Levels Of Social Physique Anxiety Research Articles

In the Company We Keep

This study examined the psychometric properties of two scales which assessed social physique anxiety (SPA) in the context of peers (peer SPA) and parents (parent SPA), and differences in reported levels of peer SPA and parent SPA. Young adults (N = 381, 161 males, M(age) = 18.69 years) completed self-report measures. Results supported the internal consistency, convergent validity and factor structure of the peer SPA and parent SPA scales. Also, participants reported significantly higher levels of peer SPA compared to parent SPA. Findings offer preliminary support for the investigation of contextualized SPA using the scales tested in this study, and suggest more research is needed to better understand the processes that may increase or decrease SPA when surrounded by peers and parents.

Physical self‐concept and social physique anxiety: invariance across culture, gender and age

AbstractThis study examined the effects of culture, gender and age on the structure and mean levels of physical self‐concept (PSC) and social physique anxiety (SPA) in adolescents from Portugal and Spain. An additional aim was to examine the effects of these variables on the PSC‐SPA correlation. Adolescents (N = 3528, age range 12–18 years) completed the social physique anxiety scale and physical self‐worth scale from the physical self‐perception profile. Single‐ and multi‐sample confirmatory factor analyses supported a two‐factor model of PSC and SPA in the overall sample and within and across the culture, gender and age subsamples. Latent means analyses indicated that females tended to have significantly higher average SPA levels and lower PSC levels relative to males. There was a general downward trend in PSC in males and females in each cultural group. SPA was relatively consistent in females and higher than males in most groups. SPA was relatively similar in males and females in younger age groups (born 1994–1996), but declined in older males. SPA was similar in Portuguese males and females in the youngest age group (born 1996), but males tended to have lower scores in older age groups. Results generally support hypotheses and are discussed relative to self‐presentation models and coping with appearance‐related stress. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Social physique anxiety and physical self-esteem: Gender and age effects

The aim of this study was to test the generalisability of the factor pattern, structural parameters, factor correlations and latent mean structure of social physique anxiety and physical self-esteem across gender, age and gender × age. The social physique anxiety scale and general physical self-esteem scale from the physical self-perception profile was administered to high school and university students aged 11–24 years (N = 2334). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to test the adequacy of a two-factor correlated model in the full sample, and separately by gender, age and gender × age sub-samples. The CFA model satisfied criteria for goodness-of-fit with the data in all sub-samples, the only exception was for females aged 21 and over. Tests of invariance of the factor pattern, structural parameters and correlations across age, gender and age × gender revealed few decrements in goodness-of-fit. Latent means analysis revealed that females had consistently higher levels of social physique anxiety and lower levels of physical self-esteem than males, with the exception of the 11–12 age group. Results extend previous findings that females tend to report higher levels of social physique anxiety and lower levels of physical self-esteem than males by demonstrating that these differences are consistent across age group.

Physique Anxiety and Disordered Eating Correlates in Female Athletes: Differences in Team and Individual Sports

As female athletes participating in physique-salient sports report similar levels of social physique anxiety (SPA) and disordered eating symptoms compared with those in nonphysique salient sports, alternative factors contributing to disordered eating require consideration, specifically participation in sport type (team vs. individual). This study examined SPA and disordered eating correlates in female athletes (N= 137) in two sport types (team sports and individual sports). Individual sport athletes exhibited higher SPA, F(1, 135) = 22.03, p< .001; dieting, Brown and Forsythe’s F(1, 57.05) = 43.79, p< .001; and bulimic behavior, Brown and Forsythe’s F(1, 59.92) = 13.45, p= .001 than team sport athletes. SPA and sport type together predicted 44% of dieting and 22% of bulimic symptom variance, suggesting that individual-sport athletes with higher SPA experienced greater disordered eating. Involvement in individual sports where physique is more open to social evaluation may contribute to dieting and bulimic symptoms among female athletes.

Drive for muscularity, body comparison, and social physique anxiety in men and women

The presented study tested a model of the relationship between the drive for muscularity (DM), three aspects of body comparison (general, weight-, and muscle-related), and social physique anxiety in college men and women. The findings demonstrated that those with higher levels of DM engaged in more frequent body-related comparisons in all three areas. Greater frequency of both Weight- and Muscle-Related Body Comparison was then predictive of higher levels of social physique anxiety. Constraints placed on the path coefficients showed that the association between DM and Muscle-Related Comparisons was significantly stronger than the association between DM and Weight-Related Comparisons. The model was similar for both genders. The results from the structural models were discussed in terms of Cash's (2002) cognitive-behavioral model of body image and the dual pathway model of boys’ and men's body image (Jones & Crawford, 2005).

Predicting Objectification: Do Provocative Clothing and Observer Characteristics Matter?

This study provides empirical evidence for the objectification of women and unearths factors that increase objectification. Objectification theory (Fredrickson and Roberts 1997) suggests that women from Western cultures are the targets of male gaze. Although this seems self-evident from a look at the media, little empirical evidence exists to document the phenomenon or unravel underlying processes. Undergraduate female participants (N = 82) from the Midwestern part of the United States rated three photographs of well-known female Olympic athletes shown either provocatively dressed or in sport-appropriate outfits. Results showed that when shown provocatively attired the women were objectified. Furthermore, participants’ own levels of social physique anxiety were significant predictors of objectification. Sexism and trait objectification were not significantly related to ratings.

An examination of eating attitudes and physical activity levels of Turkish University students with regard to self-presentational concern

This study aimed to examine eating attitudes and physical activity level of young women and men university students with regard to social physique anxiety level. 482 university students participated in this study voluntarily. “Eating Attitude Test (EAT-40)”, “Social Physique Anxiety Scale” and “Physical Activity Assessment Questionnaire” were used to assess the eating attitude, social physique anxiety and physical activity level of participants, respectively. Women and men participants in this study were assigned to high (HSPA) and low (LSPA) social physique anxiety groups with respect to their median scores. Men had favorable eating attitudes and higher physical activity level than women. In addition, participants in the HSPA group had unfavorable eating attitudes and higher physical activity MET values than participants in the LSPA group. On the other hand, group × gender interaction was only significant for the eating attitudes scores but, not for physical activity level. Women in the HSPA group scored higher on the EAT-40 than men in HSPA and women and men in the LSPA groups.

Physical Activity and Social Physique Anxiety in Older Women: The Moderating Effects of Self‐Presentation Efficacy

Given the inconsistent relationships observed between social physique anxiety (SPA) and physical activity, it is possible that other variables moderate this relationship. This study examined self‐presentation efficacy (SPE) as a potential moderator. Participants were 81 older women. Multiple regression analysis revealed that SPA, SPE, and the SPA x SPE interaction significantly predicted physical activity, with the SPA x SPE interaction explaining 6% of the variance in activity. Evaluation of this interaction indicated that SPA was negatively correlated with activity only for women with high and mean SPE and was unrelated to activity for women with low SPE. These findings suggest that, for older women, lower levels of SPA are not always related to greater activity. Rather, SPE is an important moderator of the SPA‐physical activity relationship.

Influence of Quiet Rest and Acute Aerobic Exercise Performed in a Naturalistic Environment on Selected Psychological Responses

The primary purpose of the present study was to examine psychological responses of 50 young women following single episodes of aerobic exercise (AE) performed in a naturalistic exercise setting and quiet rest (QR). Given the salience of self-presentational qualities in a naturalistic exercise setting, a secondary purpose was to examine whether psychological responses to acute exercise varied as a function of social physique anxiety (SPA). The dependent measures of state anxiety, positive engagement, revitalization, tranquility, and physical exhaustion were assessed immediately prior to and then at 5 and 30 minutes following each condition. It was found that (a) AE and QR were associated with decreases in state anxiety and increases in tranquility; (b) AE was associated with increases in positive engagement and revitalization; and (c) these changes did not vary as a function of SPA level.

Social Physique Anxiety in Postmenopausal Women

ABSTRACT Social physique anxiety (SPA), (he degree to which individuals become anxious when others observe their bodies, is an important concept for postmenopausal women because it may be directly related to their physical activity behavior. Women with high levels of social physique anxiety may not participate in health-enhancing physical activity. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to examine SPA in postmenopausal women relative to leisure lime physical activity (LTPA, activities such as exercise, recreation, and sports). Other factors, such as percent body fat, body fat distribution, age, and hormone replacement therapy status were also examined for their relationship to SPA. Women who expended ≤ 2,000 kcal-wk−1 in LTPA had significantly higher SPA than women who expended ≥ 500 kcal. Wk−1 independent of percent body fat. Women with more than 37.5% body fat had significantly higher SPA than those with less than 37.5% body fat. Women with upper BFD (waist-to-hip ratio or WHR > 0.85) had higher SPA than women with lower BFD (WHR < 0.75). There were no differences in SPA relative to age or HRT status. It appears that a sedentary lifestyle, high percent body fat, and upper body fat distribution are associated with increased SPA in postmenopausal women, thus health promotion professionals should be aware of these concerns when developing physical activity interventions for postmenopausal women.

Social physique anxiety in competitive women athletes

Social physique anxiety (SPA) is the anxiety that people feel when their physique or body is evaluated by others. This research explored the relationships among SPA, type of sport participation, and body size in female athletes. It was hypothesized that elite women athletes would have lower levels of SPA than nonelite athletes and that lightweight women athletes would have lower levels of SPA than heavyweight athletes. In Study 1, one hundred four women rowers participating in the World Indoor Rowing Championships completed the Social Physique Anxiety Scale (SPAS; Hart et al., 1989) and a demographic questionnaire. With regard to SPA for female rowers, there were no significant differences involving elite status and weight class. In Study 2, one hundred thirteen women swimmers of various competitive levels (NCAA Division I, NCAA Division III, recreational) completed the SPAS and a demographic questionnaire. ANOVA indicated that NCAA Division I swimmers had lower SPA than recreational swimmers and that lightweight swimmers had lower SPA than heavyweight swimmers. The role of specific sport demands as they relate to SPA were discussed.

Social physique anxiety, body esteem, and social anxiety in bodybuilders and self-reported anabolic steroid users

Social physique anxiety, upper body esteem, social anxiety, and body dissatisfaction were examined among self-reported anabolic steroid (AS)-using bodybuilders, non-using bodybuilders, athletically active exercisers, and non-exercising individuals. Results indicate that: 1. (a) the AS-using bodybuilder group had significantly lower levels of social physique anxiety than non-user groups. 2. (b) AS-using bodybuilders have significantly higher upper body strength ratings than do non-users (non-using bodybuilders, athletically active exercisers, and non-exercisers) 3. (c) no differences among groups on a measure of social anxiety. Implications for further research and intervention are discussed in terms of the differences between anabolic steroids and other substances of abuse.