Higher Levels Of Body Dissatisfaction Research Articles

Peer status and victimization as possible reinforcements of adolescent girls' and boys' weight-related behaviors and cognitions.

Reciprocal longitudinal associations among weight-related behaviors and cognitions and peer relations constructs were examined among adolescent males and females. Participants included 576 adolescents aged 10-14 years, in grades 6-8. Measures assessed body dissatisfaction, negative weight-related cognitions, weight management behaviors, muscle-gaining behaviors, body mass index (BMI), likeability, popularity, and victimization at two time points, approximately 11 months apart. Multiple group path analyses were conducted to examine the reciprocal longitudinal associations between the peer relations constructs and weight-related behaviors and cognitions, controlling for participants' Time 1 BMI, pubertal development, and age. Higher levels of body dissatisfaction were associated longitudinally with decreases in popularity. Higher popularity and lower likeability each were associated longitudinally with increases in negative body-related cognitions. Higher popularity was associated longitudinally with muscle-gaining behaviors for boys. Findings suggest highly popular and disliked adolescents may be at greater risk of weight-related behaviors and cognitions than other adolescents.

Influenza dei media, autostima e insoddisfazione corporea in un gruppo di preadolescenti maschi e femmine

- The present study analyses the relation among media influence, self esteem and body dissatisfaction in a group of preadolescent boys and girls. 243 preadolescents with the mean age of 12 were involved. The group consisted of 127 boys and 116 girls. They were asked to complete the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-3 (SATAQ-3; Thompson et al., 2004), the Body Shape Questionnaire (Dowson e Henderson, 2001) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965). Preadolescent females reported higher levels of body dissatisfaction than preadolescent males. They also scored higher in three SATAQ-3 subscales: whether media are important source of information about being attractive, internalization of a media thin ideal and perceived media pressures to be thin. Body mass index and internalization of a thin ideal emerged as significant predictors of body dissatisfaction for both sexes. Perceived media pressures predict body dissatisfaction only among girls.Key words: media influence, self-esteem, body dissatisfaction, preadolescenceParole chiave: influenza dei media, autostima, insoddisfazione corporea, preadolescenza.

School-Based Prevention Efforts Addressing the Sociocultural Risk Factors of Eating Disorders

Today's young people are surrounded by sociocultural messages that promote thinness and create high levels of body dissatisfaction. Children and adolescents consequently develop disordered eating behaviors and experience detrimental effects to their development in physical, social-emotional, and academic arenas. Given the many barriers to the effective treatment of full-blown eating disorders, there is currently a push towards administering early prevention efforts within schools. In particular, school mental health programs can work with school staff to create a supportive environment to encourage higher levels of body satisfaction, counter negative sociocultural messages, and help to prevent the development of eating disorders. This article will explore and define the relationship between sociocultural risk factors and the prevalence of eating disorders, supply a rationale for addressing eating disorders within school-based mental health programs, provide a brief review and analysis of some important prevention programs within schools, and suggest recommendations for further research and school-based program development.

A qualitative investigation into the opinions of adolescent females regarding their body image concerns and dieting practices in the Republic of Ireland (ROI)

The aim of this study was to investigate the opinions of female adolescents living in the ROI on issues relating to body image and dietary practice. A qualitative study was selected to enable the issues to be explored in depth. Sixteen focus groups were executed with adolescent females ( n = 124) aged 15–16 years. Data collection took place during class time in both rural and urban schools in the ROI. Data were analysed using a qualitative thematic methodology, namely framework analysis. High levels of body dissatisfaction existed and dieting was found to be prevalent. The influence of media celebrities was significant. The girls not only aspired to be like them in terms of physique but also followed their alleged dieting regimes in detail. Peers also influenced body dissatisfaction and dieting practices. Consequently, eating habits were altered to accommodate this quest for thinness with a tendency to skip main meals as part of the dieting practice while maintaining an unhealthy snacking pattern. The results are of concern as the adolescent females were utilising unhealthy methods of weight control such as skipping meals and fasting in their quest to obtain a thin physique. A slim body image was deemed important for peer acceptance; hence ‘crash’ dieting was in existence. This mindset and the resultant dietary practices may have negative health consequences during both adolescence and later life. School interventions targeting adolescent females and focusing on healthy eating and body image are therefore urgently required.

Body image, dieting and disordered eating and activity practices among teacher trainees: implications for school-based health education and obesity prevention programs

The aim was to investigate and compare body image, body dissatisfaction, dieting, disordered eating, exercise and eating disorders among trainee health education/physical education (H&PE) and non-H&PE teachers. Participants were 502 trainee teachers randomly selected from class groups at three Australian universities who completed the questionnaire. H&PE males and females had significantly poorer body image and higher levels of body dissatisfaction, dieting and disordered eating behaviors than non-H&PE participants. H&PE teachers were more likely to over-exercise and have exercise disorders, but very few self-identified problems with objectively assessed excessive exercise behaviors. Lifetime prevalence of eating disorders was 12.5% in H&PE males, 0% in non-H&PE males, 7.7% in H&PE females and 6% in non-H&PE females. Few participants had received any past or current treatment. Of particular concern is the likelihood of the teachers' inappropriate and dangerous attitudes and behaviors being intentionally or unintentionally conveyed to their school students. Those planning school health education, nutrition education and school-based obesity prevention programs should provide suitable training for the teachers involved. Screening and treatment services among teachers may also be helpful in order to detect, treat and educate young teachers about body image, dieting, disordered eating and physical activity practices.

Relationships Between Weight and Body Dissatisfaction, Body Esteem, and Teasing in African American Girls

This study assessed the relation between weight and weight-related factors (i.e., body dissatisfaction, body esteem, teasing frequency, and the effects of teasing) in a community sample of prepubescent African American girls. African American girls (N = 97) in Grades 3 to 5 completed the McKnight Risk Factor Survey—Third Edition and had their heights and weights taken to calculate body mass index (BMI). Participants were from two public elementary schools with a predominantly African American student population in a Southern metropolitan city of the United States. Increased weight was associated with higher levels of body dissatisfaction and a greater frequency of weight teasing by peers. Weight was not associated with body esteem. These relationships between weight and related factors may be important for understanding how weight affects psychosocial functioning in a community sample of African American girls.

Moderators of the body dissatisfaction-eating disorder symptomatology relationship: Replication and extension.

In this study, research conducted by T. L. Tylka (2004) was replicated and extended by examining perfectionism (self-oriented and socially prescribed), ego goal orientation, body surveillance, and neuroticism as moderators of the relationship between body dissatisfaction and bulimic and anorexic symptomatology among female undergraduates (N = 398). Hierarchical moderated regression was used to test the main and interactive effects of the models and to control for physical size and social desirability. As expected, body dissatisfaction was strongly related to the measures of disordered eating, accounting for 16% to 26% of the variance. Two variables (neuroticism and body surveillance) received support as moderators of the relationships between body dissatisfaction and bulimic and anorexic symptoms. Ego goal orientation and socially prescribed perfectionism moderated the effects of body dissatisfaction on bulimic symptoms, whereas self-oriented perfectionism served as a moderator only for anorexic symptoms. In all instances, higher levels of body dissatisfaction paired with higher levels of the moderator were associated with more disturbed eating.

Thin-Ideal Media and Women’s Body Dissatisfaction: Prevention using Downward Social Comparisons on Non-Appearance Dimensions

Exposure to thin-ideal media has adverse effects on the body satisfaction of women with higher levels of body image disturbance. In a study involving 109 UCLA female undergraduates, we examined the effectiveness of an intervention that was based on downward social comparison theory and the selection of alternative comparison dimensions. All participants had higher levels of body dissatisfaction and viewed pictures of fashion models; the intervention group compared downward with the models on non-appearance dimensions in writing, whereas the control group described the models in writing. We hypothesized that the intervention group would experience more positive shifts in body and weight satisfaction, anxiety about appearance, and desire to lose weight than would the control group. The results supported our hypotheses.

Viewership of pro‐eating disorder websites: Association with body image and eating disturbances

To evaluate the association between pro-eating disorder website viewership and concurrent levels of body dissatisfaction and eating disturbance. A sample of 1575 women were surveyed for viewership of a variety of websites, including those promoting disordered eating (pro-eating disorder) and those providing information about eating disorders (professional). Individuals who frequented pro-eating disorder sites had higher levels of body dissatisfaction and eating disturbance than a control group. The group who frequented only professional information websites, but not pro-eating disorder websites, differed from controls on only one of the four measures of disturbance. The pro-eating disorder group did not differ from the professional group on any measure. The findings offer moderate evidence indicating that viewers of pro-eating disorder sites have higher levels of disturbance than a control sample of nonviewers, but limited evidence that those who view pro-eating disorder sites differ from individuals who view professional sites offering information regarding eating disorders. The findings are discussed in light of the difficulty determining causality in this area of inquiry and a cautionary note regarding the potential iatrogenic effects of this type of research is offered.

Peer Victimization and Depressive Symptoms: The Role of Body Dissatisfaction and Self-Esteem

Research has suggested that different forms of negative cognitions contribute risk to the development of depressive symptoms. What remains unclear is whether there is specificity regarding the relation between childhood experiences and young adults’ current cognitions and whether these cognitions each contribute unique risk to depressive symptoms or whether they interact to predict increased depression risk. The primary goal of the current study was to examine the relation between depressive symptoms and young adults’ histories of negative childhood events (e.g., weight-related teasing) and whether certain types of negative cognitions (e.g., body dissatisfaction) mediate this relation. Supporting our specificity hypothesis, low self-esteem mediated the link between general peer verbal victimization during childhood and current depressive symptoms, and body dissatisfaction mediated the link between weight-related teasing during childhood and current depressive symptoms. In addition, supporting the interactive nature of forms of cognitive vulnerability, low levels of self-esteem, combined with high levels of body dissatisfaction, were associated with the highest levels of depressive symptoms.

A comparative study of body image of Australian and Pakistani young females

This research compares Australian and Pakistani females on body image attitudes. The sample consisted of Caucasian-Australian and Pakistani first year university students, ranging in age from 17 to 22. The Pakistani sample was subdivided into two groups: Urdu-medium and English-medium, representing the middle and upper social classes, respectively. The results revealed that, although all the groups identified a similar body shape as the 'ideal', the Australian females expressed significantly higher levels of body dissatisfaction on all measures of body image than did the Pakistani females. Within the Pakistani sample, females from the English-medium institutions expressed greater weight concern than did the Urdu-medium females. The findings are discussed in terms of the possible role of cultural values in shaping the body image attitudes of young females.

Body Dissatisfaction and Physical Development Among Ethnic Minority Adolescents

The present study examined the association between body dissatisfaction and adjustment, and the role physical development plays in this association, in an ethnically diverse sample of over 1100 urban, ninth grade boys and girls (M age = 14). More similarities than differences were found across ethnic groups: Caucasian, African American, Latino, Asian, and multiethnic boys reported similar areas of body dissatisfaction, levels of body dissatisfaction, and associations between body dissatisfaction and psychosocial maladjustment. For girls, only mean level differences were found with African American girls reporting lower levels of body dissatisfaction than girls from other ethnic backgrounds. Higher levels of body dissatisfaction predicted more psychological and social maladjustment for both boys and girls. For boys, faster development predicted stronger associations between feeling overweight and peer victimization. Feeling too small only predicted victimization if boys were actually low in physical development. For girls, physical development directly predicted less peer victimization, while perceived faster development predicted more victimization. Thus, it appears that physical development can protect both girls (directly) and boys (buffering against the negative effects of body dissatisfaction) from peer victimization, whereas perceived faster timing of development can exacerbate peer victimization.

A prospective study of factors that lead to body dissatisfaction during pregnancy

This study examined changes in body image and predictors of body dissatisfaction during pregnancy. It was expected that higher levels of depression, social comparison tendencies, teasing, societal pressure to be thin and public self-consciousness would predict body dissatisfaction prospectively. Healthy pregnant women ( n = 128) completed questionnaires on three occasions during their pregnancies reporting on a total of four time points: 3 months prior to pregnancy (retrospectively reported), in the early to mid-second trimester, the late-second/early-third trimester, and the latter part of the third trimester. For the most part women reported adapting to the changes that occurred in their body; however, women were most likely to experience higher levels of body dissatisfaction in early to mid-second trimester. Findings related to predictors of body dissatisfaction revealed that both social and psychological factors contributed to body image changes in pregnancy. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Individual differences in male body‐image: An examination of self‐objectification in recreational body builders

Male bodybuilders have been found previously to have higher levels of disordered eating and body-image disturbance than do other men. This study investigated whether objectification theory (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997) could be used to explain these observed differences in male body-image. A cross-sectional, self-report design was used. Three samples of men were recruited: bodybuilders (N = 31), weightlifters (N = 17), and non-athletic controls (N = 35). Participants completed a questionnaire containing measures of self-objectification, self-surveillance, body shame, appearance anxiety, and four outcomes: body dissatisfaction, drive for muscularity, bulimia, and depression. As predicted, bodybuilders had significantly higher levels of self-objectification than weightlifters and controls, and higher levels of body dissatisfaction and drive for muscularity than controls. Overall, the relationships between self-objectification and the outcome variables, and self-surveillance and the outcome variables, were mediated by appearance anxiety. Bodybuilding is associated with outcomes that suggest it may not result in greater overall health for men. It was concluded that objectification theory provides a useful framework for examining body-image differences in men.

The impact of appearance-related teasing by family members

Purpose This study evaluated the prevalence and effects of teasing by family members on body dissatisfaction, eating disturbance, and psychological functioning. Methods Self-report data were collected from 372 middle school girls who were part of a larger study in a Tampa Bay, Florida area middle school (mean age: 12.6 years; 85% Caucasian). Results Twenty-three percent of participants reported appearance-related teasing by a parent, and 12% were teased by a parent about being heavy. Nineteen percent of the girls reported appearance-related teasing by fathers, 13% reported appearance-related teasing by mothers, and 29% reported appearance-related teasing by siblings. After controlling for body mass index (BMI) and maternal teasing, paternal teasing was a significant predictor of body dissatisfaction, comparison, thin-ideal internalization, restriction, bulimic behaviors, self-esteem, and depression. After controlling for BMI and paternal teasing, maternal teasing was a significant predictor of depression. After controlling for BMI and maternal teasing, paternal teasing significantly increased the odds of having a sibling who teases. Girls who reported being teased by at least one sibling demonstrated significantly higher levels of body dissatisfaction, comparison, thin-ideal internalization, restriction, bulimic behaviors, depression, and significantly lower levels of self-esteem than those girls who reported they were not teased by their siblings. Frequency of teasing was associated with higher levels of negative outcomes. Conclusions This study has implications for treatment and prevention of eating disorders. The results suggest that health care providers should assess appearance-related teasing in their patients’ lives to identify girls who may be at risk for body image and eating disturbance and poor psychological functioning.

Evaluation of a body image prevention programme for adolescent boys

Most previous programmes to address body dissatisfaction and body change strategies have been designed for females, particularly adolescent girls. Programmes are also needed for adolescent boys due to high levels of body dissatisfaction and unhealthy behaviours in this population. The present study developed, implemented and evaluated a prevention programme for young adolescent boys designed to address body image concerns and body change strategies and improve psychological adjustment. One hundred and twenty-one boys between the ages of 12 and 13 years participated, with 69 boys in the control group and 52 in the prevention programme. The programme focused on self-esteem and accepting differences and was run over two sessions. The results indicated an increase in satisfaction with muscles, the attribute of greatest concern to boys. The programme was also successful in increasing self-esteem and lowering levels of negative affect. Future programmes need to build on the findings of this study and develop strategies to improve the body image concerns and unhealthy body change strategies among adolescent boys before they become entrenched. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

Measuring Masculine Body Ideal Distress: Development of a Measure

This paper describes the construction of the Masculine Body Ideal Distress Scale (MBIDS) and an initial study examining its psychometric properties. For the study, 154 mostly Caucasian and heterosexual college males completed the MBIDS along with a measure of body dissatisfaction and a measure of conformity to masculinity norms. Results indicated that the Masculine Body Ideal Distress Scale consisted of one factor, had very high internal consistency, and related to both higher levels of body dissatisfaction and conformity to masculine norms. The discussion focuses on future research using the MBIDS and limitations to the study.

Gender Differences in Body Size Dissatisfaction Among Individuals With Low, Medium, or High Levels of Body Focus

The authors designed the present study to test whether women reported higher levels of body dissatisfaction than did men even when the 2 genders were matched on a measure of degree of body focus. Sixty undergraduates (30 men, 30 women) were screened on attention-to-body-shape scores and divided into high, medium, and low body-shape-focus groups. The participants also completed questionnaires that provided information on age, education, vocabulary ability, levels of depression, and body-image assessment. The groups did not differ (ps > .05) on age, education, vocabulary ability, or levels of depression. However, women in all 3 body-shape-focus categories indicated a larger discrepancy between their real vs. ideal body images (p < .01) than did the men. In the high-body-focus group, there was an 11:1 ratio between women's and men's reported real-ideal body-shape discrepancies. Women showed greater body dissatisfaction than did men, even when the genders were matched on a measure of body focus.

Evaluation of adolescent body satisfaction and associated eating disorder pathology in two communities

AbstractObjective:As Eastern European countries adopt Anglo‐American ideals of body size, it can be predicted that body dissatisfaction (a core feature of the eating disorders) will be similar to that observed in western cultures. The objective of the present investigation is to compare adolescent males and females in urban schools of two countries (Scotland and Yugoslavia) as part of an ongoing longitudinal study of BMI, body satisfaction, well‐being and eating pathology.Method:625 adolescents had their BMI recorded and completed a series of questionnaires measuring body satisfaction, depression, anxiety and eating pathology.Results:Significant differences emerged as a function of gender in both countries and as a function of country. Girls reported significantly higher levels of body dissatisfaction than boys and scored higher on measures of restrained eating. However, eating pathology, depression and anxiety were higher in the Scottish cohort in general, and in the Scottish girls in particular. Similarly, self‐esteem was lower in the Scottish cohort and was particularly low in the girls.Discussion:Overall, body dissatisfaction appears to be a normative experience despite normal weight status for girls in both countries. However, risk factors for developing eating disorders appear higher in the western cohort. Results from the longitudinal assessments will highlight whether this trend is maintained over time. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

Thinness and body shape of Playboy centerfolds from 1978 to 1998.

Changes in the body weight and shape of Playboy centerfolds over the past two decades (1978-1998) were examined. The body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip circumference ratio (WHR) were obtained from measurements reported by 240 centerfolds (ages 19-35 y). The 20-y averages (mean+/-s.d.) were 18.1+/-0.8 kg/m2 for BMI and 0.68+/-0.03 for WHR, and there has been no appreciable change in either BMI or WHR in centerfolds over the past 20 y. Based on current recommendations for the classification of underweight (BMI<18.5 kg/m2), 70% of the centerfolds were underweight. Further, 77.5% of the centerfolds were <85% of their ideal body weight. Given the perception of Playboy centerfolds as culturally 'ideal' women, the notion that 70% of them are underweight highlights the social pressures on women to be thin and helps to explain the high levels of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating among women.