Predictors Of Body Dissatisfaction Research Articles

Emotion dysregulation and eating disorder symptoms in mother-daughter dyads: An actor-partner interdependence modeling approach

Introduction: This study investigates dyadic associations between emotion dysregulation and eating disorder symptoms in mother-daughter dyads. This study employs the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) to test three hypotheses: (1) emotion dysregulation will associate with an individual's own eating disorder risk beyond the effect of their partner's emotional dysregulation (actor effect); (2) emotion dysregulation will associate with a dyad member's eating disorder risk beyond the effect of their emotion dysregulation (partner effect); (3) dyad members’ emotional dysregulation will interact to associate with stronger eating disorder risk in each dyad member (actor-partner interaction effect). Methods: 104 dyads completed a series of self-report measures, including the Difficulties with Emotion Regulation Scale, Body Dissatisfaction Scale, and Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale. Eligible dyads were required to consist of an adolescent daughter aged 11-21 years old, as well as their mother, and were required to converse in English and live in the US. Results: Two APIMs were specified, predicting body dissatisfaction and eating disorder symptoms, respectively. Concerning the body dissatisfaction model, actor effects indicated higher emotion dysregulation was associated with higher body dissatisfaction reports for both mothers and daughters. Partner effects indicated one member's higher emotion dysregulation was significantly related to the other member's higher body dissatisfaction. Regarding the eating disorder symptoms model, actor effects showed higher emotion dysregulation was associated with more eating disorder symptoms for both mothers and daughters. For both body dissatisfaction and eating disorder symptoms models, no significant actor-partner interaction effects were found. Discussion: Implications of these findings are discussed.

Peran Harga Diri Terhadap Ketidakpuasan Bentuk Tubuh Remaja Perempuan

Body dissatisfaction is a serious phenomenon that requires precautions because it generates a serious of health complications, including impaired well-being. Self-esteem is one of the factors that can predict body dissatisfaction.This study aims to determine the role of self-esteem to body dissatisfaction in adolescent female. There are 250 adolescents female determined in this study using a purposive sampling technique. The BSQ-34 from Cooper et al. (1987) was applied to assess body dissatisfaction and the state self-esteem scale from Heatherton & Polivy (1991) was used to assess self-esteem. The regression model indicates r= -0.345, F= 16,996, B= -0,321 (p<0,000), which is means that self-esteem has a very significant role in predicting body dissatisfaction in adolescent females. These findings indicate that if adolescents have high self-esteem then dissatisfaction with their bodies is low, conversely if adolescents' self-esteem is low then adolescents will experience high body dissatisfaction. Appearance is the aspect of self-esteem that contributes the most to predicting body dissatisfaction, with r = -0,386,( p <0,000). Negatif appraisal of physical appearance can cause highest body dissatisfaction in female. That is the reason why it is important to have a possitive appraisal to avoid body dissatisfaction in adolescent female.

Assessing the Relationship between Body Image Satisfaction and Physical Activity in Italian Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Investigation.

Body image perception can significantly influence various aspects of adolescent lives. The study analyzed the relationship between body image satisfaction and sports participation in adolescents, examining various factors that contribute to body image concerns and their implications for sports engagement. A total of 237 schoolchildren were recruited from lower secondary Italian schools. Anthropometric characteristics were measured directly. Assessment of body image perception was performed using Body Silhouette Charts for preadolescent children. The Italian version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents questionnaire was administered to assess physical activity (PA) levels at school and during leisure time in the last 7 days. Analysis of variance was used to test differences in PA levels, while multiple regression models were carried out to assess possible predictors of body dissatisfaction. In total, 42.6% of children were not satisfied with their figure and 23.2% were very dissatisfied; among them, the vast majority would have liked to be thinner. The dissatisfaction and satisfaction were similar in boys and girls. The frequency of satisfaction with one's body image was higher in children who practiced extracurricular sports compared to those who did not. The percentage of dissatisfaction with one's body image was similar in the two groups, but the frequency of children being very dissatisfied was double in the group that does not practice extracurricular sport (31.2% vs. 17.7%). Body dissatisfaction increases with increasing body mass index in both genders but decreases in children involved in extracurricular sports. Encouraging teenagers to engage in regular physical activity should be a key component of therapies supporting positive body image. This study found a relationship between extracurricular sports and body image satisfaction, suggesting that physical activity protects teenagers' body image satisfaction.

The Relationship between Body Mass Index, Body Dissatisfaction and Mood Symptoms in Pregnant Women.

Background: High body mass and adiposity during pregnancy can contribute to psychological distress, and body dissatisfaction may be a potential underlying mechanism of this association. Objective. This study aimed to evaluate the mediational role of body dissatisfaction in the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and depressive and anxious symptoms, respectively. Methods: Given the cross-sectional design of this study, two alternative models were investigated, positing that BMI was related to depressive (Model 1a) and anxious symptoms (Model 2a), which, in turn, predicted body dissatisfaction. Seventy-two pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy completed the Body Image Disturbance Questionnaire, the Beck Depression Inventory-II and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, as well as a demographic form assessing their BMI. Results: As hypothesized, body dissatisfaction mediated the relationship between BMI and psychopathological symptoms. Moreover, the alternative models of reverse mediation were also significant, suggesting that psychopathological symptoms mediated the relationship between BMI and body dissatisfaction. Findings from both the hypothesized and alternative models suggested that, on the one hand, higher distress symptoms associated with body dissatisfaction would result from high BMI and, on the other hand, that body dissatisfaction may result from the effect of BMI on distress symptoms. Conclusions: The present study suggests that body image theory and practice should be implemented by the inclusion of evidence-based clinical interventions for promoting psychological well-being during the antenatal period.

My mother, sisters, and I: Investigating the role of female family members in body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behaviours among young Middle-Eastern women

The global rise in body dissatisfaction and disordered eating concerns is apparent; however, limited research in Middle-Eastern populations gives an incomplete understanding of these concerns. The present study recruited 377 young women aged 18 to 25 years from the Middle-East for an online survey to determine how female family members may contribute to body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behaviours. Guided by the Tripartite Influence Model, we investigated the relationships between appearance pressures and fat talk, from mothers and sister(s), in predicting body dissatisfaction, and in turn, disordered eating symptomatology (restriction and bulimia), as mediated by appearance comparisons and internalisation of the thin-ideal. Overall, greater appearance pressures and fat talk from mothers and sister(s) were associated with body dissatisfaction and disordered eating symptomatology. Greater reported closeness in mother-daughter relationships, but not sister relationships, was associated with less perceived appearance pressure and fat talk by mothers, and lower appearance comparisons, body dissatisfaction and bulimia symptomatology. Finally, participants perceived greater appearance pressure from their mothers than their sister(s), but there was no difference in their perceived levels of fat talk. Findings demonstrate the applicability of a subsection of the Tripartite Influence Model in a non-Western and understudied population, namely in young Middle-Eastern women.

Perceived Sociocultural Pressure and Body Dissatisfaction Among Female University Students

Background: This study investigates the relationship between perceived sociocultural pressure and body dissatisfaction among female university students. With the escalating influence of media and societal norms, understanding these dynamics is crucial, especially in the context of Pakistani culture where such studies are relatively scarce. Objective: To explore the correlation between perceived sociocultural pressure and body dissatisfaction among female university students in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, and to examine the impact of various demographic factors on these variables. Methods: The study involved 300 female university students from public and private universities in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, using a convenient sampling technique. The Perceived Sociocultural Pressure Scale and the Body Dissatisfaction Scale were employed to measure the study variables. The reliability of the instruments was established through Cronbach's alpha. Results: Perceived sociocultural pressure was found to be significantly positively correlated with body dissatisfaction (r = .37, p < .05). No significant correlations were observed between these variables and age or monthly family income. Participants from urban areas showed higher body dissatisfaction compared to those from rural areas. Perceived sociocultural pressure significantly predicted body dissatisfaction (β = .39, p < .001), accounting for 14% of the variance in body dissatisfaction. Conclusion: The findings indicate a significant relationship between perceived sociocultural pressure and body dissatisfaction among the studied sample, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to mitigate these issues in the Pakistani context.

Self-awareness and Social Influences as Predictors of Body Dissatisfaction and Acceptance of Cosmetic Surgery for Social Reasons Among Men

BackgroundBody dissatisfaction and the use of surgery for purely aesthetic reasons among men is steadily increasing. Nevertheless, compared to women, few studies have focused on specific sociocultural and individual factors predicting men’s body dissatisfaction and interest in cosmetic surgery procedures. The present study investigated the role of media, significant others, public and private self-awareness in predicting men’s body dissatisfaction and acceptance of cosmetic surgery for social reasons.MethodsParticipants were 203 men (mean-age 24 years), who completed a questionnaire containing the Sociocultural Attitudes Toward Appearance Questionnaire-4R, the Situational Self-Awareness Scale, the Muscular internalization subscale, the Male Body Attitudes Scale, and the Social subscale of the Acceptance of Cosmetic Surgery Scale. A path analysis was performed.ResultsThe influence of significant others and public self-awareness predicted men’s body dissatisfaction directly and indirectly, via muscularity internalization, while media was only directly associated with body dissatisfaction. A significant link between private self-awareness and body dissatisfaction was found. Moreover, media was not associated with cosmetic surgery either directly or indirectly and public self-awareness showed only a significant association with internalization.ConclusionsThese findings provide information about the role that self-awareness and sociocultural factor play on body dissatisfaction and acceptance of surgery for social reasons among men. The study highlighted the importance of designing preventive programs aimed at enhancing men’s ability to resist various forms of pressure regarding body image and its management. Moreover, the advantages of focusing one’s attention on internal states and feelings can limit body dissatisfaction and can discourage consideration of cosmetic surgery for social benefits.Level of Evidence VThis journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

The mother-daughter-sister triad: The role of female family members in predicting body image and eating behaviour in young women

Familial influence, specifically from mothers and sisters, may impact the development of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating in young women. Guided by the Tripartite Influence Model, the present study recruited 422 young Australian women for a survey to determine how appearance pressures and fat talk, exhibited by mothers and sisters, and mediational mechanisms (comparisons and internalisation), are associated with body dissatisfaction, and in turn, disordered eating symptomatology. We also explored differences in perceived ratings of mother versus sister appearance pressures and fat talk. Findings were in the hypothesised directions. Greater appearance pressures and fat talk from mothers and sisters was associated with greater body dissatisfaction, restriction and bulimic behaviours. Furthermore, appearance pressures from mothers and sisters was related to young women’s likelihood of engaging in appearance comparisons and thin-ideal internalisation, which was associated with body dissatisfaction, and in turn, disordered eating symptomatology. Finally, participants perceived more appearance pressures from their mothers than their sisters, and perceived their mothers to exhibit greater fat talk than their sisters. The findings extend previous research in an important and novel way by investigating individual agents of female familial influence in addition to the role of fat talk in predicting body dissatisfaction and disordered eating.

Enhancing eating disorder recovery: Weight control beliefs predict body dissatisfaction in group cognitive behavioural therapy for body image

Body dissatisfaction is one of the strongest predictors of eating disorder relapse. Yet, a dearth of research exists on factors that facilitate change in body dissatisfaction following treatment focused on symptom interruption. Recent research points to the role of weight control beliefs in predicting outcomes in patients with eating disorders. The primary objective of this research was therefore twofold: 1) To investigate the impact of group cognitive behavioural therapy (GCBT) on weight control beliefs and body dissatisfaction and 2) to examine the influence of weight control beliefs on body dissatisfaction over time. Participants were 50 adults with a recent eating disorder diagnosis who completed 10 sessions of GCBT for body image following GCBT for eating disorders. All participants completed the Eating Disorder Inventory and Weight Control Beliefs Questionnaire at baseline and post-treatment. Body dissatisfaction and weight control beliefs improved from pre- to post-treatment. Hierarchical linear regression analyses revealed that increases in lifestyle control beliefs, a subtype of weight control beliefs, predicted decreases in body dissatisfaction. Results underscore the utility of fostering healthy weight control beliefs to cultivate a positive body image in patients navigating the eating disorder recovery process.

Exploring the longitudinal association between body dissatisfaction and body appreciation in Chinese adolescents: A four-wave, random intercept cross-lagged panel model

Although ample research evidence exists regarding the negative association between body dissatisfaction and body appreciation, the longitudinal association between these two constructs remains unclear, especially for adolescents. Thus, this study investigated the longitudinal association between body dissatisfaction and body appreciation and potential gender differences in this relationship in Chinese adolescents using four-wave longitudinal data. A sample of 2566 adolescents (54.10% girls) were included. A Random Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Model (RI-CLPM) was conducted separately for boys and girls after controlling for baseline age and BMI z-scores. Results at the within-person level showed that for boys, body dissatisfaction at each wave negatively predicted body appreciation at the following wave, and body appreciation at Wave 2 and Wave 3 negatively predicted body dissatisfaction at Wave 3 and Wave 4. For girls, at the within-person level, body dissatisfaction at Wave 1 and Wave 2 negatively predicted body appreciation at Wave 2 and Wave 3, and body appreciation at Wave 3 negatively predicted body dissatisfaction at Wave 4. However, no gender differences in the RI-CLPM were found. The current findings enrich positive and negative body image research by providing evidence for the reciprocal relationships between body dissatisfaction and body appreciation in Chinese adolescents.

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.

Gender Differences in Links between Daily Use of Instagram and Body Dissatisfaction in a Sample of Young Adults in Lithuania

In the last decade, the fast growth of Instagram and its tendency to replace traditional media as a source of glamour images stimulated research into the effects of Instagram on body image of its users. The purpose of the present research was to investigate gender differences in Instagram use and its links to body dissatisfaction in a sample of young adult daily users of Instagram in Lithuania. The sample included 346 participants (100 male and 246 female) aged 18 to 34 years. Along with age and body mass index, measures included self-reported daily Instagram checking frequency, daily duration of Instagram use, Instagram engagement, and appearance-related comparisons which all were used to predict body dissatisfaction. Results revealed that among young adult daily users of Instagram in Lithuania women spent more time on Instagram, were more engaged with Instagram and were more prone to appearance-related comparisons on Instagram than men, but did not differ from men in Instagram checking frequency. For both men and women, higher body dissatisfaction was predicted by more frequent appearance-related comparisons on Instagram and higher body mass index. Higher daily Instagram checking frequency made a small, but statistically significant contribution towards predicting higher body dissatisfaction for women, but not for men.

Existential Factors’ Impact on Body Dissatisfaction: An Empirical Study of Greek Adolescents and Adults

The role of body dissatisfaction as a key factor in the development of eating disorders has been continuously attracting the attention of researchers in the field of Psychology. Preliminary research has shown that some existential factors have significant impact on body dissatisfaction. This study investigated whether and in which way Body Dissatisfaction is associated with Existential Anxiety, Meaning in Life, and Satisfaction with Life. Hypotheses developed concern the significance of relation between Body Dissatisfaction and Existential factors, differences between sexes regarding body image, predictive models for Body Dissatisfaction including the interactive effect of Age and Sex. Empirical results have been derived from a sample of 799 adolescent and adult participants from the general population in Greece, reporting on five well-known questionnaires - Body Shape Questionnaire - 8C, Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire-Appearance Scales, Existential Anxiety Questionnaire, Meaning in Life Questionnaire and Satisfaction with Life Scale. Results indicated significant relations of Body Dissatisfaction variables with Existential Anxiety and Search for Meaning in Life. Explanatory models predicting Body Dissatisfaction were identified, which also showed that changes in Body Shape Dissatisfaction over Age were not differentiated by Sex, while changes in Overweight Preoccupation over Age were affected by Sex. The current study provides evidence that existential issues have an impact on Body Dissatisfaction; revealing a new perspective that could be integrated in counselling practice for better understanding of eating disorders, and consequently enrich and deepen the counselling process.

Internalization of Appearance Ideals and Not Religiosity Indirectly Impacts the Relationship Between Acculturation and Disordered Eating Risk in South and Southeast Asian Women Living in the United States.

ObjectiveStudies that examine disordered eating in samples of Asian individuals living in the United States frequently combine all individuals of Asian descent into a single group, which can obscure important differences between groups and their experiences of acculturation. The goal of the present study was to establish the relation of acculturation, internalization of appearance ideals, and religiosity as predicting body dissatisfaction and disordered eating in women of South and Southeast Asian (SSEA) descent.MethodWomen of SSEA descent (N = 112) aged 18–51 years (M = 23.10, SD = 6.4) completed a battery of questionnaires that inquire about these variables. A path analysis was conducted with acculturation serving as the independent (exogenous) variable, religiosity and internalization of the thin ideal as mediators, and body dissatisfaction and disordered eating as dependent (endogenous) variables.ResultsDirect paths from acculturation to both body dissatisfaction and disordered eating were not significant. Thin ideal internalization completely accounted for the path from acculturation to both endogenous variables; whereas, religiosity did not significantly account for any indirect effect.DiscussionFor SSEA women, internalization of appearance ideals is a potentially greater risk factor for disordered eating than acculturation or religiosity. As this was an atemporal mediation analysis, more work needs to be done exploring predictors of internalization in this population and how that may impact the development of disordered eating.

Internalized Stigma as a Transdiagnostic Factor for Women with Eating Disorders

ABSTRACT This study aimed to examine how internalized weight bias (IWB), body surveillance, and body shame relate to eating pathology in women with diagnosed eating disorders (EDs) across the weight spectrum. Previous research has examined these variables in primarily non-clinical populations, binge eating disorder, and higher weight populations. In a sample of 98 women with diagnosed EDs, the association of IWB, body surveillance, and body shame on the severity of ED symptoms was examined with hierarchical multiple regression analyses. Results indicate that IWB, body surveillance, and body shame significantly predicted global eating pathology, F (4, 93) = 40.74, p < .001. IWB, body surveillance, and body shame related to global eating pathology, even after controlling for previous weight bias experiences. Analyses with specific symptom clusters found that only body surveillance predicted dietary restraint, only IWB and body shame predicted overvaluation of shape/weight, and only IWB predicted body dissatisfaction. The findings in this study provide initial support for internalized stigma variables (IWB, body surveillance, and body shame) related to ED pathology in a transdiagnostic clinical eating disorder sample across the weight spectrum. Results suggest that further examination of internalized stigma is needed within ED treatment.

Validation of the Spanish version of the Physical Appearance Comparison Scale-Revised (PACS-R): Psychometric properties in a mixed-gender community sample

The objectives of this study were to examine the validity and reliability of the Spanish version of the Physical Appearance Comparison Scale-Revised (PACS-R) and to assess its ability to predict body dissatisfaction and disordered eating in a community sample in Spain. A total of 1405 participants (83.6% women; aged 14-64) completed the Spanish PACS-R along with measures of body image, eating disturbances, appearance-related sociocultural influences, self-esteem and social comparison. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported the original one-dimensional factor structure for the 11-item Spanish version of the PACS-R. Women had significantly higher PACS-R scores than men. Internal consistency of the measure was excellent, and results showed good test-retest reliability and convergent validity in men and women. Regression analyses demonstrated the utility of the scale in predicting body dissatisfaction and disordered eating in both genders. Results suggest that the Spanish PACS-R has excellent psychometric properties, therefore it might be a useful tool to measure appearance comparisons among Spanish speaking populations.

Love me Tinder: The effects of women’s lifetime dating app use on daily body dissatisfaction, disordered eating urges, and negative mood

Dating apps may potentially serve as an environment that subjects young women to the harmful effects of appearance-related pressure. The current study assessed for the first time whether women’s dating app use predicted body dissatisfaction (BD), urges to engage in disordered eating (DE), and negative mood in daily life. We also examined the unique effects of women’s dating app partner preferences (i.e., seeking idealised versus non-idealised physical characteristics) on the aforementioned outcomes, and whether appearance-based rejection sensitivity (appearance-RS) moderated the effects of dating app use. Participants (N = 296; 100% women) first completed a baseline survey assessing lifetime dating app usage (i.e., current or former usage), partner preferences, and appearance-RS, followed by a 7-day smartphone-facilitated ecological investigation into momentary experiences of BD, DE urges (i.e., binge-eating/purging, dietary restraint, and exercise), and negative mood. Ninety-four women (32%) reported lifetime dating app usage, which, relative to non-use, predicted greater daily urges for binge-eating/purging and negative mood. However, appearance-RS failed to moderate these effects. Among dating app users, partner preferences were not a significant predictor of the central outcomes. These findings extend previous research by examining the unique effects of dating app use on everyday BD, DE urges, and negative mood. Replication and extension are encouraged.

Temperament and psychopathology in early childhood predict body dissatisfaction and eating disorder symptoms in adolescence

Eating disorders (ED) are highly impairing and dangerous conditions that typically onset in adolescence. However, very few prospective studies have examined early childhood risk factors for ED pathology. Given well-established links between temperament and psychopathology, examination of these factors could inform prevention efforts. The current multi-method, multi-informant prospective longitudinal study tested whether laboratory-observed and parent-reported temperament and psychiatric disorders at ages 3 and 6 (N = 609) predict body dissatisfaction at ages 12 and 15 and dimensional symptoms of EDs (anorexia nervosa [AN] and bulimia nervosa [BN]) at age 15 (n = 458) in a community sample. Results indicated that early childhood temperament (positive and negative emotionality, perceptual sensitivity, impulsivity, less shyness) and childhood psychopathology (anxiety, oppositional defiant, attention deficit/hyperactivity, and depressive disorders), predicted body dissatisfaction in adolescence. In addition, childhood perceptual sensitivity and oppositional defiant and depressive disorders predicted AN symptoms. Demographic characteristics (female sex, lower levels of fathers’ education, and parental marital status) in childhood predicted body dissatisfaction and AN symptoms. No temperament or psychopathology variables predicted BN symptoms. This study is an important first step toward continuing to identify areas of focus for future research on early childhood risk factors for ED symptoms and body dissatisfaction.

Is set-shifting a risk factor for anorexia nervosa or a broader range of disordered eating?

Steegers et al. using data from the Generation R cohort study examined whether set-shifting difficulties at age 4 predict body dissatisfaction, weight status, and restrictive eating at age 9 as a way to examine whether cognitive rigidity was a risk factor for an eating disorder. The authors concluded that set-shifting difficulties problems were predictive of features of anorexia nervosa. An alternative interpretation is that set shifting is predictive of large weight changes and eating behaviors more generally. It is not clear that set-shifting predicts becoming underweight. Set shifting appears protective against larger weight gains. It is possible that set shifting is related to degree to which the children resist the myriad of cues to eat for reasons other than hunger. Whether this is due to a higher degree of awareness, genetics, or other reasons should be investigated. The results demonstrate that the cognitive process that relate to restrictive behaviors are complex. To better understand those relationships, it will be essential for the field to adopt a conceptualization of eating disorders that includes the earliest stages (disordered eating) of the full range of eating disorders.

Untangling the associations between generalized anxiety and body dissatisfaction: The mediating effects of social physique anxiety among collegiate men and women

Researchers disagree on which types of anxiety influence body dissatisfaction and how gender (cisgender men vs. cisgender women) may impact these associations. Specifically, little is known about how generalized anxiety and social physique anxiety combine to predict body dissatisfaction in men and women. The purpose of the present study was to explore a moderated mediation model in which the relationships between generalized anxiety and body dissatisfaction (drive for thinness and drive for muscularity) were mediated by social physique anxiety and moderated by gender. Data from 423 U.S. college students (n = 259 women) were analyzed using multigroup structural equation modeling. Generalized anxiety was positively associated with social physique anxiety, and this association was significantly stronger for men than for women. Neither social physique anxiety nor generalized anxiety were associated with drive for muscularity. Social physique anxiety was positively and significantly associated with drive for thinness equally for men and women and emerged as a significant mediator. These results highlight gender differences/similarities in body image and suggest drive for thinness and social physique anxiety may have a common factor of generalized anxiety. When helping clients who suffer with body dissatisfaction, clinicians and researchers may wish to focus on generalized anxiety (and not just social physique anxiety).