Components Of Body Image Research Articles

Body investment, depression, and alcohol use as risk factors for suicide proneness in college students.

Individuals who are less invested in their bodies, experiencing symptoms of depression, and consuming alcohol are at increased risk for engaging in suicidal behaviors. This study examined the relationships among three risk factors - body investment, depression, and alcohol use - and suicide proneness as measured by the Life Attitudes Schedule - Short Form (LAS-SF) in college students (N = 318). Path analysis was used to construct a causal model of suicide proneness. The Body Investment Scale (BIS) subscales were assumed to be causally prior to depression, which was in turn modeled as occurring prior to alcohol use, which was in turn modeled as prior to suicide proneness. As expected, suicide proneness was positively predicted by alcohol use, alcohol use was positively predicted by depression, and depression was negatively predicted by the body image component of the BIS. Additionally, the body image-suicide proneness link was significantly mediated by depression and its direct effect on suicide proneness as well as by the two-mediator path of body image on depression on drinking on suicide proneness. Implications are offered for the improved identification and treatment of young adults at risk for suicidal and health-diminishing behaviors.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy With Body Image Exposure for Bulimia Nervosa: A Case Example

Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for bulimia nervosa (BN). However, among patients with BN, symptom improvement is more pronounced for behavioral eating symptoms (i.e., bingeing and purging) than for body image disturbance, and the persistence of body image disturbance is associated with relapse. The need for more effective body image interventions led to the development of mirror exposure, which focuses on encouraging patients to view themselves in a holistic, nonjudgmental, mindful fashion. Behavioral manifestations of body image disturbance—body checking and avoidance—are also targeted in order to reduce and eliminate such behaviors and their associated preoccupation and distress. A preliminary trial of Body Image Exposure has shown promise, but it has not yet been tested in the context of CBT for BN. The case of “Sara” illustrates the application of this targeted treatment for body image disturbance. Central clinical issues around the perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral components of body image are delineated as they arose in treatment, as are issues of motivation and compliance. Treatment was associated with improvement in eating symptoms, body image, and mood.

Body image delationship with demographic variables in young adults

This study is aimed to evaluate different attitudinal body image components that are characteristic specifically of youth Lithuanians. This kind of study is one of the first in this country. The article presents a brief review of recent studies concerning body image and points out that mostly separate aspects of body image are being reported on in the literature. Body image is a multidimensional phenomenon. Therefore, the aim of this study was to consider the attitudinal body image not in total, but in its different components and their relationship to gender, age and marital status.The study cohort comprised 419 students (1st to 6th year and residential doctors) of Vilnius University, Vilnius Pedagogical University, Vytautas Magnus University and Kaunas University of Medicine; of them, 78% were women and 22% men. The age of the respondents varied from 18 to 39 years (mean, 21.99 ± 3.46 years, men’s mean age 22.24 years (±3.87 years) and women’s 21.91 (±3.34 years). More than half of the respondents were single or separated (66,3% men and 64,8% women, respectively), more than one third reported having a girl/boy-friend, being married or living together with their partner. Women (28.8%) reported more often being married or living with partner than men (21.7%).The following methods of measuring different aspects of body image were used in this study: the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire – Appearance Scales (MBSRQ – AS), Appearance Schemas Inventory – Revised (ASI-R), Short Form of the Situational Inventory of Body Image Dysphoria (SIBID-S), Body Image Quality of Life Inventory (BIQLI).The results were follows: (1) body satisfaction is different for men and women: women are more concerned with their body weight, shape and some body parts (especially lower torso and their hair), they attend to and invest in their physical appearance more often than men; (2) younger men and women relate their self-worth with their looks more often than older men and women. Younger men are more-appearance oriented. Younger women report more dysfunctional attitudes towards their appearance, although they report a higher subjective quality of life than older women; (3) partnership in women is related with a better evaluation of one’s appearance, less dysfunctional attitudes towards their appearance and less negative emotions concerning their body. Partnership in men is related to a higher subjective quality of life; (4) American men and women in comparison with Lithuanian subjects report placing more importance on their looks, are more concerned with their body weight, they report more dysfunctional attitudes towards their bodies and report more body image dysphoria. American women report being overweight more often, are more often dissatisfied with different body parts and report lower subjective quality of life than Lithuanian women.

Components of Body Image in Gay Men with HIV/AIDS

The current study examined group differences in various components of body image within a group of gay men. Three groups of gay men were compared: AIDS diagnosed, HIV positive (without an AIDS diagnosis), and HIV negative. Participants were 254 men who responded to an online survey. Results revealed significant group differences on the components of illness orientation and fitness/health evaluation. These results indicated that participants in the AIDS and HIV positive groups reported more awareness of and vulnerability to illness compared with the HIV negative group. Furthermore, men in the AIDS group reported being less fit and in poorer health than HIV positive and HIV negative men. Surprisingly, there were no significant differences between groups on appearance evaluation, suggesting that previous reports of high levels of body dissatisfaction among men living with HIV/AIDS may be because of disproportionate rates of gay (or MSM) men affected by the disease.

Separating two components of body image in anorexia nervosa using fMRI

Body image distortion is a key symptom of anorexia nervosa. In behavioral research two components of body image have been defined: attitudes towards the body and body size experience. Neuroimaging studies concerning own body image distortions in anorexia nervosa have revealed an inconsistent pattern of results and are constrained by the fact that no direct distinction between the different parts of body image has been made. The present study therefore set out to investigate the neural correlates of two parts of the own body image using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI): satisfaction rating and size estimation for distorted own body photographs in patients with anorexia nervosa and controls. Anorectic patients were less satisfied with their current body shape than controls. Patients further demonstrated stronger activation of the insula and lateral prefrontal cortex during the satisfaction rating of thin self-images. This indicates a stronger emotional involvement when patients are presented with distorted images close to their own ideal body size. Patients also overestimated their own body size. We were able to show complex differential modulations in activation of the precuneus during body size estimation in control and anorectic subjects. It could be speculated that a deficit in the retrieval of a multimodal coded body schema in precuneus/posterior parietal cortex is related to body size overestimation. We were able to find specific behavioral responses and neural activation patterns for two parts of body image in anorexia nervosa and healthy controls. Thus, the present results underline the importance of developing research and therapeutic strategies that target the two different aspects of body image separately.

Body image disturbance and surgical decision making in egyptian post menopausal breast cancer patients.

BackgroundIn most developing countries, as in Egypt; postmenopausal breast cancer cases are offered a radical form of surgery relying on their unawareness of the subsequent body image disturbance. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of breast cancer surgical choice; Breast Conservative Therapy (BCT) versus Modified Radical Mastectomy (MRM); on body image perception among Egyptian postmenopausal cases.MethodsOne hundred postmenopausal women with breast cancer were divided into 2 groups, one group underwent BCT and the other underwent MRM. Pre- and post-operative assessments of body image distress were done using four scales; Breast Impact of Treatment Scale (BITS), Impact of Event Scale (IES), Situational Discomfort Scale (SDS), and Body Satisfaction Scale (BSS).ResultsPreoperative assessment showed no statistical significant difference regarding cognitive, affective, behavioral and evaluative components of body image between both studied groups. While in postoperative assessment, women in MRM group showed higher levels of body image distress among cognitive, affective and behavioral aspects.ConclusionBody image is an important factor for postmenopausal women with breast cancer in developing countries where that concept is widely ignored. We should not deprive those cases from their right of less mutilating option of treatment as BCT.

Surgical Repair of Pectus Excavatum Markedly Improves Body Image and Perceived Ability for Physical Activity: Multicenter Study

This study evaluated changes in both physical and psychosocial quality of life reported by the parent and child after surgical repair of pectus excavatum. As part of a multicenter study of pectus excavatum, a previously validated tool called the Pectus Excavatum Evaluation Questionnaire was administered by the research coordinator, via telephone, to parents and patients (8-21 years of age) before and 1 year after surgery. Eleven North American children's hospitals participated. From 2001 to 2006, 264 patients and 291 parents completed the initial questionnaire, and 247 patients and 274 parents completed the postoperative questionnaire. Responses used a Likert-type scale of 1 to 4, reflecting the extent or frequency of a particular experience, with higher values conveying less-desirable experience. Preoperative psychosocial functioning was unrelated to objective pectus excavatum severity (computed tomographic index). Patients and their parents reported significant positive postoperative changes. Improvements occurred in both physical and psychosocial functioning, including less social self-consciousness and a more-favorable body image. For children, the body image component improved from 2.30+/-0.62 (mean+/-SD) to 1.40+/-0.42 after surgery and the physical difficulties component improved from 2.11+/-0.82 to 1.37+/-0.44. For the parent questionnaire, the child's emotional difficulties improved from 1.81+/-0.70 to 1.24+/-0.36, social self-consciousness improved from 2.86+/-1.03 to 1.33+/-0.68, and physical difficulties improved from 2.14+/-0.75 to 1.32+/-0.39. Ninety-seven percent of patients thought that surgery improved how their chest looked. Surgical repair of pectus excavatum can significantly improve the body image difficulties and limitations on physical activity experienced by patients. These results should prompt physicians to consider the physiologic and psychological implications of pectus excavatum just as they would any other physical deformity known to have such consequences.

Drive for leanness: Assessment and relationship to gender, gender role and objectification

Three components of body image – drive for thinness (DT), drive for muscularity (DM), and drive for leanness (DL) – were assessed in 232 college students. A new measure of DL was developed. Data suggested that the new scale yielded valid and reliable scores. The relationships of gender, gender norm endorsement, and self-objectification to DT, DM, and DL were examined. The surveillance subscale of the OBC Scale was related to DL, DT, and DM in men and to DL and DT in women. Gender norm endorsement, specifically romantic relationships, moderated the relationship of surveillance to DT in women. Gender norm endorsement was directly related to DM and DT in men. DLS appeared to measure a distinct component of body image. Feminine gender role was only related to DT while masculine gender role was related to DL, DT, and DM, raising important questions about the gender differences in body image.

Influence of Appearance-Related TV Commercials on Body Image State

This study investigates the influence of media exposure on body image state in eating-disordered (ED) patients. The attitudinal and perceptual components of body image are assessed, as well as any associations with dysfunctional cognitions and behavioral consequences. Twenty-five ED patients and 25 non-ED controls (ND) viewed commercials either featuring appearance (AC; 5 min) or not featuring appearance (NC; 5 min). Both perceptual and attitudinal body image components changed markedly after the AC condition for ED patients, compared with the ND group and NC condition. Cognitions referring to dietary restraint and internalization/social comparison also changed significantly in ED patients depending on the experimental manipulation, whereas thoughts about body and self-esteem did not. The results suggest that media exposure acts as a stimulus that triggers body-related schemas. Partial support is given to cognitive-behavioral models of eating disorders, which postulate an association between cognitive bias, body image disturbances, and compensatory behavioral consequences.

Body Image: A Study in a Tri-Ethnic Sample of Low Income Women

This study was designed to examine the evaluative, affective, and behavioral components of body image among 1,217 low-income European American, African American, and Latina women. Participants completed a multidimensional body image questionnaire while awaiting an outpatient clinic appointment. Body mass index (BMI) was determined by medical chart review. Nearly all normal weight and a number of overweight and obese African Americans characterized their weight as normal. In contrast, nearly all overweight and obese European Americans and Latinas regarded themselves as overweight as did over 30% of those of normal weight. European Americans and Latinas with higher BMIs reported more appearance shame than their lower BMI peers did; this pattern was not observed among African Americans. Among Latinas, body image was influenced by length of residency in the U.S.

Gender Role Development and Body Image among Male and Female First Year College Students

In the current study we examined associations between gender role development and body image. Male and female first-semester college students (N = 434) who identified as African American, Latino/a American, and European American completed surveys about gendered personality traits (instrumentality/expressivity), gender role attitudes, and aspects of body image (e.g., satisfaction, orientation). Gendered traits were more frequently associated with body image than were gender role attitudes. In particular, individuals who were more instrumental and less inauthentic in their relationships felt more positive about their bodies. Gender role attitudes were also associated with body image, but sometimes in an unexpected direction. These findings highlight the importance of examining multiple components of gender role development and body image in both men and women.

Individual and Sociocultural Influences on Pre-Adolescent Girls’ Appearance Schemas and Body Dissatisfaction

Appearance schemas, a suggested cognitive component of body image, have been associated with body dissatisfaction in adolescent and adult samples. This study examined girls’ weight status (BMI), depression, and parent, sibling, peer, and media influences as predictors of appearance schemas in 173 pre-adolescent girls. Hierarchical regression results indicated that appearance schemas scores were associated with girls’ level of depression, perceptions of parental influence on weight concerns, appearance related interactions with other girls, and awareness of media messages; perceptions of sibling influence on weight concerns and BMI were not independent predictors. In addition, appearance schemas were associated with girls’ level of body dissatisfaction. One implication of these findings is for prevention programs to focus on reducing the importance and value that girls place on appearance by targeting social influences, particularly parental influence, in order to reduce risk for adolescent body dissatisfaction and related risk behaviors.

Multitrait-Multimethod Investigation of a Novel Body Image Measurement Technique

A multitrait-multimethod (MTMM) matrix was used to evaluate validity evidence for a digital image manipulation (DIM) body image measurement technique in young women. One hundred one young women completed the DIM procedure and the Thompson and Gray (1995) Contour Drawing Rating Scale to measure self-ideal discrepancy and size perception accuracy components of body image. Seven-day test-retest reliability was acceptable (R = .81 − .95). Convergent validity for self-ideal discrepancy was higher (r = .74) than the corresponding heterotrait, monomethod coefficients (r = .46, r = .23) and heterotrait-heteromethod coefficients (r = .18, r = .12). However, the convergent validity coefficient for size perception accuracy was r = .12. The pattern of correlations in the MTMM matrix met the criteria of Campbell and Fiske (1959) for validity of these procedures to measure selfideal discrepancy but not size perception accuracy. The DIM procedure addresses some of the criticisms associated with figurerating scales, such as unrepresentativeness of the figures, scale coarseness, and restriction of range in responses. DIM, therefore, represents a realistic, valid alternative to figure-rating scales for measuring self-ideal discrepancy.

Media-portrayed idealized images, body shame, and appearance anxiety

This study was designed to determine the effects of media-portrayed idealized images on young women's body shame and appearance anxiety, and to establish whether the effects depend on advertisement type and on participant self-objectification. Participants were 39 female university students. Twenty-four magazine advertisements comprised 12 body-related and 12 non-body-related products, one half of each with, and the other one half without, idealized images. Preexposure and post exposure body shame and appearance anxiety measures were recorded. Appearance anxiety increased after viewing advertisements featuring idealized images. There was also a significant interaction between self-objectification level and idealized body (presence vs. absence). No differences emerged for body-related compared with non-body-related product advertisements. The only result for body shame was a main effect for time. Participants' body shame increased after exposure to idealized images, irrespective of advertisement type. Although our findings reveal that media-portrayed idealized images detrimentally affect the body image of young women, they highlight the individual differences in vulnerability and the different effects for different components of body image. These results are discussed in terms of their implications for the prevention and early intervention of body image and dieting-related disorders. (

The Impact of Mirrors on Body Image and Classroom Performance in Female College Ballet Dancers

This study investigated the effect of teaching with mirrors on the Body-Areas Satisfaction component of body image and dance performance of female college ballet dancers. With the same instructor in two beginning ballet classes, 15 females were taught using mirrors and 15 females were taught without mirrors. Subjects completed the Cash 69-item Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ) during the first and last week of classes of a 14-week semester to measure body image. Dance instructors used the Radell Evaluation Scale for Dance Technique to assess students’ performance of the same adagio and allegro phrases danced during the fifth and fourteenth week of the semester. For the non-mirror class, there was a significant increase in adagio performance scores and a trend increase in allegro performance scores from pretest to posttest. Significant increases in adagio and allegro scores were not shown for the mirror class. Higher performing students, performing without the presence of the mirror, had increased Body-Areas Satisfaction scores on the MBSRQ. However, the higher performing students in the mirror class had decreased Body-Areas Satisfaction scores. These results suggest that the use of the mirror in a beginning ballet classroom may negatively affect the skill acquisition of the dancer and may contribute to the low body image scores of higher performing dancers.

The genetic epidemiology of body attitudes, the attitudinal component of body image in women.

There were four purposes of the current study, including the investigation of the: (i) adequacy of a multidimensional measure of body image; (ii) genetic and environmental epidemiology of this measure; (iii) shared variance between genetic and environmental risk factors for body mass index (BMI) and body image; and (iv) Equal Environment Assumption (EEA) as it related to body attitudes. Six types of body attitudes, as measured by the Body Attitudes Questionnaire (BAQ) and reported by 894 complete female-female twin pairs (mean age 32.35 years, S.D. = 41.8) from the Australian Twin Registry, were analysed. Confirmatory factor analysis of the BAQ supported the adequacy of the measure. Additive genetic and unique environmental influences best accounted for the variance of all six of the BAQ subscales. The relationship between BMI and body attitudes was primarily due to shared genes rather than environment but the majority of genetic and environmental effects on body attitudes were independent of BMI, with the exception of the Feeling Fat subscale, which shared 53% of its genetic risk factors with BMI. One violation of the EEA was suggested, namely similarity of childhood treatment influenced similarity on Lower Body Fatness subscale. Findings support the notion that: (i) body image is a multidimensional concept; (ii) it is relatively independent of BMI; and (iii) both genetic and non-shared environment are influential determinants of body attitudes.

Hair colouring, permanent styling and hair structure

Hair is an important component of body image and has immense psychological importance for both men and women. Women, in particular, over the ages have modified their appearance through changing their hair colour or style. Hair can be straight, wavy or curly, blonde, black, brown or red. These natural variations are an important part of our identity that can be manipulated according to the dictates of fashion, culture or society. Different types of hair have varying affinity for the different colouring and waving methods. Damaged hair also has a different affinity for hair products than normal healthy hair. The hair shaft is remarkably strong and resistant to the extremes of nature. Hair cosmetics are widely available and manipulate the structural properties of hair. Whilst most procedures are safe, there is considerable potential for damage to the hair and hair problems of acute onset, including hair breakage, hair loss and loss of condition, are frequently blamed on the last product used on the hair. Hair problems are particularly prevalent among people who repeatedly alter the natural style of their hair.

Body Attitudes and Eating Behaviours of Female Malay Students Studying in Australia

AbstractThe extent to which 113 adolescent Malay women studying in Australia expressed the desire to lose weight was examined, as was the degree to which this desire reflected a genuine need to lose weight. Comparisons between participants who expressed the desire to either lose weight, stay at their current weight, or gain weight were made using both attitudinal and behavioural components of body image. An in-depth analysis of those who wished to lose weight was also undertaken. There was evidence that negative body attitudes were in excess of what actual body weight might dictate. However, these negative attitudes were not found to be consistently predictive of dysfunctional eating behaviours. Results were interpreted with reference to the potential influence of Westernisation in countries in the South Pacific region, and in particular how attitudes and behaviours are influenced by this process.

Relationships Between Body Image and Depressive Symptoms During Postpartum in Ethnically Diverse, Low Income Women

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to examine body image, depressive symptoms, and their interrelationship at post-delivery and at 6 weeks postpartum in a triethnic sample of low income new mothers. Data for this study were drawn from the Austin New Mothers Study. Participants were 76 Anglo/White, 72 African American, and 135 Hispanic new mothers who were participating in Medicaid, at least 18 years old, free of medical risk factors, and delivered at term. Body image was measured by the Body Cathexis Scale (BCS) and depressive symptoms by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). The leading areas of body dissatisfaction in postpartum were similar across ethnic groups. At 6 weeks postpartum Anglo women had the highest number of body image components perceived negatively, whereas African-American women had the least. In the overall sample, body image attitudes were significantly related to depressive symptoms in correlational (r's .19 to .34) and regression analyses. In addition, African American ethnicity was associated in regression analyses with higher depressive symptoms. Neither African American nor Hispanic ethnicity significantly moderated the relationship between body image attitudes and depressive symptoms in tests of interactions. Marital/partnered status and income level were related to depressive symptoms at both time points. In addition, being a woman with a parity of II was associated with higher depressive symptoms at 6 weeks postpartum. Although addition of these personal variables increased the percent of variance accounted for, body image attitudes continued to be significant predictors of depressive symptoms.

Female Wheelchair Athletes and Changes to Body Image

This paper examined the effect of a psychological intervention program on attitudes to body image of female wheelchair athletes. A single case, multiple-baseline study was employed to examine the presentation of a brief, six session, cognitive behavioural intervention program on six National female wheelchair basketball players over a period of six weeks. Initially the six wheelchair athletes' satisfaction levels were compared to 20 able-bodied basketball players on four measures: the Physical Self-Perception Profile, Multi-Dimensional Body Image Scale, Social Physique Anxiety Questionnaire, and the Body Parts Questionnaire. Results indicated that as a result of the cognitive behavioural intervention program, physical self-perception increased for the wheelchair athletes and for 50% of the wheelchair athletes on the multi-dimensional components of body image, using the non-parametric split-middle technique. Further analysis revealed a significant effect of self-perceived competence across time indicating post-hoc significant differences between baseline data and Week 6 of the intervention program. With reference to caution due to the nature of case study research, it is asserted that this study shows promise for improving various aspects of body image satisfaction by means of a cognitive-behavioural approach and has potential for wheelchair athletes and other special populations.