Increased Body Dissatisfaction Research Articles

Risk Factors for Overweight and Obesity in Later School-Aged Children: Focus on Lifestyle Behaviours and Psychosocial Characteristics.

The study analysed the 12th wave (2019) of data from the Panel Study on Korean Children conducted by the Korea Institute of Child Care and Education. A total of 1174 children were selected as the subjects of the study. The results concerning the identifying factors influencing overweight and obesity in later school-aged children revealed that when compared to boys, girls were 1.66 times more likely to be overweight or obese. Moreover, for every one-hour increase in media usage time, the likelihood of being overweight or obese increased by 1.23 times, and for every one-point increase in body dissatisfaction, the probability of being overweight or obese increased by 2.07 times. However, among personality traits, neuroticism was associated with a 0.96 times lower likelihood of being overweight or obese. These findings underscore the significance of considering not only lifestyle factors but also psychosocial characteristics such as body dissatisfaction and neuroticism as predictive factors for overweight and obesity in later school-aged children, providing a basis for intervention.

COVID-19-Related distress, body image, and eating behaviors: a cross-sectional explanatory model

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with increased body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behaviors in adolescents. To better understand these associations, this study tested an explanatory model in which appearance-focused social media use, internalization of social media pressure, and mindfulness abilities mediated the relationship between COVID-related distress and body dissatisfaction, which in turn was associated with dietary restraint and binge eating episodes.MethodsAdolescents (N = 493, Mage= 16.7; 47.5% girls) recruited within high schools completed online measures. We conducted model testing through path analysis in MPlus, using modification indices to derive a well-fitting model.ResultsThe initially hypothesized model was a poor fit for the data. The final well-adjusted model confirmed several significant paths and supported the parallel mediational roles of social media (specifically, the use of appearance-focused social media and internalization of social media pressure) along with mindfulness, on the relationship between COVID-19-related distress and body satisfaction. Model adjustments involved adding three paths, resulting in two additional significant indirect effects, and suppressing one path.ConclusionsFindings suggest that mindfulness, media use and the internalization of social media pressure are potential key processes explaining body dissatisfaction and eating disorders among adolescents who experienced higher levels of COVID-related distress.

Differential effects of community involvement on eating disorder prevention outcomes in sexual minority men

ABSTRACT Prior research has been conflicted on whether gay community involvement serves as a risk or protective factor for body image and eating disorders (EDs) in sexual minority men (SMM), perhaps given that prior research has examined community involvement unidimensionally. The present study examined whether non-appearance-based (“social activism”) and appearance-based (“going out/nightlife”) community involvement differentially predicted ED prevention outcomes in SMM. SMM (N = 73) enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of an ED prevention program completed measures of community involvement, drive for muscularity, body dissatisfaction, and bulimic symptoms at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up. “Social activism” community involvement moderated intervention effects for drive for muscularity and body dissatisfaction scores, but not bulimic symptoms, such that those who placed higher importance on social activism demonstrated expected improvements, while those who placed lower importance on social activism did not exhibit expected improvements. “Going out/nightlife” community involvement did not moderate intervention outcomes; however, greater importance of going out/nightlife was associated with increased body dissatisfaction. Findings support that the impact of community involvement on body image and ED risk for SMM may be nuanced. Encouraging community involvement through activism could help enhance ED prevention efforts for SMM.

Body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem in elementary school-aged children: the role of media pressure and trust in parent-child relationships.

Studies have indicated that the media plays a role in the development of body dissatisfaction in children. Nevertheless, there is limited understanding of the protective factors that may reduce this association, such as the parent-child relationship. Therefore, this study investigates children's body dissatisfaction and self-esteem and the role of media pressure and a trust in parent-child relationships herein. A sample of n = 246 participants (59.8% girls, aged 8-10) was recruited. Children completed self-report questionnaires that assessed body dissatisfaction, self-esteem, media pressure, and trust in parent-child relationships. Results revealed that higher scores on media pressure were linked to increased body dissatisfaction and decreased self-esteem. On the other hand, higher scores on trust in mother and father were associated with lower levels of body dissatisfaction and higher levels of self-esteem. However, the presence of trust in parent-child relationships did not attenuate the impact of media pressure on body dissatisfaction or self-esteem. Further investigation is necessary to gain a deeper understanding of how sociocultural and interpersonal factors interact and contribute to the development of body image problems. While current prevention and intervention programs predominantly focus on the individual, it may be beneficial to place greater emphasis on the family environment.

Effects of videoconferencing use on momentary changes in disordered eating urges, body dissatisfaction, and mood.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to a global surge in videoconferencing use for work/study-related reasons. Although these platforms heighten exposure to one's image, the implications of videoconferencing use on body image and eating concerns remain scantly examined. This study sought to investigate, in an Australian sample, whether videoconferencing for work/study-related reasons predicted increases in body dissatisfaction (BD), urge to engage in disordered eating (DE; restrictive eating, exercise, overeating/purging), and negative mood at the state level. Participants (N=482, 78.8% women, Mage =20.5years [SD=5.3]) completed baseline demographic measures, accompanied by an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) of videoconferencing for work/study-related reasons, BD, DE urges, and negative mood six times a day for 7days via a smartphone application. Most participants (n=429; 89.0%) reported state-based videoconferencing use during the EMA phase. Consistent with expectations, state-based videoconferencing use was associated with an increase in state-level urges to engage in exercise. However, contrary to predictions, state-based videoconferencing use was linked to a decrease in state-level BD at the next assessment point and failed to predict negative mood and urges to engage in restrictive eating or overeating/purging at the state level. Given the simplified measure of videoconferencing use, the current research is considered preliminary and future replication and extension, using more nuanced measures, is warranted.

Body-Related Attentional Bias in Adolescents Affected by Idiopathic Scoliosis.

Attentional biases toward body-related information increase body dissatisfaction. This can lead at-risk populations to develop psychopathologies. This phenomenon has not been extensively studied in girls affected by idiopathic scoliosis. This work aimed to study the cognitive processes that could contribute to the worsening and maintaining of body image disorders in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Twenty-eight girls were recruited and tested for body image dissatisfaction through the Scoliosis-Research-Society-22-revised (SRS-22r) questionnaire. Attentional biases towards disease-related body parts were assessed using a computerized visual match-to-sample task: girls were asked to answer as fast and accurately as possible to find the picture matching a target by pressing a button on a computer keyboard. Reaction times (RTs) and accuracy were collected as outcome variables and compared within and between groups and conditions. Lower scores in SRS-22r self-image, function, and total score were observed in scoliosis compared to the control group (p-value < 0.01). Faster response times (p-value = 0.02) and higher accuracy (p-value = 0.02) were detected in the scoliosis group when processing shoulders and backs (i.e., disease-relevant body parts). A self-body advantage effect emerged in the scoliosis group, showing higher accuracy when answering self-body stimuli compared to others' bodies stimuli (p-value = 0.04). These results provide evidence of body image dissatisfaction and attentional bias towards disease-relevant body parts in girls with scoliosis, requiring clinical attention as highly predisposing to psychopathologies.

The effectiveness of an instagram intervention targeted at men to reduce body dissatisfaction

Instagram is a hugely popular social media website; however, research has suggested that continued use of the site may lead to increased body dissatisfaction and lower body esteem. Materials intended to reduce these effects are available, but these often focus more on thinness and are intended for use by females. Male users tend to focus more on muscularity and leanness, and so these materials may not fully address male body image issues. In this paper, we created and tested materials intended to address this gap. These materials used two principles; media literacy, which educates users about the veracity of the images they see, and cognitive restructuring, which trains user to recognise unfavourable social comparisons they may make about themselves. Across two experimental studies (study 1 N = 192; study 2 N = 301), we found these materials were effective. Participants reported greater body image esteem, and lower body dissatisfaction after viewing materials. Moreover, they seemed to operate on increasing scepticism regarding the realism of images on social media. Narcissism as an individual difference moderated these effects, showing that high narcissism precluded the need for intervention because such individuals were unaffected by Instagram exposure. Ideas for future studies, including a forthcoming longitudinal examination of these effects are then discussed.

Development of Body Dissatisfaction in Women and Men at Different Educational Levels During the Life Course.

Our study examines the rarely investigated associations between body dissatisfaction and educational level over the life course in women and men. A Finnish cohort (N = 1955) was followed by questionnaires at ages 22, 32, 42, and 52. Body dissatisfaction was measured by asking the respondents to evaluate their appearance using five response options. Analyses were done using logistic regression, while latent class analyses were used to identify classes of body dissatisfaction trajectories over the life course. Body dissatisfaction increased with age in women and men. Among men, body dissatisfaction was related to lower education at the ages of 32 and 42. Also, men with lower education were more likely to maintain a less positive body image over the life course. In women, increasing body dissatisfaction during the life course was associated with lower education. Differences in body dissatisfaction based on educational level are important to take into account in public health actions aiming to reduce socioeconomic inequalities in health and well-being.

A Slim Majority: The Influence of Sex Ratio on Women's Body Dissatisfaction and Weight Loss Motivations.

The current investigation examined whether women's perceptions of the sex ratio (ratio of women to men) in the local population influence their body dissatisfaction and weight loss motivations. A higher ratio of women to men in a given population signifies a relative abundance of same-sex mating competitors, intensifying female intrasexual competition. Five studies (N = 1,776) tested the hypotheses that women's perceptions of a female-skewed sex ratio would correspond to increased feelings of intrasexual competitiveness and perceptions of unfavorable mating prospects, which would, in turn, be associated with heightened body dissatisfaction and weight loss motivations. Among university and community women (Studies 1and 2), perceptions of a female-skewed sex ratio corresponded to greater intrasexual competitiveness, increased body dissatisfaction, and increased dieting inclinations. Among single women, assessments of a female-skewed sex ratio corresponded to perceptions of unfavorable mating prospects, increased romantic pressure to alter their appearance, and higher body dissatisfaction (Study 3). Studies 4 and 5 experimentally manipulated perceived sex ratio. Women in the female-skewed condition felt less satisfied with their weights and shapes, but only if they believed the manipulation (Study 4). In Study 5, using a within-subjects design, women who evaluated a male-skewed (vs. female-skewed) dating profile array subsequently desired to lose less weight. Findings suggest women's perceptions of their social environments may contribute to body image and dieting motivations.

Self-Exposure on Instagram and BMI: Relations With Body Image Among Both Genders.

Social media users can actively choose how they portray themselves and review the information they share to form and manage positive impressions on their audience. A high Body Mass Index (BMI) can lead to a bias of attention towards self-reported unattractive personal body areas. This dysfunctional body-related attention can lead to increased body dissatisfaction. Concerning social networks, people who usually post more photos on Instagram more frequently show higher body satisfaction. The main objective of this work was to analyze the relationship between BMI in young people, their own exposition on Instagram, positive body image and certain psychological variables: self-esteem, coping and well-being. The population-based sample consisted of 687 young Instagram users aged between 18 to 35 years old. The results found in this work revealed that BMI had a significant influence on the body exposure on Instagram in both genders, as well as in body image and certain psychological variables, such as coping and well-being. Moreover, we found that there is not a direct relation between BMI and the exposure of the entire body on Instagram. This relationship exists through positive body image, appearance care and management appearance behaviors. These results imply that positive body image affects body's exposure, so people with obesity or overweight tend to upload less photos with half or full body visible than people with normal weight or underweight. This is not because of their weight, but their valuation and appreciation of their bodies.

Positive Thinking Model for Women Who Have Body Dissatisfaction

This study aimed to establish a correlation between positive thinking and body dissatisfaction among women aged 20 to 40 residing in Sampang. With a quantitative approach, the study surveyed 344 individuals through online questionnaires using Google Forms. Nonparametric statistics, specifically Spearman Brown correlation test, was used for data analysis. Results showed a significant negative relationship between positive thinking (independent variable) and body dissatisfaction (dependent variable), with a Spearman Brown Correlation Coefficient of -0.509 at a significance level (p) of 0.000. The findings suggest that positive thinking can have a significant impact on reducing body dissatisfaction in women. In women, a positive outlook corresponds to reduced body dissatisfaction, meaning that as women become more positive in their thinking, their body dissatisfaction tends to decrease. Conversely, a lack of positive thinking in women leads to an increase in body dissatisfaction.

Уязвимость к межличностному отвержению из-за внешности в бодипозитивных и проанорексичных онлайн-сообществах

&lt;p style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objective. &lt;/strong&gt;We aimed to analyze vulnerabilities to interpersonal rejection based on appearance in female participants of body positive and pro-anorexic online communities.&lt;br&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background.&lt;/strong&gt; The recent years has seen a rapid development of online communities focused on physical attractiveness. In the current paper two large segments of Russian-speaking online communities (body positive and pro-anorexic ones) are used to analyze the relationships between appearance-based rejection sensitivity, global self-esteem, personality traits, and body dissatisfaction.&lt;br&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Study design.&lt;/strong&gt; The participants were surveyed in June&amp;ndash;August 2020, online, in Google Forms. Invitations were posted in body positive and pro-anorexic online communities. Data analysis included Student&amp;rsquo;s t test, and correlation, regression and mediation analysis.&lt;br&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Participants.&lt;/strong&gt; 562 adolescent girls and young women aged 15&amp;ndash;30 (mean age &amp;ndash; 21,06 &amp;plusmn; 4,15; median &amp;ndash; 21). &lt;strong&gt;Measures.&lt;/strong&gt; The following measures were used: Appearance-based Rejection Sensitivity Scale (augmented by Social Comparisons based on Appearance survey), Body Image Questionnaire, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and Ten Item Personality Measure.&lt;br&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results. &lt;/strong&gt;Female participants of pro-anorexic online-communities displayed increased body dissatisfaction, appearance-based rejection sensitivity and neuroticism. They were more prone to explicitly compare their appearance with others and experienced more negative emotions in relation to this. Body positive communities&amp;rsquo; participants reported more conscientiousness and emotional stability, and they made more implicit comparisons aimed at getting information about their appearance from social/interpersonal context. Global self-esteem and social comparisons partially mediated the relationship between appearance-based rejection sensitivity and body dissatisfaction.&lt;br&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Summary.&lt;/strong&gt; Interpersonal sensitivity and self-esteem emerge as common risk factors of body dissatisfaction, whereas social comparisons (in terms of appearance) differentiate the participants of body positive and pro-anorexic communities.&lt;/p&gt;

Social media and body dissatisfaction in young adults: An experimental investigation of the effects of different image content and influencing constructs.

Research shows negative correlations between media exposure of body images in the context of hegemonic beauty ideals and body satisfaction. The present study deals with the underlying mechanisms and the effects of different exposure contents. In the online experimental study, a sample consisting of 226 individuals (82.3% female, 17.7% male) received a three-minute exposure to Instagram images of women and men in the context of either hegemonic beauty ideals in the experimental group or body diversity in the control group. A conducted Mixed ANOVA with repeated measures showed significant group differences, including an increase in body dissatisfaction in the experimental group and a reduction in the control group after exposure. Statistically significant detrimental effects of exposure to images in the experimental group on women's state mood as well as descriptive similar tendencies on men's state mood were found. Moderating effects of the tendency to make upward social comparisons and the internalization of the gender-specific beauty ideal on the relationship between exposure content and the change scores of body dissatisfaction were found. Furthermore, a mediation model was calculated to investigate the effect of exposure content on post-measurement of body dissatisfaction, using the constructs "comparison processes regarding sexual attractiveness" and "assessment of one's own sexual attractiveness" as mediators. The model did not yield significant mediation, although significant relationships were found between the model components. Exploratory analyses were conducted on the influence of the assessment of one's own sexual attractiveness on related social comparisons and the intensity of engagement with Instagram content as a predictor of body dissatisfaction. The results highlight the relevance for psychoeducational purposes of addressing a critical engagement with depicted beauty ideals in social media. Moreover, the study proposes body diversity as an alternative content that can have a positive impact on body satisfaction, which can be actively sought during the individual Instagram user experience.

Predicting the use of visually oriented social media: The role of psychological well-being, body image concerns and sought appearance gratifications

The present study examined the antecedents of visually oriented social media use based on the Transactional Model of Social Media and Body Image Concerns. Specifically, we studied how self-esteem, depressive symptoms, body dissatisfaction, and appearance consciousness within the social media context are, via two social media gratifications (i.e., appearance related self-validation and social comparison), related to the use of visually oriented social media platforms (i.e., Instagram and Snapchat). Based on data from a two-wave panel survey among 1852 social media users aged 13–25, we found that appearance consciousness and high self-esteem were significant predictors of the gratifications self-validation and social comparison. Increased body dissatisfaction also predicted social comparison. Appearance consciousness and self-esteem indirectly predicted the selection of visually oriented social media platforms via self-validation. These findings enhance our theoretical understanding of visually oriented social media use and its underlying mechanisms.

Does suppressing weight improve body satisfaction? A longitudinal analysis in undergraduate men and women

Young adults with high body dissatisfaction may engage in disordered eating to reduce their weight, believing that weight loss will improve body satisfaction. Yet, limited research has examined whether suppressing weight contributes to improved body satisfaction in nonclinical samples. Undergraduate students (N = 661; 81.2% female) completed three surveys over a six-month period. Longitudinal mixed-effect models investigated whether weight suppression was associated with change in body dissatisfaction. Body dissatisfaction was higher on average among women, and greater weight suppression was associated with greater body dissatisfaction across genders. Among women, higher baseline weight suppression was related to higher body dissatisfaction across time; however, neither baseline weight suppression nor change in weight suppression were associated with change in body dissatisfaction. Among men, higher baseline weight suppression was related to increased body dissatisfaction over time. However, greater increases in weight suppression were associated with improvements in body dissatisfaction. Thus, the impact of weight suppression on body image outcomes may differ by gender. Findings suggest that when men become more weight suppressed, their body dissatisfaction decreases; however, changes in weight may not impact body dissatisfaction in women. Findings may inform educational programs challenging diet and weight loss myths, particularly for women.

The mother–daughter Shared Agency in Weight Management Scale (SAWMS): development, validation, and implications for body dissatisfaction

BackgroundMuch research suggests that mothers play an important role in shaping daughters’ body image, yet less is known about how mother–daughter relationship dynamics in weight management affect daughters’ body dissatisfaction. The current paper described the development and validation of the mother–daughter Shared Agency in Weight Management Scale (SAWMS) and examined its associations with daughter’s body dissatisfaction.MethodsIn Study 1 (N = 676 college students), we explored the factor structure of the mother–daughter SAWMS and identified three processes (control, autonomy support, and collaboration) whereby mothers work with daughters in weight management. In Study 2 (N = 439 college students), we finalized the factor structure of the scale by conducting two CFAs and assessing the test–retest reliability of each subscale. In Study 3 (same sample as Study 2), we examined the psychometric properties of the subscales and their associations with daughters’ body dissatisfaction.ResultsCombining results from EFA and IRT, we identified three mother–daughter dynamics in weight management—maternal control, maternal autonomy support, and maternal collaboration. However, based on various empirical results indicating poor psychometric properties of the maternal collaboration subscale, we removed it from the mother–daughter SAWMS and only evaluated the psychometric properties of the remaining two subscales (i.e., control and autonomy support). They explained a significant amount of variance in daughters’ body dissatisfaction over and above the effect of maternal pressure to be thin. Maternal control was a significant and positive predictor of daughters’ body dissatisfaction; maternal autonomy support was a significant and negative predictor.ConclusionsResults suggested that maternal control in weight management was associated with daughters’ increased body dissatisfaction, whereas maternal autonomy support in weight management was associated with daughters’ lower body dissatisfaction. These specific ways in which mother work with daughters in weight management provide nuances in understanding young women’s body dissatisfaction. Our SAWMS offers new ways to examine body image among young women through the mother–daughter relationship dynamics in weight management.

Impact of Social Media on Eating Disorders in Adolescents and Emerging Therapies: A Review

The saying goes ‘You are what you eat’. This is in reference to a healthy and balanced diet which gives a boost to one’s mental and physical health. But in recent times, Eating Disorders (ED) are seen to increase among adolescents. These result from several factors, including prevalence of unhealthy dieting behaviours and unrealistic beauty images. Advertising has popularised a thin body ideal. Social media is influencing the young minds in their food choices. Constant use of pictures, advertisements, videos by celebrities and other social media influencers have caused an increase in body dissatisfaction especially among adolescents. The ideal body portrayed by media for women is a very thin body, perfect in shape, and for men it is a muscular and tall body image. The adolescent brain has increased levels of ‘neuroplasticity’ and hence is malleable that is it is highly responsive to being shaped and re-wired by the environment- which also includes diet and body images. Hence, the need of the hour is to set in place healthy dietary habits and exercise routine along with will power for lifelong healthy living.

Research on Body Image Anxiety among Women in the Social Media Environment

With the rise of social media platforms and the pervasive influence of idealized body standards, women are increasingly exposed to images and messages that perpetuate unrealistic beauty ideals. This study aims to explore the impact of social media on women's body image perception and its subsequent effects on their mental health and well-being. A comprehensive literature review is conducted to gather insights from existing research, followed by an analysis of primary data collected through surveys and interviews with women of different age groups. The findings reveal that the social media environment exerts significant pressure on women to conform to narrow beauty standards, leading to increased body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem, and heightened levels of anxiety. The paper concludes with recommendations for individuals, social media platforms, and society at large to mitigate the negative impact of social media on women's body image and promote a more inclusive and positive online environment.

#fitspiration: a comparison of the sport-related social media usage and its impact on body image in young adults

BackgroundFollowing and posting sport-related content on social media is wide-spread among young people. To date, little is known about the interdependence between sport-related social media use and the thereby perceived personal body image.MethodsWe conducted an online survey (N = 285) to examine how social media influences the sport-related body image.ResultsIn general, social media are frequently used for sport (n = 136, 47.7%). Resistance training correlated significantly with several motives of sport-related use of social media, and thus, represents the strong online presence of athletic sports. Less correlations could be found in team or other sports. Regarding the perception of body image, it was found that the group of rejecting (negative) body image significantly correlated with the emulation of social media mediated sport-related beauty and body ideals (r = 0.63, p = 0.001), as well as with increased body dissatisfaction when viewing sport-related posts on social media (r = 0.590, p = 0.001). Perceived social pressure and comparison were found to be mediators of the prevailing influence of social media usage.ConclusionsThese results reveal the importance of taking a closer look at socially shaped beauty and body ideals, especially in sport-related contents, striving for more educational campaigns such as Body Positivity and, above all, filtering information. Finally, future research is needed to gain deeper insight into young persons’ usage behavior of social media and its impact on the individual’s body image.Trial Registration The study was conducted according to the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki, and approved by the Ethics Committee of University of the Federal Armed Forces Munich, Germany (01/24/2022).

How prepartum appearance-related attitudes influence body image and weight-control behaviors of pregnant Japanese women across pregnancy: Latent growth curve modeling analyses

A thin female physique is idealized in modernized societies, leading many pregnant women to experience body dissatisfaction and avoid weight gain, as pregnancy directs their body away from the sociocultural ideal of thinness. However, not all pregnant women report body dissatisfaction and/or weight-control behavior. We aimed to discern how prepartum weight-related attitudes—thin-ideal internalization, drive for thinness, and appearance comparison tendency—influence changes in negative attitudes toward a pregnant body, body image, and weight-control behavior across pregnancy. Data were longitudinally collected from 208 Japanese pregnant women (Mage = 27.0, SD = 1.74) across three pregnancy periods. Results indicated that overall, negative attitudes toward appearance change during pregnancy, weight-control behaviors, and restrained eating significantly changed across pregnancy. Moreover, those with higher prepartum thin-ideal internalization showed greater decreases in negative attitudes toward appearance change during pregnancy and greater increases in body dissatisfaction, whereas those with higher prepartum drive for thinness and appearance comparison tendency showed greater decreases in restrained eating across pregnancy. Our findings suggest that pregnant women with certain prepartum weight-related attitudes may experience an aggravation of body dissatisfaction while following dietary regimen during pregnancy. Thus, prevention programs may selectively help them reduce their negative body image during pregnancy.