were part of a representative sample of the Canadian population in 2002. An exploratory factor analysis was used to identify the factor structure of the EAT-26 and logistic regression models were constructed to examine the correlates of its first four dimensions. Underweight women were more likely to report food and body image preoccupation and external pressure to eat while overweight women were less likely to do so. Being young was not associated with poor eating attitudes but self-esteem was negatively related to them. Self-esteem was, however, positively associated with self-imposed dieting. The promotion of self-esteem may reduce the prevalence of poor eating attitudes and prevent their immediate and long-term negative consequences.

Body image, self-esteem, and health status in middle and later adulthood

This research explored body image in middle and later adulthood, and the relationship between body image, self-esteem, and health status. Questionnaires assessing multidimensional body-image attitudes, self-esteem, and health status were completed by 159 females and 122 males (mean = 56.4 years, SD = 10.8). Body image was relatively stable in females across age in this sample, but in older males there was a decrease in Appearance Evaluation (attractiveness) and Orientation, and Fitness Evaluation, and an increase in the importance of health. Independent of age, females reported greater body Disparagement, Feeling Fat, Salience of Weight/Shape, and Appearance Orientation than males, although there were no sex differences in Appearance Evaluation. Self-esteem was positively correlated with Appearance Evaluation, Fitness Evaluation, Health Evaluation, Health Orientation, and Health Status in both females and males. A significant interaction between age and sex on self-esteem was found, with a decrease with age in males and an increase in females. In males and females, health indicators were the major predictors of self-esteem but, in females, Appearance Evaluation also made a unique contribution to the prediction of self-esteem. In females, Health Status was significantly predicted by indicators of low body-image preoccupation, while, in males, Fitness Orientation made the greatest contribution to the prediction of Health Status.

Modification of an existing measure of body image preoccupation and its relationship to disordered eating in female college students.

Body image disturbance is both positively associated with the development of eating disorders and negatively associated with recovery. However, the aspects of body image most relevant to eating disorders have not been clearly established. Body image preoccupation may be particularly relevant to disordered eating. Yet, its measurement has proven problematic. In Study 1, a modification of the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ), a measure of body image preoccupation (P. J. Cooper, M. J. Taylor, Z. Cooper, & C. G. Fairburn, 1987), was developed in a sample of female undergraduates. The BSQ-R-10 yielded reliable and valid scores, and was more strongly related to disordered eating than measures of body image attitudes. In Study 2, the BSQ-R-10 was cross-validated in another sample of female undergraduates, and its psychometric properties further supported.

Modification of an existing measure of body image preoccupation and its relationship to disordered eating in female college students.

Modification of an existing measure of body image preoccupation and its relationship to disordered eating in female college students.