Women's Body Image Research Articles

Determination of body image and sexual adjustment in women with breast cancer after surgery

The aim of the study is to determine body image, sexual adjustment and the factors affecting them in women with breast cancer after surgery. This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with breast cancer patients admitted to a foundation hospital. Data were collected with the Sexual Adjustment and Body Image Scale, evaluated with t-test, MWU, Kruskall Wallis and correlation analysis. Sexual Adjustment Body Image scale subdimension scores of the patients were 10.81±2.32 for Prior Body Image, 9.69±2.69 for Postbody Image,7.04±1.73 for Prior Sexual Adjustment,7.4±2.34 for Sexual Importance of Breasts and -4.28±2.63 for Impact on Sexual Functioning. A weak positive correlation was found between the patients’ body image scores and their sexual adjustment scores. It was found that having a child significantly affected the Prior and Postbody Image scores. There was a significant difference between Prior Sexual Adjustment scores according to income level. Employment had an effect on the Impact on Sexual Functioning subdimension score and presence of a chronic disease affected the Postbody Image and Prior Sexual Adjustment subdimension scores. Having a chronic disease, having children, being employed, and having poor income affect sexual adjustment and body image in women with breast cancer after surgery.

Comparing the effectiveness of positive psychotherapy and psychotherapy based on acceptance and commitment on life expectancy and body image of women with breast cancer

Comparing the effectiveness of positive psychotherapy and psychotherapy based on acceptance and commitment on life expectancy and body image of women with breast cancer

Body Image dalam Video Klip LOONA "Butterfly"

Mass media builds the construction of women's body images. Women's beauty is judged by certain indicators, including slim bodies, fair skin, and straight hair. The unrealistic body image displayed by the mass media has a negative impact on the audience, especially female adolescents. Meanwhile, LOONA's “Butterfly” music video defy beauty standards. Adolescent fans tend to internalize the values ​​that exist in the figure of the idol. This study aims to explain the reception of LOONA's teenage fans for aspects of body image in LOONA's "Butterfly" music video. The theory used in this study is reception analysis. This research was conducted qualitatively through in-depth interviews with female adolescent fans of LOONA. The results of the study show that the position of reception of LOONA's adolescent fans on aspects of body image in LOONA's "Butterfly" music video is dominated by a dominant position. The reception of LOONA's adolescent fans is influenced by the frameworks of knowledge, relations of production, and technical infrastructure.

Body Shape Perception in Relation to the Apparel Choices of the Young and Late Adult Women of Peshawar

The current study was conducted to examine how young and older women in the Peshawar city perceive their body image which influences their clothing choices. The selected sample of women whose age ranged between 20-50 years were evaluated by using the Stunkard body image measure. The correlation between actual body mass index (BMI) and perceived body image was significant indicated by 39% of female population having a favorable impression of their bodies. Women with a poor body image often use clothing to camouflage their protruding body parts. Positive body image leads to a preference for fitting clothing, while negative body image favors loose-fitting clothing. The study also examined the impact of patterns on women's body image, finding that women enjoyed all types of prints in their attire. The study would be distinctive in the field of fashion industry which enable a woman in identifying real body image (BMI) and perceived body image, hence help in designing attires to camouflage minor flaws.

Body-Positive Instagram Exposure and Young Women’s Body Image: The Mediating Role of Appearance Comparison and Broadly Conceptualizing Beauty

ABSTRACT Evidence is mixed as to whether viewing body-positive content on social media can cultivate positive body image in women. Body-positive exposure has been linked to positive (e.g. body satisfaction) and negative (e.g. self-objectification) outcomes. To increase our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the relationship between body-positive social media exposure and positive body image, this study tested two mediators: upward appearance comparisons and broad conceptualization of beauty. Combining insights from social comparison theory, objectification theory, and the acceptance model of body appreciation, we examined whether broadly conceptualizing beauty and engaging in fewer upward appearance comparisons can connect body-positive exposure on Instagram to decreased body surveillance and increased body appreciation. A sample of 345 young women (M age = 21.65, SD = 1.70) participated in an online survey. Parallel mediation analyses showed that higher relative exposure to body-positive content on Instagram was indirectly related to decreased body surveillance and increased body appreciation, via lower engagement in upward appearance comparisons and a broader conceptualizing beauty. Taken together, body-positive posts on Instagram can positively contribute to women’s body image, if they stimulate protective filtering of idealized content, decrease the relevance of idealized models as comparison targets, and increase perceptions of unconditional body appreciation by others.

A phenomenological exploration of Indian women's body image within intersecting identities in a globalizing nation

The goal of the study was to examine Indian women's body image experiences utilizing an intersectional framework. Using phenomenological method, the study attempted to explore how experiences of gender oppression intersect with salient social identities to produce experiences of body dissatisfaction in Indian women. Thirty-Five Indian women in the age group 18–40 years participated in semi-structured interviews. Overall, women experienced and discussed their bodies in terms of physical features they liked and disliked. Three themes emerged that comprised body image experiences of Indian women- (a) Beautiful, thin and fair- three social imperatives for women, (b) Internalization and (c) Body image management. Each of these impacted women negatively and contributed to greater body monitoring, increased indulgence in unhealthy behaviours and heightened body dissatisfaction. Women also discussed coping techniques for managing such experiences. Researchers and practitioners are encouraged to take into account culturally constructed beauty norms and unique socio-cultural factors for Indian women that determine body image. Findings are interpreted in the context of evolving socio-cultural norms that have recolonised Indian women's embodiment in a globalizing nation.

Body image explains differences in intuitive eating between men and women: Examining indirect effects across negative and positive body image

Intuitive eating is an adaptive and flexible form of eating. Men report higher rates of intuitive eating than women. Objectification processes are proposed to underlie this (binary) gender difference due to the intense body-related pressures that disrupt body image in women. The current study is the first known to test whether body image indirectly explains lower levels of intuitive eating in women relative to men. A cross-sectional sample of 498 adults aged 18–74 years recruited through Prolific completed an online survey assessing intuitive eating and negative and positive body image indicators. Women reported poorer body image and lower levels of intuitive eating compared to men. Significant indirect effects suggested body image explained gender differences in intuitive eating, controlling for age and body mass index. In women relative to men, greater body surveillance and lower aesthetic satisfaction explained lower total intuitive eating and reliance on hunger and satiety, greater aesthetic investment explained lower total intuitive eating and eating for physical reasons, and lower functionality investment explained lower body-food choice congruence. More research is needed, but findings suggest programs may benefit from decreasing critical views of appearance and strengthening functionality investment in women to reduce gender differences in intuitive eating.

Instagram influences: An examination of the tripartite influence model of body image among a racially diverse sample of young-adult women

A burgeoning research literature documenting the effects of social media, such as Instagram, on women's body image outcomes has thus far examined mostly White samples. Because body image ideals are often situated within racialized appearance expectations, it is important to examine the role of race in the links between social media use and body image. In the present study, we tested (1) the associations between Instagram use and self-image activity (i.e., activities that reflect a preoccupation with how the self is presented on Instagram), and body image outcomes, and (2) the mediating effect of social media internalization of appearance ideals in these links, and (3) we compared these links between four racial identity groups. Our sample included U.S. women who identified as Asian-American (n = 97), Black (n = 101), Latina (n = 98), or White (n = 237). Results suggest that social media internalization of appearance ideals mediated the relations between Instagram use (for Asian-American and Black participants) and self-image activity (for Latina and White participants) and body image outcomes. Social media internalization of appearance ideals also was associated with a desire to be thinner among Asian-American participants, and it was associated with a desire to be curvier among Black participants.

Body Positivity or Humorous Parody? The Impact of Instagram Imagery on Body Image Concerns

Research has shown that Instagram imagery can affect women's body image. However, it remains unclear how Instagram images are perceived, and which type of images can have a positive impact on body image. In this study (N = 170), we examined whether exposure to body positive and humorous parody (vs. body ideal) imagery would be perceived as critiques of thin body ideals, would elicit photo-based activity in the form of “likes”, and would positively affect women's body image. Results showed that both body positivity and humorous parody images elicited more “likes” and were perceived as critiquing thin body standards more than body ideal images. Moreover, women's body satisfaction and positive mood were higher after exposure to body positivity and humorous parody compared to exposure to body ideal images. Women exposed to humorous parody also reported a lower drive for thinness. These findings demonstrate that both body positivity and humorous parody can be considered critiques that improve body image.

Factors Associated with Body Image and Self-Esteem in Mastectomized Breast Cancer Survivors

Body image (BI) and self-esteem (SE) are two fundamental aspects in the evolution of breast cancer (BC), mainly due to surgery, treatment, and the patient's conception of BI. A dissatisfaction with BI and low SE decreases the subject's quality of life and increases the risk of recurrence and mortality by BC. The aim of this study is to find out if there is any degree of association between the sociodemographic data of the sample and their BI and SE. A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted with 198 women diagnosed with BC, aged 30-80 years, in Mexico. Women's BI and SE were assessed using two questionnaires, Hopwood Body Image Scale (S-BIS) and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). The results show significant differences in several items when the variable sense of humor is taken into account, indicating that women with a sense of humor report higher satisfaction with their BI and higher SE. The age also indicates a significantly better BI in women over 50 years of age, as well as the education level variable, where those women who had studied up to secondary reported higher satisfaction with their BI; the family history shows that those women without a family history report better SE. All these data are supported by stepwise regression, which shows that educational level and sense of humor are predictors of BI, and family history along with breast reconstruction and sense of humor are predictors as of SE. In conclusion, it is important to take into account the characteristics of women with BC, particularly age and sense of humor, in order to reduce the impact of the disease on their BI and SE with the help of a multidisciplinary team.

The Relationship Between Brands’ Usage and The Body Image of Young Indonesian Women

Marketing activities by brand on Instagram have an impact on women's body image because the models used by brand tend to represent a standard of beauty that exists in society. However, brand have started using models of all body shapes and sizes to meet the demands of consumers on social media in recent years. This study aims to determine whether there is a relationship between the use of social media Instagram by brand and the body image of young Indonesian women by using the Agenda Setting theory, Body Image through the Multidimensional Body Self Relation Questionnaire-Appearance Scale (MBSRQ-AS). Data for quantitative research were obtained by distributing online questionnaires to young women aged 18-24 years who live in the areas of Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi who are active Instagram users through a non-probability sampling technique. Research result states that a relationship between brands’ usage of social media (Instagram) and the body image of young Indonesian women was formed when they were exposed to marketing content featuring models with thin bodies as well as various body shapes and sizes. In addition, they also formed a perception on the content in regard to their needs, interests, and if they found the model ‘interesting’. However, the usage of Instagram by brand did not appear to have a relationship with the behavior of young women as most respondents almost never exercised excessively or limited their diet after seeing the brands’ content.

Body image and body mass index of pregnant woman do not affect the growth indicators of newborns. A Cross-Sectional Study

Aims: The aim of the study is to investigate the relationship between the body image and body mass index (BMI) of pregnant women with newborn growth indicators in selected hospitals of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 420 pregnant women over 17 years old, who were selected by consumptive sampling method, in the hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. The research questionnaire was conducted through the multidimensional questionnaire of a person's attitude towards her body image (MBSRQ). Due to the large number of sample size, Pearson's inferential test was used and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age of the women was 29.52±6.04 year, mean BMI was 24.66±3.96 kg/m2, and mean score of body image was 249.86±22.27. The body image score was not significantly associated with newborn growth indicators (birthweight p=0.222, length p=0.534, head circumference p=0.537). Also, the women’s BMI was not significantly related to the newborn growth indicators (birthweight p=0.180, length p=0.577, head circumference p=0.720). The BMI was inversely related to satisfaction with different body parts (p<0.001), individual's attitude towards weight (p<0.001) and total score of women's body image (p<0.001). Conclusions: the body image in pregnancy had a significant relationship with the women's BMI. However, more comprehensive prospective studies are recommended to carefully examine the effects of pregnant women's body image on newborns growth (both term and preterm), because studies in this area are very limited.

Resilience among women with breast cancer surviving longer than five years: The relationship with illness perception and body image.

This study aimed to investigate the correlations and identify the relationships between the resilience, perception of illness and body image of women with breast cancer in the 5-year-or-above survivorship. We used convenient sampling to recruit from an outpatient department 106 women with breast cancer. The inclusion criteria were participants aged >20 years currently in a stable condition and were able to understand the Chinese language. Those women with mental health illness were excluded. All participants completed questionnaires on the following: demographic information, revision of illness perception (IPQ-R), body image scale (BIS), Eysenck personality questionnaire (EPQ), and resilience scale (RS). We conducted the structural equation modeling (SEM) to explore the factor structure. SEM results showed a good fit to the data (comparative fit index=0.97, Tucker-Lewis index=0.94). Findings F indicated the existence of significant relationships between resilience and either illness perception or body image. Personality had a direct association with illness perception (β=0.73, P<0.05). Body image had an indirect effect on the relationship between resilience and illness perception (coefficient=-2.52; 95% bootstrapping CI=-31.36, -0.62). Results indicated that illness perception is a crucial predictor for better resilience as mediated through body image. To provide adequate information to women with breast cancer can improve their perception of breast cancer more positively. Hence, their body image and their way of coping with survival life turn better.

Fit for Motherhood: The Glocalization of Maternal Physical Activity in Mother and Baby Magazine

Fit for Motherhood: The Glocalization of Maternal Physical Activity in <i>Mother and Baby</i> Magazine

AX Touch Perfume Commercialization of the Sensuality of the Female Body

Most of the advertisements circulating in the mass media, both electronic and print, show a constructive tendency to direct female sensuality as a way of subordinating women to male power. Likewise, for producers and advertisers, as Baria puts it, the female body never subsides to offer lucrative opportunities. From head to nails, advertisers are highly sensitive to imaging engineering as they utilize interpretations based on the female body to define stereotypical identities. This article explores how the semiotic analysis of advertising looks at the form of commodification of the female body in the Touch version of the AX perfume advertisement that creates sensual images of the female body to capture public interest. This research was conducted by analyzing every part of the Touch perfume ad for Ax's version that aired on her YouTube channel to see all the symbols and markers it contained. Data collection was performed using observational techniques and literature studies. Advertisers make various commodifications of the female body in the Touch version of AX ads through attributes attached to it. This sensuality stems from the attributes attached to a woman's body image, through the clothes she wears, the body expressed, and her language. The camerawork, on the other hand, plays an important role in providing reinforcement in building the concept of sensuality in advertising. On the other hand, the ideology that emerges based on the representation of women in AX's Touch ads is a patriarchal ideology. This ideology itself speaks of the domination of male power over women. This is reflected in the way the female body, through its enforced commodification, becomes the arena of media-performed power struggles.

Romantic attachment, infertility-related stress, and positive body image of women dealing with infertility.

Infertility is a condition that can affect the physical, emotional, social, and relational well-being of women. Women's bodies seem to assume a crucial relevance as part of the experience of infertility and its treatments. An extended body of literature supports the role of romantic attachment orientations in facing infertility-related stress. However, the association between romantic attachment orientations, infertility-related stress, and women's body image has not been explored. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the role of romantic attachment and infertility-related stress concerning positive body image in 113 women dealing with infertility. Data were analyzed with correlation and mediation path analyses. Results showed that high levels of attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, and infertility-related stress were negatively associated with positive body image. Path analyses indicated that positive body image may be directly associated with romantic attachment anxiety. The negative association of attachment avoidance with body image appeared to be mediated by infertility-related stress. Findings suggest that romantic attachment insecurities and infertility-related stress are significantly associated with a worsened body image in infertile women. Implications for future research are discussed.

Comparing the effectiveness of positive psychotherapy and psychotherapy based on acceptance and commitment on life expectancy and body image of women with breast cancer

Background and Aim: Cancer is considered as the major health problem of the century, and its increasing growth in the last two decades and its harmful effects on the physical, psychological, social and economic aspects of human life are causing more concern to experts than ever. The present study was conducted with the aim of comparing the effectiveness of positive psychotherapy and psychotherapy based on acceptance and commitment on life expectancy and body image of women with breast cancer. Methods: The research method was semi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test design with three groups (two experimental groups and one control group). The statistical population included all female patients aged 20 to 45 with breast cancer who received a definite diagnosis of breast cancer according to clinical and laboratory examinations by a specialist. Among these, 45 people were selected by non-random sampling and were replaced in two experimental groups (positive psychotherapy and treatment based on acceptance and commitment) and a control group in a simple random manner (15 people in each group). Then, the first experimental group was treated in 10 90-minute sessions (one session per week) with positive psychotherapy methods, and the second experimental group was treated with acceptance and commitment-based therapy, and the waiting list group was not subjected to any intervention until the end of the follow-up. The data were collected with the help of Snyder's life expectancy questionnaires and body image questionnaires and were analyzed through the analysis of variance test with repeated measurements and using SPSS-22 software. Results: The research results showed that there is a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in all variables (p&lt;0.01). Also, Bonferroni’s post hoc test indicated that positive psychotherapy has a greater effect on life expectancy (P&lt;0.001) and body image (P&lt;0.001) than treatment based on acceptance and commitment. Conclusion: As a result, it can be said that the use of both methods along with other treatment methods is effective in improving the psychological status of vulnerable groups, including breast cancer patients.

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

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

Body image of women during breastfeeding: analysis supported by nursing theory

RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever e interpretar a percepção da mulher acerca da sua imagem corporal durante o processo de amamentar. Método: Estudo descritivo qualitativo realizado em hospital universitário da região sudeste, Brasil. Foram entrevistadas 43 puérperas que estavam amamentando.As entrevistas foram submetidas à análise lexical com o softwareIRAMUTEQ e interpretadas baseadas na Teoria Interativa de Amamentação. Resultados: As mulheres referem insatisfação com as mudanças na imagem corporal durante a amamentação. Mas também, valorizam e desejam manter a amamentação devido as vantagens para o filho. E várias expressam o desejo de realizar cirurgia plástica futuramente frente a essas mudanças corporais. Conclusão: A percepção da mulher sobre suaimagem corporal como satisfatória/ insatisfatória aponta que as mudanças corporais revestem o processo de amamentação de sentimentos de ambiguidade.As mudanças corporais são percebidas pelas mulheres de forma pessoal, subjetiva e complexa.

Lived experiences of post-mastectomy women: A qualitative study of Western Rajasthan.

Women's breasts have biological functions to lactate, socially and culturally seen as sensual, and the essence of her femininity. In the world, breast cancer is the most constantly occurring non-cutaneous cancer among women. The qualitative phenomenological study aimed to explore the lived experiences of post-mastectomy women. A total of 14 post-mastectomy women were recruited through non-probability convenience sampling based on data saturation, at the radiation unit of a tertiary care hospital, in Basni, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, from September to November 2020. The data was collected using an in-depth interview schedule. It was firstly audio-recorded and transcribed, and then themes and subthemes were extracted. Experiences of women were recorded and analyzed using Colaizzi"s framework (1978) and ATLAS ti. 9 scientific software. This revealed five main themes and their subthemes: Body image changes, physical impacts, emotional impacts, treatment impacts, and coping and support sources. In India, the lack of exploration regarding this topic is due to the stigmatization of very private parts, i.e., breast involvement and people rarely discuss it. Thus, there is a need for more such studies to be done, and more attention is required on the role of nurses to assist post-mastectomy women psychologically, spiritually, and physically to cope with their conditions. Findings highlight that mastectomy as a surgical treatment may negatively affect a woman's body image. It's highly recommended to address individual women's psychosocial needs and preferences before undergoing mastectomy in educational sessions by physicians involving nurses with them. Also, proper knowledge about reconstructive procedures should be provided to improve their body image. The counseling sessions can be conducted pre and post-mastectomy by a professional counselor.