Negative Body Talk Research Articles

Validation and structural exploration of the Chinese version of the Body Talk Scale

The Body Talk Scale (BTS) measures both negative body talk (including fat talk and muscle talk) and positive body talk across genders. In this study, we translated it into Chinese and assessed its structure, reliability and validity among mainland Chinese residents. Item analyses indicated that no item deletion was necessary for this study, and both exploratory factor analysis (n = 1853) and exploratory graph analysis (n = 1583) supported the three-factor structure of the original scale. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the scale had a good model fit with CFI= 0.95, GFI= 0.93, TLI= 0.94, and RMSEA= 0.079(90 %CI [0.075, 0.084]). The results also showed that the Chinese version of the BTS had adequate criterion-related validity，internal consistency and six-week test-retest reliability. Meanwhile, the scale has good measurement invariance with respect to gender and can be tested for gender differences. In conclusion, the BTS showed sufficient psychometric properties in a Chinese sample, making it a valid instrument for studying body talk and health status in Chinese populations.

Appearance comparison on social networking sites and body shame: The role of negative body talk and perceived sociocultural influences on body image.

Social media platforms play a significant role in the lives of young people. While the usage of these platforms has grown, research exploring the challenges of body image remains limited. This study investigated whether initiating negative body talk functioned as an indirect pathway between appearance comparison on social media and body shame and whether perceived sociocultural influences from parents, friends, and media on body image moderated this indirect effect. An online cross-sectional survey of 795 Chinese college students (Mage = 20.17, SD = 1.65; 60% female, 40% male) was conducted. Negative body talk was a partial indirect pathway in the association, and this indirect effect was significant among those experiencing higher sociocultural pressures from all three sources. This study highlights the need for health psychology in understanding and addressing the mental health consequences associated with digital media and sociocultural influences on body image perception.

Adolescent-perceived parent-child negative body talk and disordered eating: Evidence for behavior-specific affective mediators.

This study examined the mediating role of general negative affect and body-specific negative affect between the association between negative body talk occurring within the mother-daughter relationship and restrained and disinhibited disordered eating. Adolescent girls (N = 100; Mage = 14.25; 49.5% White) completed self-report measures of general negative affect (depression and anxiety), body-specific negative affect (body dissatisfaction), and perceptions of the frequency that negative body talk occurred in interactions with their mother (initiated by the mother or daughter) as part of a cross-sectional study. While the same set of questionnaires was administered to both mothers and daughters, only the data reported by the daughters were analyzed and included in this study. Data were gathered in the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area of Michigan, USA, around the year 2015. Path analysis showed that general negative affect, but not body-specific negative affect, mediated the association from mother-daughter negative body talk to disinhibited eating behaviors (emotional and external eating). Conversely, body-specific negative affect, but not general negative affect, mediated the association from negative body talk to restrained eating behaviors. Our findings suggest there are distinct affective mechanisms that mediate the relationship between mother-daughter negative body talk and restrained versus disinhibited eating behavior. Future work should continue to explicate the role of general and body-related negative affect in different eating behaviors.

Associations among parents' internalized weight bias, negative child-focused body talk, and feeding behaviors

ObjectiveParents' negative body talk about children (negative weight/shape comments) and internalized weight bias (application of negative weight-based stereotypes to oneself) are associated with children's maladaptive eating behaviors, but mechanisms are poorly understood. Conceptually, parental behaviors and attitudes may translate to implicit and explicit concerns about their child's weight and influence parents' feeding practices. These associations are underexplored in the literature. Method242 parents (59.4% mothers) completed a one-time assessment that included measures of internalized weight bias, negative body talk, and feeding practices. Parents also completed assessments about one of their children, of any weight status (age range 5–15 years; 40% daughters). ResultsParents' internalized weight bias was positively associated with concern about their child's weight and restriction of their child's diet. Parents' negative body talk towards their child was positively associated with concern about their child's weight and shape, restriction of their child's diet, and monitoring of their child's diet. Relative to internalized weight-bias, negative body talk had a stronger correlation with parents' concern about child weight and monitoring of child's diet. Correlations did not vary by child gender or weight category. DiscussionParents' internalized weight bias and negative body talk about their child were associated with their feeding practices across child gender and weight categories, with correlations in the small to medium range. Thus, children of all genders and weights may be vulnerable to enacted weight bias. Future studies should examine whether addressing parents' internalized weight bias and communication in family-focused interventions improves feeding practices and child well-being.

Evaluation of Female Athletes' Eating Awareness and Negative Body Talk Characteristics

Sağlık ile ilgili olan yeme farkındalığı ve olumsuz beden algısı sporcuların performansları ve psikolojik iyi oluş düzeyleri açısından önemli bir olgu olarak görülmektedir. Bu çalışma farklı spor branşlarında lisanslı olan kadın sporcuların yeme farkındalığı özellikleri ile olumsuz beden konuşmaları özelliklerinin değerlendirilmesi amacıyla gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırmanın evrenini Adıyaman ilinde faaliyet gösteren farklı spor branşlarına sahip kadın sporcular oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmanın örneklem grubunu ise 2022-2023 sezonunda Adıyaman ilinde yerel ve ulusal müsabakalara katılım sağlayan aktif durumdaki 244 kadın sporcu oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmada veri toplama aracı olarak kadın sporcuların kişisel özellikleri için ‘’Kişisel Bilgi Formu’’, ‘’Yeme Farkındalığı Ölçeği’’ ve ‘’Olumsuz Beden Konuşmaları Ölçeği’’ kullanılmıştır. Araştırma sonucunda araştırmaya katılan sporcuların spor yaşı durumları açısından yeme farkındalığı ölçeği puanları arasında anlamlı bir ilişki olduğu tespit edilmiştir (F=4,080, p=0,000). Araştırmada sonuç olarak sporcuların spor branşları ile ilgili beslenme ve enerji gereksinimleri ile ilgili eğitimler ve psikolojik destek çalışmaları ile desteklenmesi gerekliliği sonucuna varılmıştır.

Negative family body talk and negative emotional eating among Chinese adolescent girls and young adult women: The role of body dissatisfaction and feminism consciousness

Negative emotional eating has been increasingly a prominent disordered eating and public health problem among young women, especially during COVID-19. Although previous studies have attempted to explain the relationship between body talk and negative emotional eating, limited studies focused on examining the potential mechanisms, especially the potential protective mechanism. Thus, the current study aimed to examine the relationship between negative family body talk (NFBT) and negative emotional eating, as well as its underlying mechanism - the mediating role of body dissatisfaction (BDIS) and the moderating role of feminism consciousness (FC). A cross-sectional study was employed among a sample of Chinese girls and young women (n = 813, Mage = 19.4 years) from a junior college in central China. Participants completed surveys assessing NFBT (Adapted Body Talk Scale), BDIS (Body Image State Scale), negative emotional eating (Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire), and FC (Synthesis Subscale from Feminist Identity Composite). A moderated mediation analysis was conducted. The results showed that: (1) after controlling for age and BMI, NFBT was positively associated with negative emotional eating, and BDIS could significantly mediate this relationship (mediating effect = 0.03, 95% CI [0.02, 0.06]); (2) FC significantly moderated both the direct relationship between NFBT and negative emotional eating and the relationship between NFBT and BDIS. Specifically, these two associations were not significant for participants with higher FC (+1SD above average). This study deepens our understanding of the relationship between NFBT and negative emotional eating, as well as the protective role of FC. If future studies demonstrate causal relationships, this evidence could point to a need for programs to prevent negative emotional eating in young women by increasing their level of feminism consciousness.

Examination of Loneliness and Negative Body Talk as Predictors of Emotional Eating

Amaç: Bu araştırmada yalnızlık ve olumsuz beden konuşmalarının duygusal yeme üzerindeki yordama gücü incelenmiştir. Ayrıca yalnızlık, duygusal yeme ve olumsuz beden konuşmalarının cinsiyet, eğitim durumu, beden kitle indeksi, psikolojik yardım alma ve vücudu değiştirme isteği değişkenleri bakımından farklılaşıp farklılaşmadığı araştırılmıştır. Yöntem: Araştırmanın örneklemini, çalışmaya katılmaya gönüllü olan 510 yetişkin oluşturmaktadır. Korelasyonel araştırma modeline göre yapılan çalışmada yalnızlığı ölçmek için UCLA Yalnızlık Ölçeği Kısa Form, duygusal yeme düzeyini belirlemek için Türkçe Duygusal Yeme Ölçeği, olumsuz beden konuşmalarını belirlemek için Olumsuz Beden Konuşmaları Ölçeği ve Demografik Bilgi Formu kullanılmıştır. Verilerin analizinde çoklu doğrusal regresyon analizi, Bağımsız Gruplar T testi ve ANOVA testi kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Yapılan analizler sonucunda yalnızlık, olumsuz beden konuşmaları ve duygusal yeme arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir ilişki bulunmuştur. Yalnızlık ve olumsuz beden konuşmalarının duygusal yemenin yordayıcısı olduğu bulunmuştur. Yalnızlık puanlarının medeni durum, psikolojik destek alma, vücudunu değiştirme isteği değişkenleri bakımından; duygusal yeme ve olumsuz beden konuşmaları puanlarının cinsiyet, medeni durum, psikolojik destek alma, vücudunu değiştirme isteği ve BKİ değişkenlerine göre farklılaştığı tespit edilmiştir. Özgünlük: Duygusal yeme, yalnızlık ve olumsuz beden konuşmaları bir arada inceleyen alanyazındaki nadir araştırmalardan biri olunacağından dolayı bu araştırmanın önemli olacağı düşünülmektedir. Mevcut araştırmada duygusal yeme, yalnızlık ve olumsuz beden konuşmaları değişkenleri arasındaki ilişkinin incelenmesiyle alanda çalışan profesyonellere yol göstereceği düşünülmektedir.

Fat talk, old talk, or both? Association of negative body talk with mental health, body dissatisfaction, and quality of life in men and women

BackgroundLittle research has investigated the harmful effects of old talk—negative age-related body talk—on mental health and quality of life despite substantial research examining fat talk. Old talk also has only been evaluated in women and in relation to few outcomes. Of note, old talk and fat talk are strongly correlated, suggesting possible overlap in elements that drive negative outcomes. Thus, the primary aim of this study was to investigate the extent that old talk and fat talk contribute to negative mental health and quality of life outcomes when examined in the same model and when interacting with age.MethodsAdults (N = 773) ages 18–91 completed an online survey assessing eating disorder pathology, body dissatisfaction, depression, aging anxiety, general anxiety, quality of life, and demographics.ResultsWhile fat talk and old talk were correlated with almost all outcome variables, fat talk was more commonly significantly associated with poorer outcomes than old talk. Additionally, the relationship between fat talk and old talk with poorer mental health was affected by age in men, but not women.ConclusionsFuture research is warranted to decipher the individual effects of old talk and fat talk on mental health and quality of life across the adult lifespan.

Examining the individual and relational impacts of varying responses to negative body talk within college women’s female friendships

Many college women make self-disparaging comments about their appearance to others. This “fat talk” (negative body talk) is a causal risk factor for body image disturbance, which in turn predicts eating disorders and depression. Research is needed to identify effective responses to negative body talk; namely, those that reduce negative body talk without shaming its initiator or damaging the relationship. The current study examined the impact of different responses to negative body talk on the likelihood of future negative body talk and on individual and relationship factors. College women (N = 160) recalled a situation using negative body talk with a female friend. Participants listened to audio recordings of four responses (Deny/Reassure, Challenge, Empathize/Reciprocate, Ignore) and rated appearance satisfaction, shame, friendship support, and likelihood of future negative body talk after each. Linear mixed models indicated that the Deny/Reassure response followed closely by the Challenge response were most beneficial for individual and relationship factors; however, participants reported being least likely to use future negative body talk after the Ignore response. Recommendations for developing promising responses to negative body talk include combining responses to balance validation (Deny/Reassure) and change (Challenge), and studying the contribution of other relationships and varying body dissatisfaction levels.

“Your Body Is Not Representative of Who You Are”: Exploring the Relations Between Feminist Attitudes, Feminist Identity, and Responses to Negative Body Talk Among Women

Negative body talk is a normative behavior among United States women and is an important area of intervention for women's health and well-being. Identifying as a feminist and/or endorsing feminist beliefs, which can promote a resistant stance toward cultural appearance standards, may protect against negative body talk. We conducted a mixed-methods study with an online sample of 447 predominantly White (81.1%) United States women between the ages of 18–73 years ( M = 41.25, SD = 12.54). We used Consensual Qualitative Research-Modified to systematically code open-ended survey data comprising responses to negative body talk and assessed whether liberal feminist attitudes or feminist identity relate to response categories. We categorized women's responses to negative body talk along with a feminist spectrum which ranged from explicit reinforcement of the thin ideal to a resistant stance toward beauty standards. Liberal feminism was negatively correlated with explicit reinforcement of the thin ideal, and both liberal feminism and feminist identity were positively correlated with a resistant stance. Therapists and practitioners who work with women on issues related to body image disturbance might consider supporting their clients in developing a feminist identity that can critically filter cultural messages that further objectify women.

The association between negative body talk and body shame on disordered eating symptoms among college students

Negative body talk (NBT), defined as negative communication about one's body, is associated with disordered eating, yet factors that may enhance these effects are understudied. Using objectification theory as a framework, NBT may reflect a vocal manifestation of self-objectification and endorsement of body shame may enhance the association between NBT and disordered eating. Given relatively consistent NBT and objectification theory-based conclusions across male and female college samples, the current study hypothesized that for college students high in body shame, NBT would be more strongly associated with disordered eating than for those low in body shame. A total of 849 college students (77.4 % female) completed measures of NBT (sex-specific), body shame, and eating disorder symptoms. Negative binomial regressions tested hypotheses separately by sex. Moderation results identified that the association between NBT and eating disorder symptoms was stronger for females reporting lower body shame compared to higher body shame. Among males, only significant main effects of NBT and body shame were observed. Body image and disordered eating preventive interventions may benefit from targeting NBT and/or body shame in males and females, and college females reporting lower body shame may be at greatest risk for the negative impact of NBT.

Feminist embodiment, body talk, and body image among mothers and daughters

Guided by the developmental theory of embodiment, the current study explored feminist embodiment as a protective factor that may simultaneously promote more positive (and less negative) body talk and body image outcomes among mothers and their young adult daughters. Results from an expanded actor-partner interdependence model (APIM; N = 169 dyads) revealed that our construct of feminist embodiment, which was composed of feminist attitudes, mind-body connection, and psychological empowerment, has potential benefits for both mothers and daughters. Specifically, actor effects indicated that feminist embodiment was positively associated with both mothers’ and daughters’ body image, and it was indirectly associated with both women’s own body image through more positive (and less negative) body talk. Additionally, partner effects revealed a number of direct effects between one’s own body talk and the other’s body image, and also that daughters’ feminist embodiment was indirectly associated mothers’ body image through daughters’ positive body talk. This study highlights the empowering and supportive nature of mother-daughter relationships and suggests the potential body image benefits of women experiencing feminist embodiment.

Mediating Effects of Intimacy Between Body Talk and Girls' Body Dissatisfaction: The Forgotten Sibling Relationship.

Teasing and pressure from family members influences the development of body dissatisfaction. Body dissatisfaction is a common experience for girls and can lead to eating disorders. However, most body image disturbance research to date neglects the possible influence of siblings. In light of this, the present study investigated the associations between sibling negative appearance-based talk, intimacy, and body dissatisfaction. The sample consisted of 113 mostly White, female adolescents, whose ages ranged from 12 to 19 years with a mean age of 14.85 (SD = 1.62). This study first examined direct associations between negative body talk, including appearance related teasing and pressure from siblings, and girls' body dissatisfaction. Second, indirect effects models with intimacy included were examined. There were significant direct links between appearance related pressure from siblings and body dissatisfaction, and significant indirect effects such that sibling teasing and pressure were associated with sibling intimacy, which was associated with body dissatisfaction. These results indicate that siblings play an important role in the development of girls' body dissatisfaction.

Family members and peers’ negative and positive body talk: How they relate to adolescent girls’ body talk and eating disorder attitudes

Research examining the interpersonal correlates of body talk has primarily focused on the negative consequences of perceiving fat talk on women’s own body talk and eating behaviours; however, little is known about the correlates and effects of positive body talk. This study examined the associations between perceived family and peer negative and positive body talk and adolescent girls’ body talk and eating disorder attitudes, and the mediating role of adolescents’ fear of negative evaluation and self-compassion in these relationships. Influences of family members and peers were compared to examine the uniformity of these interpersonal processes. Adolescent girls (N = 331, M age = 15.7, SD = 1.0) completed a survey. Path analysis models suggested that in the peer and family models, perceived negative body talk was associated with more self-related negative talk through fear of negative evaluation and lower self-compassion, whereas perceived positive body talk was associated with more self-related positive talk through self-compassion. Additionally, adolescents’ fear of negative evaluation and self-related negative talk were mediators between perceived negative body talk and eating disorder attitudes. Results suggest that negative and positive body talk are cultivated interpersonally by increasing evaluative concerns and decreasing self-compassion.

Gender and Cultural Differences in the Relationships between Self-Esteem Contingency, Body Talk, and Body Esteem.

This study analyzed the positive and negative body talk of male and female adolescents cross-culturally with an emphasis on the role of appearance-contingent and others’ approval-contingent self-worth. A cross-national survey in Austria, Belgium, Spain, and South Korea among 12- to 16-year-olds (982 female and 993 male) found that (1) positive body talk was positively related and negative body talk was negatively related to body esteem; (2) appearance contingency was positively related to negative body talk; (3) appearance contingency increased positive body talk among girls (except Korean girls); and (4) contingency on other’s approval increased positive body talk among boys in all four countries. Overall, gender differences were more prominent than cultural differences and positive body talk was instrumental in promoting adolescents’ body esteem.

A Psychosocial Exploration of Body Dissatisfaction: A Narrative Review With a Focus on India During COVID-19.

COVID-19 has been an unprecedented global crisis. Besides the public health impact, the pandemic necessitated measures, such as quarantine, travel restrictions, and lockdown, that have had a huge effect on digital screen time, dietary habits, lifestyle measures, and exposure to food-related advertising. At the same time, a reduction in physical activity, an increase of social media consumption, and an increase in fitness tutorials during the lockdown have contributed to body image issues. Emerging evidence from India suggests that peer conversations about appearance as negative body talk (fat talk) is particularly salient in contributing to body dissatisfaction and body perception ideals, which are more prevalent in women. Even though there has been an increase in research on the psychosocial impact of COVID-19, its influence on body image perceptions and consequent distress have been stigmatized and classified as under-spoken areas. With this background, this article reviews research on the biopsychosocial factors that influence body dissatisfaction among women, particularly the role of media. It also highlights the development of body image concerns in India, one of the worst-hit countries in the pandemic, through liberalization, importing Western notions of body instrumentality, demographic shift, and resultant social changes. Finally, the psychosocial strategies for positive body image ideas to prevent and mitigate the adverse effects of body dissatisfaction are discussed, particularly those that focus on cognitive behavioral techniques (CBTs) from the perspectives of positive psychology, media literacy programs, and involvement of the media. Interventions and further research to address body dissatisfaction among women, especially in the post-COVID aftermath, need to be a recognized as a public health goal.

The impact of different responses to negative body talk on body satisfaction, shame, and future negative body talk likelihood: A UK sample

A recent online experiment found that, following a negative body talk induction task, receiving a response of ignoring the comment, compared with reassuring, reciprocating, and challenging, led to worse body satisfaction and socio-emotional outcomes for Australian women. The current online study aimed to replicate and extend this study by examining the effects of these four negative body talk responses on body satisfaction, shame, and future negative body talk likelihood in UK-based women. Participants (N = 156, Mage = 25.29, SDage = 5.64, rangeage = 18–40) recalled a scenario in which they engaged in negative body talk and were randomly assigned to receive one of four responses. Contrary to hypotheses, there were no significant differences in body satisfaction, shame, or future negative body talk likelihood across the four groups. Preferred negative body talk response data were mixed, with challenge and reassurance responses preferred at comparable rates, and just under a quarter of participants preferring a response outside of the original four. Possible explanations, including that the responses used in the original Australasian study may not perfectly correspond with UK women’s experiences of social interactions and heterogeneous motivations for engaging in negative body talk necessitate more nuanced and sophisticated responses, are explored.

Exploring adolescent girls’ experiences of body talk in non-aesthetic sport

IntroductionBody image concerns may contribute to poor sport experiences and low sport participation in girls. Objectification theory and evidence from studies in non-sport contexts suggests body talk may elicit an environment that fosters negative body image. However, the phenomenon of body talk within adolescent girls sport is not well-understood from an in-depth person-centered perspective. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to explore adolescent girl athletes’ experiences of body talk within sport. MethodsTwenty Canadian girl athletes (ages 14–18 years) enrolled in team-based non-aesthetic sports participated in one semi-structured interview. Using a qualitative description approach, an inductive thematic analysis was used to generate three themes. Results“Body talk as a performance tactic” highlighted complimentary and negative body talk pertaining to sport performance came from coaches, opposing players, and parents. “Casual conversations and body talk” reflected body talk from teammates and male spectators that was not specific to sport but occurred in the sport context. “Coping with body talk” reflected strategies athletes used to combat negative body talk from teammates, and reflected the athletes’ perceptions that negativity towards the body is normative. ConclusionsBody talk served many purposes within sport; researchers should further explore the diverse motivations and perceived utility of body talk across sport stakeholders. Creating standardized resources and policies to eliminate body talk may foster more positive and supportive sport experiences for girls.

Measuring positive and negative body talk in men and women: The development and validation of the Body Talk Scale

Research suggests that positive and negative body talk are important factors in people’s body image, however, the instruments designed to measure body talk are generally designed for use with a specific gender and primarily measure negative body talk. To address the shortcomings in the existing measures, the Body Talk Scale (BTS) was designed to measure both positive and negative body talk in men and women. The current study examines the development and psychometric properties of this new scale in two samples of adults, both including men and women. Study 1 focused on the development and examined the factor structure of the original scale items. Study 2 confirmed the factor structure and examined the concurrent validity, incremental validity, test-retest reliability of the scale, and also gender differences. The results indicated that the BTS is a 14-item scale that contains three subscales (Negative Fat Talk, Negative Muscle Talk, and Positive Body Talk) and demonstrates good concurrent validity, incremental validity, and test-retest reliability. Gender comparisons on all three subscales indicated that men engage in more positive body talk than women. The findings demonstrate that the BTS is a useful measure of positive and negative body talk in both men and women.

RETRACTED: 'Weighty woes': Impact of fat talk and social influences on body dissatisfaction among Indian women during the pandemic.

Psychosocial offshoots of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have extended to body dissatisfaction, especially among women. Factors such as increased social media exposure, weight gain memes, and peer conversations about appearance during lockdown might be the potential contributing factors, which need further exploration. The study examined the contribution of 'fat talk' and societal influences in determining body dissatisfaction among Indian women. The likely content of the 'fat talk' during the lockdown was also analyzed. The study followed a cross-sectional online based design. Participants comprised of 265 women, aged 15 to 50 years. The Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ-8c), Sociocultural Attitudes toward Appearance Questionnaire (SATAQ-3), and Negative Body Talk Scale were used to measure body satisfaction, societal influences, and fat talk respectively. Further, participants were asked to respond to a friend's comment about her supposed weight gain in the pandemic (fat talk). Fat talk, social influence, weight, and age were significantly correlated with body dissatisfaction. Multiple Regression models indicated that fat talk, social influence, weight, and age accounted for 53.33% of the variance in body satisfaction. Thematic analysis of responses to fat-talk conversations revealed two dominant themes: focus on exercise and diet, as well as acknowledging weight gain and normalizing it in the context of the pandemic. Fat talk amongst peers, societal influence and body-image stereotypes were the most potent contributors in determining body dissatisfaction among Indian women during the pandemic, which can contribute to significant dysfunction. These factors need addressal in the socio-cultural context through health campaigns, interpersonal strategies, and more positive and constructive forms of weight and body image-related communication.