A cross-cultural exploration of positive and negative body image and well-being among breast cancer survivors in Australia and China.

Examining differences in positive body image across sexual orientation among Chinese male and female adults: A measurement invariance study of three widely-used self-report measures.

Scholars are increasingly focused on women's positive, embodied "breasted experienced", which includes breast appreciation. This positive body image facet is assessed using the 9-item Breast Appreciation Scale (BrAS; Swami et al., 2022), but assessments of its psychometric properties in diverse cultural communities are limited. Here, we report on the translation and validation of a French translation of the BrAS in French-Canadian women. A sample of 365 women from Quebec, Canada, completed the French BrAS alongside additional measures. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis in two split-half subsamples identified a stable unidimensional model of the BrAS, with six of the nine original items retained. This BrAS model was fully invariant across both split-half subsamples and showed no evidence of differential item functioning in relation to participant age. Latent breast appreciation also evidenced strong composite reliability, as well as adequate convergent and concurrent validity. Specifically, greater breast appreciation was associated with higher overall body appreciation, lower breast size dissatisfaction, better psychological well-being and lower distress, and lower disordered eating patterns. While the present results provide initial psychometric support for the BrAS in French-Canadian women, more work can be done to confirm and extend our findings.

Validation of a short-form, state version of the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (SBAS-2SF) for use in experience sampling method (ESM) studies.

The association between emotional eating and body image constructs has been increasingly recognized as relevant to adults' physical and mental health. This scoping review mapped and synthesized the existing literature following the PRISMA-ScR framework. Comprehensive searches across PsycINFO, PubMed, JSTOR, EBSCO, Web of Science, and Scopus identified 33 eligible studies published between 2015 and 2025 that included adults aged 18 years and above. Overall, emotional eating was generally associated with lower positive body image and higher negative body image. Conversely, negative body image was frequently associated with greater emotional eating tendencies. However, while most included studies reported cross-sectional associations or unidirectional predictive relationships, there was limited evidence to support bidirectional predictive effects. By synthesizing findings from cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, this review highlights the predominantly associative and context-dependent nature of the relationship between emotional eating and body image.

Positive body image is a pathway between nature contact and life satisfaction across 58 nations.

Prevalence and correlates of body appreciation in U.S. children aged 9-13 years: A cross-sectional analysis.

Spot Me: Exploring experiences of body talk between personal trainers and their women clients.

This study evaluated the efficacy of two online writing interventions, Expand Your Horizon (EYH) and My Changed Body (MyCB), compared to control, in improving body image and distress in a cancer population, and investigated whether they target different mechanisms. Adult female cancer survivors (N = 132) were randomised to EYH, MyCB, or a neutral writing control. Body appreciation, body dissatisfaction, body functionality appreciation, self-compassion and distress were measured at baseline, immediately post-intervention, 1-week, and 2-week follow-up. EYH participants demonstrated significantly higher body appreciation (p = .002, d = 0.31) and significantly lower body dissatisfaction (p = .002, d = -0.22) immediately post-intervention compared to control. The same pattern existed for MyCB participants but was not significant. No significant differences in proposed mechanisms-self-compassion or functionality appreciation-emerged between groups. Main effects of time emerged on body dissatisfaction, distress, and self-compassion at the 1-week and 2-week follow-ups, with all participants improving over time. The findings support the efficacy of EYH to improve state body appreciation and reduce body dissatisfaction in female cancer survivors. Further research is necessary to determine the optimal dose needed to produce sustained improvements in body image and distress.

Inadequate intake of macro- and micronutrients or low dietary diversity can lead to nutritional problems among adolescents. This study aimed to examine the association between social environment, body image, and dietary diversity among senior high school students in Pekanbaru, Indonesia. This quantitative cross-sectional study involved 223 students selected using simple random sampling from two senior high schools in Pekanbaru. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics, social environment, body image, nutritional knowledge, and household food security. Dietary diversity was assessed using a 24-h dietary recall and the Individual Dietary Diversity Score. Data were analyzed using univariate, bivariate (Chi-square), and multivariate (multiple logistic regression) analyses. Overall, 43.5 % of adolescents had low dietary diversity, while 32.7 % were exposed to an unfavorable social environment and 41.3 % reported a negative body image. Multivariate analysis showed that adolescents in a favorable social environment were more than twice as likely to have a diverse diet compared to those in an unfavorable environment (POR=2.08; 95 % CI: 1.15-3.74; p=0.015). Adolescents with a positive body image were 1.72 times more likely to consume a diverse diet than those with a negative body image, indicating a potential association (POR=1.72; 95 % CI: 0.97-3.04; p=0.062). A supportive social environment and a positive body image are essential for promoting dietary diversity among adolescents. Interventions should focus on strengthening family and peer support, promoting positive nutrition messages through social media, and encouraging the consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and dairy products through school- and family-based nutrition education programs.

This article engages Viramma: Life of an Untouchable (1995), one of the earliest ethnographies to foreground a Dalit woman’s voice, marking thirty years since its publication. Viramma’s oral testimonies in this work continue to influence Dalit women by fostering positive body image, participatory knowledge production, and self-love. Ethnomusicologist Josiane Racine and anthropologist Jean-Luc Racine present Viramma’s life through affirmative stories that invert the caste-gaze that has traditionally cast Dalit women as passive victims marked for sexual violation. This article argues that through her narrative, Viramma inaugurates an ethnographic tradition of “positive hailing” calling attention to Dalit women’s embodied self-understanding and agency as vital to Dalit feminist ethnography. Her life stories enunciate Dalit women’s values, beliefs, and political agency, as countering both casteist and caste-neutral feminist frameworks, and redefining knowledge production as solidarity, healing and shared life. Viramma’s deliberate linguistic and narrative choices become acts of resistance that challenge casteist tropes attached to Dalit womanhood. In meticulously constructing her life narrative, Viramma establishes a tradition of self-chosen visibility that resists caste-imposed invisibility and stigma; she affirms Dalit female-focused ritual practices as necessary for life-sustenance.

Introduction. Within the framework of positive psychology, this article reviews both international and Russian research conducted over recent decades on the relationship between subjective well-being and self-perception of physical appearance. Aim. The present study aims to examine the relationship between self-perception of physical appearance and subjective well-being during early adolescence. Methodology and research methods. The following instruments were employed in the empirical study: the Self-Esteem of Physical Appearance Scale (V. A. Labunskaya), the Attitude Towards One’s Physical Appearance: Satisfaction and Concern Questionnaire (V. A. Labunskaya and E. V. Kapitanova), the Subjective Well-Being Scale (A. Perrudet-Badoux, adapted by M. V. Sokolova), and the Diagnostics of Subjective Well-Being of the Individual (R. M. Shamionov and T. V. Beskova). Results . Young men and women who evaluate their appearance positively exhibit higher levels of subjective well-being. A negative correlation has been identified between satisfaction with one’s physical appearance and indicators of subjective well-being such as tension, psycho-emotional symptoms, and mood swings, alongside a positive correlation with self-rated health. Young women tend to be more attentive to their appearance and to how others perceive it than young men. Young men demonstrate a stronger focus on the positive emotional pole – experiencing satisfaction with their appearance – whereas young women tend to focus on the opposite pole, namely concern about their appearance. In young men, self-perceived appearance scales are more frequently associated with social-normative well-being, while in young women they are more commonly linked to hedonistic well-being. Scientific novelty. The study provides a detailed analysis of the relationship between key indicators of subjective well-being and self-perception of physical appearance, considering gender during early adolescence, thereby contributing to a deeper understanding of this association. Practical significance. A detailed analysis of the relationship between the primary indicators of subjective well-being and measures of self-perception regarding physical appearance can provide a foundation for developing corrective and developmental programmes aimed at promoting a positive body image and enhancing subjective well-being, with due consideration of gender.

Strength training offers substantial physical and psychological health benefits for women, yet gym environments often remain exclusionary, gendered spaces that reinforce harmful appearance ideals and undermine body image. This study explored women's experiences of gym-based exercise using photo-elicitation methodology. Seventeen women (aged ≥18 years) were recruited from a prior survey study, with 47% aged 30-39 and 65% residing in the UK. Over a period of 1-2 weeks, participants captured or selected images representing their gym experiences, which were then used to guide semi-structured interviews conducted online. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, generating four themes: (1) 'It's Bigger Than Me': Strength Training for Lifelong Health; (2) 'Be Afraid and Do It Anyway': Empowerment from Strength Training; (3) 'I Am Proud of My Body but … Will It Ever Be Good Enough?': The Inescapability of Diet Culture; and (4) 'I Think I Look Good': Positive Body Image Dichotomy. Although participants engaged in strength training for health, longevity, and empowerment, many continued to experience negative body image thoughts and practices, including comparison with others and discomfort in gym attire. Participants further described a continual negotiation between rejecting appearance ideals and navigating the sociocultural pressures embedded within and beyond gym spaces. Findings highlight the need for more inclusive and supportive gym cultures and challenging fitness industry norms that perpetuate body dissatisfaction. By using photo-elicitation to examine women's everyday gym experiences, this study conceptualises body image as a dynamic and negotiated process and offers applied insights for creating more inclusive and psychologically supportive gym environments.

Background/Objectives: Dieting is a widespread behavior that is associated with psychological distress, body dissatisfaction, and eating disorders. Recent research suggests that a body-positive attitude and mindful approach to eating may influence individuals’ experiences with dieting; however, their combined role has been insufficiently explored. Methods: A two-phase study was conducted among voluntary adults using online data collection. In Phase 1, a cross-sectional survey was completed by 180 participants (71.7% women), assessing dieting behavior, body appreciation, nutritional awareness, psychological distress, well-being, and eating disorders. Correlation analyses, group comparisons, and regression models were performed. In Phase 2, 90 participants entered the pilot and received a brief psychoeducational digital material promoting mindful eating and positive body image. The follow-up assessment was completed by 59, after one month of engagement. Results: Body appreciation and nutritional awareness were positively associated with mental well-being and inversely related to psychological distress (p < 0.001 for all) and to eating disorder screening scores (p < 0.001 and p = 0.046, respectively). More frequent dieting was associated with lower body appreciation (p < 0.001). According to the observed pattern of correlations, body appreciation may play a role in the relationship between dieting and psychological distress. In the intervention phase, greater engagement with the psychoeducational material was associated with higher reported levels of nutritional awareness (p = 0.003) and greater perceived body awareness (p = 0.026) at follow-up; however, due to the exploratory design, findings are preliminary. Conclusions: The results suggest that dieting, as a behavior, may be embedded in broader psychological processes that include body-related attitudes and nutritional awareness. Taking these factors into account may have potential implications for preventive measures aimed at promoting healthier dietary habits, a more positive relationship with one’s body, and mental well-being.

Body comparisons on social media, particularly upward and parallel comparisons, are widespread among young women. As one of the most popular platforms among Chinese youth, TikTok fosters environments where such comparisons may exacerbate body dissatisfaction. This study aims to explore how upward and parallel body comparisons are associated with body dissatisfaction through the internalization of societal beauty ideals and whether protective filtering moderates these relationships. Seven hundred eighty eight young Chinese women (Mean age = 23.37 years, SD = 1.34)were investigated with upward body comparison scale, parallel body comparison scale, internalization of beauty ideals scale, protective filtering scale, and body dissatisfaction scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS and the Process 4.0 macro to test mediation and moderation effects. Upward and parallel body comparisons positively predicted body dissatisfaction. The internalization of "ideal beauty" mediated the positive effects of upward (58.30%) and parallel (65.80%) body comparisons on body dissatisfaction. Protective filtering significantly moderated the relationships between both upward (B = - 0.06,p < 0.01) and parallel (B = - 0.05,p < 0.01) body comparisons and body dissatisfaction. Simple slope analyses indicated these relationships were significant only at low protective filtering levels (bothp < 0.001) but not at high levels (p > 0.05), confirming its buffering role. The results revealed that internalization of "ideal beauty" mediates both the relationship between upward body comparison and body dissatisfaction, and that between parallel body comparison and body dissatisfaction. More importantly, our findings suggest that protective filtering moderates the association of body comparisons (both upward and parallel), with body dissatisfaction. The results provide a sociopsychological perspective on the relationship between young Chinese women's social comparison tendencies and body image. Additionally, investigating the moderating effect of protective filtering is conducive to guiding female positive body image interventions.

Positive body image, weight stigma and breastfeeding self-efficacy among postpartum women: a cross-sectional study.

Background/Objectives: Psychological variables such as body image, self-esteem, and life satisfaction have become important research topics in recent years, particularly in their relationships with individuals’ eating attitudes. The purpose of this study is to examine the predictive effect of body image and self-esteem on eating attitudes in emerging adults and to evaluate the mediating role of life satisfaction in this relationship. Method: The study included 402 participants aged 18–30. Data were collected using the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSS), the Body Image Scale (BIS), and the Life Satisfaction Scale (LSS). The analyses included correlational analyses to examine relationships among eating attitudes, body image, self-esteem, and life satisfaction; multivariate regression to test the predictive roles of body image, self-esteem, and life satisfaction on eating attitudes; and structural equation modeling to evaluate the mediating role of life satisfaction in the relationships between body image, self-esteem, and eating attitudes. Result: The correlational analysis revealed that eating attitudes are associated with body image, life satisfaction, and self-esteem. Body image was identified as the most influential predictor of eating attitudes. Structural equation modeling indicated that life satisfaction mediates the relationship between self-esteem and eating attitudes. Conclusions: Body image, self-esteem, and life satisfaction play a crucial role in shaping eating attitudes among emerging adults. The mediating effect of life satisfaction underscores psychological well-being as a key regulatory factor rather than solely an outcome. Promoting positive body image, strengthening self-esteem, and enhancing life satisfaction through preventive and psychoeducational programs may help protect against disordered eating attitudes in this population.

Nature exposure and negative body image among college students: A three-wave longitudinal study.

This study aimed to contribute to the growing empirical interest in the role of positive body image in the context of breastfeeding. We examined the association between positive attitudes toward breastfeeding and breastfeeding intentions among postpartum women and investigated the mediation of functionality appreciation. A total of 305 women who had given birth within the past 1 to 3 months (M = 34.11 years) participated in the study. Women completed a questionnaire assessing breastfeeding attitudes, appreciation of breastfeeding functionality, breastfeeding intentions, previous breastfeeding experience, as well as Body Mass Index and sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics. A mediation model was used to examine direct and indirect associations between attitudes toward breastfeeding, breastfeeding intentions, and functionality appreciation. Results showed significant associations between positive attitudes towards breastfeeding, breastfeeding intentions, and functionality appreciation. Positive attitudes toward breastfeeding were positively associated with breastfeeding intentions (β = 0.63, p < 0.001) and with functionality appreciation (β = 0.51, p < 0.001), with functionality appreciation accounting for a significant indirect association (β = 0.21, 95% CI [0.14, 0.29]). Finally, previous breastfeeding experience was positively associated with breastfeeding intentions (β = 0.15, p < 0.001). This study marks the initial attempt to examine the significance of functionality appreciation in postpartum women, highlighting potential associations between breastfeeding attitudes and breastfeeding intentions. These findings may offer preliminary insights for future research and for informing the development of targeted interventions, although further evidence from more diverse populations is needed.

ABSTRACT Adolescence is a critical period for the development of body perception and self‐esteem, particularly among girls undergoing pubertal changes. This study aimed to identify distinct latent profiles of physical development and body perception among Korean adolescent girls and to examine whether social media use moderates the association between these profiles and self‐esteem. Participants were 594 Korean adolescent girls, M age = 14.27 years, range 14 to 14.67. Latent profile analysis was conducted using pubertal timing, body mass index, body image, and weight perception. Three profiles emerged: (1) girls with later menarche onset, a lean body type, and positive body image and weight perception; (2) girls with earlier menarche onset, overweight status, and negative body image and weight perception; and (3) girls with average menarche timing and weight and positive perceptions of physical development. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that social media use moderated the association between latent profile membership and self‐esteem after controlling for peer attachment, academic stress, and subjective socioeconomic status. Although greater social media use was generally associated with lower self‐esteem across profiles, this negative association was significant only among girls characterized by later menarche onset, a lean body type, and satisfaction with their physical development. These findings underscore the importance of considering heterogeneity in physical development and body perception when examining how social media use relates to self‐esteem, suggesting that adolescents’ vulnerability to digital environments may vary across developmental profiles.