Pub Date : 2026-03-16DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2026.102076
Xiaoyin Liu, Peiyi Wang, Wesley R Barnhart, Reza N Sahlan, Shuqi Cui, Hongjian Cao, Jason M Nagata, Tiffany A Brown, Jinbo He
Positive body image is a multifaceted construct, encompassing factors including body appreciation, functionality appreciation, and body image flexibility - commonly measured with the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2), Functionality Appreciation Scale (FAS), and Body Image-Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-5 (BI-AAQ-5), respectively. Research has mostly supported the unidimensional factor structure of these three scales. However, there is limited research on their measurement invariance and potential mean differences across sexual orientations, particularly in non-Western contexts. Given the prevalence of body image issues among sexually minoritized populations and the considerable subgroup heterogeneity, establishing a psychometric foundation seems crucial for future rigorous group comparisons. Thus, we examined the measurement invariance of the BAS-2, FAS, and BI-AAQ-5 using an online sample of Chinese male and female adults with diverse sexual orientations (n = 2034, age 18-51 years), including sexually minoritized women (n = 532), heterosexual women (n = 473), sexually minoritized men (n = 519), and heterosexual men (n = 510). Should scalar invariance be achieved, mean differences across measures were examined among the four groups. Results revealed scalar invariance and significant mean-score differences across all three measures. Particularly, sexually minoritized men had the lowest FAS and BI-AAQ-5 scores among the four groups; sexually minoritized women had lower BI-AAQ-5 scores than both heterosexual men and women; and heterosexual women had lower BAS-2 scores than heterosexual men. Overall, this research provided preliminary evidence to support comparing scores on the BAS-2, BI-AAQ-5, and FAS among the four groups. Healthcare providers should be cognizant of the role of sexual orientation in the Chinese cultural context when providing body image interventions.
{"title":"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.","authors":"Xiaoyin Liu, Peiyi Wang, Wesley R Barnhart, Reza N Sahlan, Shuqi Cui, Hongjian Cao, Jason M Nagata, Tiffany A Brown, Jinbo He","doi":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2026.102076","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2026.102076","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Positive body image is a multifaceted construct, encompassing factors including body appreciation, functionality appreciation, and body image flexibility - commonly measured with the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2), Functionality Appreciation Scale (FAS), and Body Image-Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-5 (BI-AAQ-5), respectively. Research has mostly supported the unidimensional factor structure of these three scales. However, there is limited research on their measurement invariance and potential mean differences across sexual orientations, particularly in non-Western contexts. Given the prevalence of body image issues among sexually minoritized populations and the considerable subgroup heterogeneity, establishing a psychometric foundation seems crucial for future rigorous group comparisons. Thus, we examined the measurement invariance of the BAS-2, FAS, and BI-AAQ-5 using an online sample of Chinese male and female adults with diverse sexual orientations (n = 2034, age 18-51 years), including sexually minoritized women (n = 532), heterosexual women (n = 473), sexually minoritized men (n = 519), and heterosexual men (n = 510). Should scalar invariance be achieved, mean differences across measures were examined among the four groups. Results revealed scalar invariance and significant mean-score differences across all three measures. Particularly, sexually minoritized men had the lowest FAS and BI-AAQ-5 scores among the four groups; sexually minoritized women had lower BI-AAQ-5 scores than both heterosexual men and women; and heterosexual women had lower BAS-2 scores than heterosexual men. Overall, this research provided preliminary evidence to support comparing scores on the BAS-2, BI-AAQ-5, and FAS among the four groups. Healthcare providers should be cognizant of the role of sexual orientation in the Chinese cultural context when providing body image interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":48312,"journal":{"name":"Body Image","volume":"57 ","pages":"102076"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147475319","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-09DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2026.102074
Virginia L Ramseyer Winter, Antoinette M Landor, Viren Swami
Over a year ago, Landor et al. (2024) argued that white supremacy and racialised inequalities continue to affect body image scholarship and research. Drawing on theories of intersectionality and inclusivity, they advanced the Sociostructural-Intersectional Body Image (SIBI) framework, which centres the experiences of racialised bodies and provides researchers with a scaffold to begin challenging white supremacy and racism in body image research and practice. Building on Landor et al.'s (2024) position paper, this special issue brings together initial research drawing on the SIBI framework to examine the ways in which white supremacy and racism affect body image(s) in minoritised communities and how inclusive lenses can be deployed to dismantle the legacy of racism in body image work. In this introductory editorial, we present a brief description of the SIBI framework, consider relevant research that has begun to more fully consider racism and white supremacy in body image research and practice, and introduce the articles that are included in the special issue. We conclude by underscoring the need for further research that combats systemic racial inequalities and white supremacy, which will propel our field into explicitly anti-racist and decolonising research and practice.
{"title":"Racism, white supremacy, and resistance in body image research and practice: Introduction to the special issue.","authors":"Virginia L Ramseyer Winter, Antoinette M Landor, Viren Swami","doi":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2026.102074","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2026.102074","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Over a year ago, Landor et al. (2024) argued that white supremacy and racialised inequalities continue to affect body image scholarship and research. Drawing on theories of intersectionality and inclusivity, they advanced the Sociostructural-Intersectional Body Image (SIBI) framework, which centres the experiences of racialised bodies and provides researchers with a scaffold to begin challenging white supremacy and racism in body image research and practice. Building on Landor et al.'s (2024) position paper, this special issue brings together initial research drawing on the SIBI framework to examine the ways in which white supremacy and racism affect body image(s) in minoritised communities and how inclusive lenses can be deployed to dismantle the legacy of racism in body image work. In this introductory editorial, we present a brief description of the SIBI framework, consider relevant research that has begun to more fully consider racism and white supremacy in body image research and practice, and introduce the articles that are included in the special issue. We conclude by underscoring the need for further research that combats systemic racial inequalities and white supremacy, which will propel our field into explicitly anti-racist and decolonising research and practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":48312,"journal":{"name":"Body Image","volume":" ","pages":"102074"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147436767","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-01-17DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.102025
Ella H. Byrne, Toni D. Pikoos , Susan L. Rossell
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a distressing mental-health condition, associated with significant impacts to quality of life. As such, treatments for BDD require research attention. In this manuscript we systematically review the present psychotherapeutic treatment literature for BDD with a focus on efficacy and retention. We examine 40 studies, including 27 treatment studies and 13 additional studies that included observational and long-term data, or examined predictors of treatment response. Using meta-analysis, our results suggest that current psychotherapies for BDD achieve reasonable response rates (pooled response rate = 71.9 %), though estimates are more conservative among RCTs (pooled response rate = 69 %) and the available long-term data highlights the strong possibility of relapse following treatment. Our narrative synthesis explores the relationship between treatment and sample characteristics, efficacy and retention, revealing several important considerations when selecting appropriate treatments for BDD, including the incidence of comorbidities, a patient’s willingness to engage in exposure response prevention and group-based treatment components, patient age group and the treatment’s capacity to retain patients for the treatment course. Based on these findings we provide recommendations aimed at maximising therapist time to achieve efficacy and patient retention, in the context of global pressures on mental health systems.
{"title":"A meta-analysis and systematic review examining efficacy, acceptability and patient retention in psychotherapy studies for the treatment of body dysmorphic disorder","authors":"Ella H. Byrne, Toni D. Pikoos , Susan L. Rossell","doi":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.102025","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.102025","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a distressing mental-health condition, associated with significant impacts to quality of life. As such, treatments for BDD require research attention. In this manuscript we systematically review the present psychotherapeutic treatment literature for BDD with a focus on efficacy and retention. We examine 40 studies, including 27 treatment studies and 13 additional studies that included observational and long-term data, or examined predictors of treatment response. Using meta-analysis, our results suggest that current psychotherapies for BDD achieve reasonable response rates (pooled response rate = 71.9 %), though estimates are more conservative among RCTs (pooled response rate = 69 %) and the available long-term data highlights the strong possibility of relapse following treatment. Our narrative synthesis explores the relationship between treatment and sample characteristics, efficacy and retention, revealing several important considerations when selecting appropriate treatments for BDD, including the incidence of comorbidities, a patient’s willingness to engage in exposure response prevention and group-based treatment components, patient age group and the treatment’s capacity to retain patients for the treatment course. Based on these findings we provide recommendations aimed at maximising therapist time to achieve efficacy and patient retention, in the context of global pressures on mental health systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48312,"journal":{"name":"Body Image","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article 102025"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977147","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-12-22DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.102020
Jo R. Doley , Mikki Lilley , Joshua Marmara , Rachel F. Rodgers , Katherine Laveway
Body dissatisfaction (BD) and eating disorders (EDs) occur frequently among transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people. Tailored, empirically-based support for this cohort of TGD people is critical. This paper examined impacts of gender affirming care on BD and ED symptoms among TGD people. A systematic review and meta-analysis of existing literature (K = 24) was analysed through a random effects model, with separate analyses for gender (transgender men, transgender women and combined TGD) and type of gender affirming care (hormones and surgery). An exploratory narrative review (K = 45) examined impacts of gender affirming care on EDs by gender and type of gender affirming care separately. Hormonal treatment was associated with lowered BD for combined TGD samples (g = −0.462, p < .001) and transgender men (g = −0.609, p = .011). Surgery was associated with lowered body dissatisfaction for combined TGD samples (g = −0.991, p < .001) and transgender men (g = −0.926, p < .001,). Combined gender affirming care was associated with lowered BD for transgender women (g = −0.714, p < .001). Heterogeneity estimates suggest caution in generalising estimates for TM and for hormonal treatment, but broadly the meta-analyses suggest beneficial relationships with body image. Exploratory narrative review findings highlighted themes of alleviated EDs, though gender affirming care impacts were influenced by side effects such as weight gain, highlighting the need for further research on support throughout the treatment process. The findings call for primary, quantitative research on gender affirming care for each TGD gender and age group, focusing on BD for transgender women, EDs for all genders, and early intervention.
{"title":"The impact of gender affirming care on eating disorder symptoms and body dissatisfaction: A systematic review and meta-analysis amongst transgender and gender diverse populations","authors":"Jo R. Doley , Mikki Lilley , Joshua Marmara , Rachel F. Rodgers , Katherine Laveway","doi":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.102020","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.102020","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Body dissatisfaction (BD) and eating disorders (EDs) occur frequently among transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people. Tailored, empirically-based support for this cohort of TGD people is critical. This paper examined impacts of gender affirming care on BD and ED symptoms among TGD people. A systematic review and meta-analysis of existing literature (<em>K =</em> 24) was analysed through a random effects model, with separate analyses for gender (transgender men, transgender women and combined TGD) and type of gender affirming care (hormones and surgery). An exploratory narrative review (<em>K =</em> 45) examined impacts of gender affirming care on EDs by gender and type of gender affirming care separately. Hormonal treatment was associated with lowered BD for combined TGD samples (<em>g</em> = −0.462, <em>p</em> < .001) and transgender men (<em>g</em> = −0.609, <em>p</em> = .011). Surgery was associated with lowered body dissatisfaction for combined TGD samples (<em>g</em> = −0.991, <em>p</em> < .001) and transgender men (<em>g</em> = −0.926, <em>p</em> < .001,). Combined gender affirming care was associated with lowered BD for transgender women (<em>g</em> = −0.714, <em>p</em> < .001). Heterogeneity estimates suggest caution in generalising estimates for TM and for hormonal treatment, but broadly the meta-analyses suggest beneficial relationships with body image. Exploratory narrative review findings highlighted themes of alleviated EDs, though gender affirming care impacts were influenced by side effects such as weight gain, highlighting the need for further research on support throughout the treatment process. The findings call for primary, quantitative research on gender affirming care for each TGD gender and age group, focusing on BD for transgender women, EDs for all genders, and early intervention.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48312,"journal":{"name":"Body Image","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article 102020"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145821675","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2026.102039
Yunjia Ren , Xin Tian , Zheng Li , Xiang Li , Bo Zhao , Zhongqing Wang , Cheng Peng
Body image, as a multidimensional construct involving perceptual, affective, and embodied experiences, plays a significant role in health-related quality of life. Recently, research on body image has expanded rapidly across psychology, medicine, public health, and the social sciences; however, the intellectual structure and thematic evolution of this growing field remain insufficiently synthesized. This study provides a bibliometric and visualized analysis of global body image research from 2000 to 2024, based on 12,969 publications from the Web of Science Core Collection. Annual outputs increased from 113 publications in 2000 to a peak of 1029 in 2022. The United States (n = 4666; 35.98 %) dominated global production. Leading institutions included Harvard University (n = 183) and the University of Minnesota (n = 117). The most influential authors were Rachel F. Rodgers (n = 119) and Viren Swami (n = 113). Funding support was led by the Department of Health and Human Services (n = 604). Journal analysis confirmed Body Image as the primary outlet (n = 1040; citations = 28,703). Keyword analysis revealed four thematic clusters: body image and psychological mechanisms; eating disorders and mental health; adolescents, behavior, and self-esteem; and quality of life and health outcomes, each demonstrating distinct temporal evolution. Burst detection highlighted emerging research in mental health, social media, and evolving intervention-oriented research directions. This study provides a robust foundation for future research, highlighting the development of digital-based prevention and intervention strategies, and more inclusive global collaboration to address body image challenges in contemporary societies.
{"title":"Mapping the knowledge landscape of body image research: A bibliometric and visualized study","authors":"Yunjia Ren , Xin Tian , Zheng Li , Xiang Li , Bo Zhao , Zhongqing Wang , Cheng Peng","doi":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2026.102039","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2026.102039","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Body image, as a multidimensional construct involving perceptual, affective, and embodied experiences, plays a significant role in health-related quality of life. Recently, research on body image has expanded rapidly across psychology, medicine, public health, and the social sciences; however, the intellectual structure and thematic evolution of this growing field remain insufficiently synthesized. This study provides a bibliometric and visualized analysis of global body image research from 2000 to 2024, based on 12,969 publications from the Web of Science Core Collection. Annual outputs increased from 113 publications in 2000 to a peak of 1029 in 2022. The United States (n = 4666; 35.98 %) dominated global production. Leading institutions included Harvard University (n = 183) and the University of Minnesota (n = 117). The most influential authors were Rachel F. Rodgers (n = 119) and Viren Swami (n = 113). Funding support was led by the Department of Health and Human Services (n = 604). Journal analysis confirmed <em>Body Image</em> as the primary outlet (n = 1040; citations = 28,703). Keyword analysis revealed four thematic clusters: body image and psychological mechanisms; eating disorders and mental health; adolescents, behavior, and self-esteem; and quality of life and health outcomes, each demonstrating distinct temporal evolution. Burst detection highlighted emerging research in mental health, social media, and evolving intervention-oriented research directions. This study provides a robust foundation for future research, highlighting the development of digital-based prevention and intervention strategies, and more inclusive global collaboration to address body image challenges in contemporary societies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48312,"journal":{"name":"Body Image","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article 102039"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077107","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-12DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2026.102048
Kun Zhang , Qiaosong Wang , Huixing Huang , Tingxu Zhou , Linping Shang
The Positive Body Image among Adolescents Scale (PBIAS) is a multidimensional self-report measure specifically designed for the assessment of adolescent positive body image. It focuses on four core components: body self-appreciation, body other-appreciation, resilience against body ideals in media, and resilience against negative appearance feedback. In the present study, we translated the PBIAS into Chinese and tested the Chinese version of the PBIAS across three samples. Participants (N = 782) were adolescents aged from 14 to 19 years. Exploratory factor analysis, exploratory graph analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and exploratory structural equation modeling (χ2/df = 3.826 (p <.001), CFI = .953, TLI = .902, RMSEA = .089 (90 % CI [.076,.103]), SRMR = .031) collectively supported a four-factor structure similar to that of the original version. Pearson correlation analyses revealed that PBIAS scores were positively correlated with body appreciation and self-esteem, negatively correlated with appearance comparison, and unrelated to narcissism, thus confirming convergent validity and discriminant validity. Additionally, the Chinese version of the PBIAS demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency and gender invariance. Overall, the present study provides evidence for the sound psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the PBIAS, confirming its applicability in Chinese adolescents.
{"title":"Translation and validation of the Chinese version of the Positive Body Image among Adolescents Scale (PBIAS)","authors":"Kun Zhang , Qiaosong Wang , Huixing Huang , Tingxu Zhou , Linping Shang","doi":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2026.102048","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2026.102048","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Positive Body Image among Adolescents Scale (PBIAS) is a multidimensional self-report measure specifically designed for the assessment of adolescent positive body image. It focuses on four core components: body self-appreciation, body other-appreciation, resilience against body ideals in media, and resilience against negative appearance feedback. In the present study, we translated the PBIAS into Chinese and tested the Chinese version of the PBIAS across three samples. Participants (N = 782) were adolescents aged from 14 to 19 years. Exploratory factor analysis, exploratory graph analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and exploratory structural equation modeling (χ<sup>2</sup>/df = 3.826 (<em>p</em> <.001), CFI = .953, TLI = .902, RMSEA = .089 (90 % CI [.076,.103]), SRMR = .031) collectively supported a four-factor structure similar to that of the original version. Pearson correlation analyses revealed that PBIAS scores were positively correlated with body appreciation and self-esteem, negatively correlated with appearance comparison, and unrelated to narcissism, thus confirming convergent validity and discriminant validity. Additionally, the Chinese version of the PBIAS demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency and gender invariance. Overall, the present study provides evidence for the sound psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the PBIAS, confirming its applicability in Chinese adolescents.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48312,"journal":{"name":"Body Image","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article 102048"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146187770","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-12-29DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.102027
Fanny Alexandra Dietel , Rike Arkenau , Anika Bauer , Silvia Schneider , Silja Vocks
Although previous research has demonstrated biased body-related attention allocation in female adolescents, there is a lack of studies examining these patterns in male adolescents. Considering the growing body of evidence highlighting high levels of body dissatisfaction among male adolescents and findings that biased body-related attention perpetuates such dissatisfaction, this study aims to address this research gap. Eye movements of German male adolescents (n = 42; age: M = 14.88 years, SD = 1.70) and female adolescents (n = 43; age: M = 15.85, SD = 1.77) were recorded as they viewed images of their own body and a peer’s body. State measures of body dissatisfaction and affect were also collected for each condition. Results showed that boys, compared to girls, spent less time fixating on unattractive areas of their own body. Furthermore, boys allocated equal attention to attractive and unattractive areas of both their own and a peer’s body, while girls exhibited a more deficit-oriented attention pattern. Regarding state measures, boys were less negatively affected by viewing images of bodies than girls. However, both genders reported higher body dissatisfaction after viewing their own body compared to a peer’s body. Overall, these findings provide evidence of gender differences in body-related attention allocation, with boys potentially displaying a more self-serving attention pattern. Nonetheless, the negative impact of viewing one’s own body, as observed in both genders, highlights the importance of addressing body-related concerns in male adolescents, for example, through tailored prevention programs.
{"title":"Gender-specific differences in body-related attention allocation in adolescents: An eye-tracking study","authors":"Fanny Alexandra Dietel , Rike Arkenau , Anika Bauer , Silvia Schneider , Silja Vocks","doi":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.102027","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.102027","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Although previous research has demonstrated biased body-related attention allocation in female adolescents, there is a lack of studies examining these patterns in male adolescents. Considering the growing body of evidence highlighting high levels of body dissatisfaction among male adolescents and findings that biased body-related attention perpetuates such dissatisfaction, this study aims to address this research gap. Eye movements of German male adolescents (<em>n</em> = 42; age: <em>M</em> = 14.88 years, <em>SD</em> = 1.70) and female adolescents (<em>n</em> = 43; age: <em>M</em> = 15.85, <em>SD</em> = 1.77) were recorded as they viewed images of their own body and a peer’s body. State measures of body dissatisfaction and affect were also collected for each condition. Results showed that boys, compared to girls, spent less time fixating on unattractive areas of their own body. Furthermore, boys allocated equal attention to attractive and unattractive areas of both their own and a peer’s body, while girls exhibited a more deficit-oriented attention pattern. Regarding state measures, boys were less negatively affected by viewing images of bodies than girls. However, both genders reported higher body dissatisfaction after viewing their own body compared to a peer’s body. Overall, these findings provide evidence of gender differences in body-related attention allocation, with boys potentially displaying a more self-serving attention pattern. Nonetheless, the negative impact of viewing one’s own body, as observed in both genders, highlights the importance of addressing body-related concerns in male adolescents, for example, through tailored prevention programs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48312,"journal":{"name":"Body Image","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article 102027"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145864807","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-14DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2026.102043
Minh Duc Chu , Cinthia Sánchez , Zihao He , Rebecca Dorn , Stuart B. Murray , Kristina Lerman
The pervasive expectations about ideal body types in Western society can lead to body image concerns, dissatisfaction, and in extreme cases, eating disorders and other psychopathologies related to body image. While previous research has focused on online pro-anorexia communities glorifying the “thin ideal”, less attention has been given to the broader spectrum of body image concerns or how emerging disorders like muscle dysmorphia (“bigorexia”) present in online platforms. To address this gap, we analyze 46 Reddit forums related to diet, fitness, and mental health. We mapped these communities along gender and body ideal dimensions, revealing distinct patterns of emotional expression and community support. Feminine-oriented communities, especially those endorsing the thin ideal, expressed higher levels of negative emotions and received caring comments in response. In contrast, muscular ideal communities displayed less negativity, regardless of gender orientation, but received aggressive compliments in response, marked by admiration and toxicity. Mental health discussions aligned more with thin ideal, feminine-leaning spaces. By uncovering these gendered emotional dynamics, our findings can inform the development of moderation strategies that foster supportive interactions while reducing exposure to harmful content.
{"title":"Leveraging machine learning to identify gendered stereotypes and body image concerns on diet and fitness online forums","authors":"Minh Duc Chu , Cinthia Sánchez , Zihao He , Rebecca Dorn , Stuart B. Murray , Kristina Lerman","doi":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2026.102043","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2026.102043","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The pervasive expectations about ideal body types in Western society can lead to body image concerns, dissatisfaction, and in extreme cases, eating disorders and other psychopathologies related to body image. While previous research has focused on online pro-anorexia communities glorifying the “thin ideal”, less attention has been given to the broader spectrum of body image concerns or how emerging disorders like muscle dysmorphia (“bigorexia”) present in online platforms. To address this gap, we analyze 46 Reddit forums related to diet, fitness, and mental health. We mapped these communities along gender and body ideal dimensions, revealing distinct patterns of emotional expression and community support. Feminine-oriented communities, especially those endorsing the thin ideal, expressed higher levels of negative emotions and received caring comments in response. In contrast, muscular ideal communities displayed less negativity, regardless of gender orientation, but received aggressive compliments in response, marked by admiration and toxicity. Mental health discussions aligned more with thin ideal, feminine-leaning spaces. By uncovering these gendered emotional dynamics, our findings can inform the development of moderation strategies that foster supportive interactions while reducing exposure to harmful content.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48312,"journal":{"name":"Body Image","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article 102043"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146187740","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-01-28DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2026.102038
Robert A. Carels, Kaitlyn DeRouen, Abigail L. Metzler, Parker Woodall, Rhonda Byrd, Emily Jansen, Lydia Mansour
Stigma consciousness refers to an individual difference in the extent to which members of stereotyped groups believe that their stereotyped status permeates interactions with out-group members. This investigation examined whether stigma consciousness contributed unique variance in predicting mental well-being, and eating and positive body image outcomes (i.e., depression, self-esteem, body appreciation, intuitive eating, emotional eating) after controlling for experienced weight stigma (EWS), including fat microaggressions (FM), and internalized weight bias (IWB). Study participants (N = 288) were recruited through a Qualtrics research panel, all of whom were required to be at least 18 years old with a BMI > 25. In hierarchical regressions predicting self-esteem, depression, body appreciation, and intuitive eating, stigma consciousness significantly accounted for 3.7–20.0 % of unique variance beyond EWS, FM, and IWB. Stigma consciousness was not associated with emotional eating and did not predict depressive symptoms after accounting for weight stigma. The belief that one is being judged according to stereotypes may not be sufficient to induce occurrences of emotional eating, nor contribute uniquely to depression symptoms above and beyond weight stigma. These findings indicate that stigma consciousness is not redundant with existing weight-related constructs such as FM, IWB, and EWS in predicting self-esteem, body appreciation, and intuitive eating. These findings further indicate that the expectation that an individual is being judged based on stereotypes related to their identity is associated with negative psychological outcomes. Developing interventions to empower individuals and buffer against the harmful effects of stigma consciousness is imperative.
{"title":"The association between stigma consciousness and weight stigma, psychological well-being, positive body image, and eating behaviors","authors":"Robert A. Carels, Kaitlyn DeRouen, Abigail L. Metzler, Parker Woodall, Rhonda Byrd, Emily Jansen, Lydia Mansour","doi":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2026.102038","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2026.102038","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Stigma consciousness refers to an individual difference in the extent to which members of stereotyped groups believe that their stereotyped status permeates interactions with out-group members. This investigation examined whether stigma consciousness contributed unique variance in predicting mental well-being, and eating and positive body image outcomes (i.e., depression, self-esteem, body appreciation, intuitive eating, emotional eating) after controlling for experienced weight stigma (EWS), including fat microaggressions (FM), and internalized weight bias (IWB). Study participants (<em>N</em> = 288) were recruited through a Qualtrics research panel, all of whom were required to be at least 18 years old with a BMI > 25. In hierarchical regressions predicting self-esteem, depression, body appreciation, and intuitive eating, stigma consciousness significantly accounted for 3.7–20.0 % of unique variance beyond EWS, FM, and IWB. Stigma consciousness was not associated with emotional eating and did not predict depressive symptoms after accounting for weight stigma. The belief that one is being judged according to stereotypes may not be sufficient to induce occurrences of emotional eating, nor contribute uniquely to depression symptoms above and beyond weight stigma. These findings indicate that stigma consciousness is not redundant with existing weight-related constructs such as FM, IWB, and EWS in predicting self-esteem, body appreciation, and intuitive eating. These findings further indicate that the expectation that an individual is being judged based on stereotypes related to their identity is associated with negative psychological outcomes. Developing interventions to empower individuals and buffer against the harmful effects of stigma consciousness is imperative.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48312,"journal":{"name":"Body Image","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article 102038"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077103","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-12-02DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.102005
Amelia C. Couture Bue , Dar Meshi
Women who use highly visual social media platforms (e.g., Instagram) frequently experience body dissatisfaction and negative affect, but evidence of effective interventions is limited. Self-affirmation interventions, which reinforce a positive self-image prior to a threat, provide a promising but understudied solution to body image disturbance following social media use. In this experiment, 250 college-aged women from the U.S. were randomly assigned to complete one of three writing tasks: a general affirmation, a body positive affirmation, or a control task. Participants then viewed ten Instagram posts with either idealized images of influencers or nature images and reported on their body satisfaction and affect (scored as negative, positive, and combined). Results indicated that, as predicted, women who saw idealized influencers in the absence of an intervention expressed lower positive affect and lower body satisfaction after seeing the images. Contrary to predictions, participants in both intervention conditions also expressed less positive affect and lower body satisfaction after seeing the images, and the body positive affirmation may have even been harmful. We discuss the implications of our findings, describing how nuances in operationalization of affect-related variables may affect interpretation of results.
{"title":"The harmful effects of idealized Instagram content: Self-affirmation interventions do not mitigate decreased body satisfaction and less positive affect","authors":"Amelia C. Couture Bue , Dar Meshi","doi":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.102005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.102005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Women who use highly visual social media platforms (e.g., Instagram) frequently experience body dissatisfaction and negative affect, but evidence of effective interventions is limited. Self-affirmation interventions, which reinforce a positive self-image prior to a threat, provide a promising but understudied solution to body image disturbance following social media use. In this experiment, 250 college-aged women from the U.S. were randomly assigned to complete one of three writing tasks: a general affirmation, a body positive affirmation, or a control task. Participants then viewed ten Instagram posts with either idealized images of influencers or nature images and reported on their body satisfaction and affect (scored as negative, positive, and combined). Results indicated that, as predicted, women who saw idealized influencers in the absence of an intervention expressed lower positive affect and lower body satisfaction after seeing the images. Contrary to predictions, participants in both intervention conditions also expressed less positive affect and lower body satisfaction after seeing the images, and the body positive affirmation may have even been harmful. We discuss the implications of our findings, describing how nuances in operationalization of affect-related variables may affect interpretation of results.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48312,"journal":{"name":"Body Image","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article 102005"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145670436","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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