Body Image最新文献

Visual Analogue Scales (VASs) are very commonly used to measure short-term effects on state body satisfaction, the in-the-moment subjective evaluation of one’s own body. However, VASs lack easily understood metrics for comparing and interpreting the size of different effects, with the result that researchers often conclude that any statistically significant change on these 101-point scales is practically important. In addition to test-retest reliability and construct validity, here we estimate the smallest subjectively experienced difference for a one-item body satisfaction VAS. Seven points of change on the VAS was a useful cut-off for distinguishing participants who subjectively experienced no change (n = 603) versus those who experienced at least a little decrease in body satisfaction (n = 301) between two timepoints. With reference specifically to media influences on body satisfaction, we show how the smallest subjectively experienced difference may be used as an easily interpreted effect size metric when comparing and interpreting the size of different effects, as well as determining who is, and who is not, subject to those effects. We highlight how having this metric available to researchers can aid in the exploration and communication of different short-term influences on state body satisfaction.

The Functionality Appreciation Scale (FAS) is increasingly used in diverse national and linguistic contexts. However, limited work has assessed the extent to which the instrument demonstrates measurement invariance and differential item functioning (DIF) across nations and respondent characteristics. Here, we examined measurement invariance and DIF of the FAS using archival data from adults in Colombia (Mebarak et al., 2023) and Spain (Zamora et al., 2024). Participants included 1420 (women n = 804, men n = 616) respondents from Colombia and 838 (women n = 415, men n = 423) respondents from Spain who completed translations of the FAS. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a unidimensional structure of the FAS in both national groups. Additionally, the FAS achieved full measurement invariance (up to latent mean invariance) across both groups. We also found that the FAS lacked DIF as a function of age, body mass index (BMI), and gender identity across both national groups. Older participants (relative to younger participants), men (relative to women), and participants with lower BMIs (relative to those with higher BMIs) had higher FAS scores. These results support the notion that the FAS is measuring a common underlying construct across these national groups and respondent characteristics.

Weight stigma, and more specifically, anti-fat attitudes, is associated with disordered eating. Furthermore, these anti-fat attitudes influence various appearance ideals. Muscle dysmorphia (MD) is characterized by preoccupation with the muscular ideal and is a potential form of disordered eating commonly experienced by men. Despite theory suggesting that anti-fat attitudes may contribute to MD, research has yet to examine associations between anti-fat attitudes and MD symptoms. Therefore, the current study investigated longitudinal relationships between anti-fat attitudes and MD symptoms. Participants were 269 U.S. men recruited from Prolific who completed three self-report surveys each separated by one month. Primary analyses examined longitudinal relationships between specific anti-fat attitudes and MD symptoms using an adapted three-wave cross-lagged panel model. Results demonstrated that believing that fat people do not have willpower was longitudinally associated with desires to increase muscle size at multiple time points. Furthermore, MD-specific functional impairment predicted fears of becoming fat longitudinally. Practically, men may desire to increase their muscularity to demonstrate their own willpower and distance themselves from anti-fat stereotypes. Thus, clinicians may consider targeting weight stigmatizing attitudes to reduce MD symptom severity among their male clients.

Coaches’ role in athletes’ eating pathology has been largely understood according to athletes’ accounts of the coaching behaviors and practices that harmed them. Uniquely, this study engaged coaches as research participants to more fully inform future intervention efforts. Using a multiparadigm approach, this study explored how coaches’ understood, constructed, and communicated sport-related body ideals with their female athletes through specific coaching behaviors and practices along with systems of influence and interaction that informed them. Ten coaches (Mage= 35.6) of female aesthetic sport athletes were interviewed. Data were analysed via interpretive description. Results indicated coaches’ negative experiences as athletes themselves informed their intention to prevent harm with athletes they coached. Coaches nonetheless emphasized weight, shape, size, and appearance ideals steeped in sport tradition. Dissonance was salient between wanting to prevent harm using strategic approaches to body-related communication, while also reinforcing body ideals believed to promote high performance. Yet, neither athletes’ performance goals nor prevention of harm were attained. Influences across coaches’ ecosystems explained their behaviors and practices. A novel framework is proposed to describe five intersectional body ideal orientations embodied by the coaches, ranging from body ideal conformity to body diversity advocacy. This framework can inform coach-centered, systems-based education and research.

Extensive cross-sectional research reports that body fat and muscularity dissatisfaction contribute to negative psychological outcomes among sexual minority men; however, longitudinal models are necessary for accurately quantifying the strength and direction of these relationships. We investigated the bidirectional longitudinal relationships of body fat and muscularity dissatisfaction with psychological quality of life among 2953 sexual minority men using random intercept cross-lagged panel models. Consistent with existing literature, we found that higher average muscularity and body fat dissatisfaction were associated with higher average psychological quality of life impairment between-persons. Unexpectedly, these constructs were not significantly associated within-persons/longitudinally. These findings conflict existing literature’s conclusions that muscularity and body fat dissatisfaction consistently contribute to poorer psychological wellbeing in this population. A significant between-person relationship in the absence of within-person relationships suggests that intermediary constructs (e.g., body ideal internalization) may account for the between-person effects of muscularity and body fat dissatisfaction on psychological wellbeing. Future research can accurately estimate these effects and identify reliable intervention targets by ensuring that within- and between-person relationships are examined separately, rather than being conflated.

There has been considerable recent interest in and reference to body neutrality, despite limited scholarship on differences from existing constructs. Our study examined perceptions of body neutrality in 229 individuals (researchers, clinicians, eating disorder lived experience, general community). Questions explored definitions of body neutrality, its similarity and differences to other concepts, perceived benefits and risks of adopting a body neutrality approach, and ratings on the usefulness of proposed components. Participants defined body neutrality as adopting an accepting, non-judgemental approach to one’s body, de-emphasising the importance of appearance, and viewing the body as a vessel that carries a person through life. Perceived benefits included it being more accessible than existing approaches and a useful coping strategy, while risks were that neutrality can be difficult to adopt in an appearance focused society and that it may prompt an apathetic response to self-care. Body neutrality was rated as conceptually similar to functionality appreciation, body acceptance, and body compassion, and definitions consistent with these terms were rated most favourably. Our findings show how body neutrality is perceived and used by experts and the general community. However, we question whether this conceptualisation is distinct from existing positive body image concepts.

Writing tasks that encourage an appreciation of body functionality can improve women’s body image and may buffer against negative effects of idealised media exposure. However, no research has examined whether these tasks can serve as a coping strategy after idealised exposure. To this end, young adult women (N = 217, M_age = 21.63) recruited from an Australian university and general community completed a writing task after idealised media exposure, with state body image measures taken at baseline, post-exposure, and post-task. Women were randomly allocated to one of three writing tasks and asked to appreciate their body functionality, to focus on the previously viewed images (rumination), or to describe a frequently travelled route (distraction). Improvements on outcome measures were equally found across both the functionality and distraction condition. Only body appreciation uniquely improved in the functionality condition. The functionality task was rated more helpful but also more challenging. These findings add to the evidence base regarding the usefulness of functionality-based writing tasks for improving women’s body image. They can offer immediate benefits when experiencing body image distress, as can distraction, and future research should explore their utility in driving more sustained and deeper ways of engaging with one’s body long-term.

Mobile Dating Applications (MDAs) are integral to young adults’ lives, serving as a platform for romantic and sexual self-presentation during the search for potential partners. Despite its potential link to adverse outcomes including body shame, the prevalence of sexualized self-presentation remains understudied. This pre-registered linkage study addresses this gap by documenting sexualized self-presentation while considering individual differences related to gender, sexual orientation, and body image. Young adults donated MDA (Tinder, Bumble) profile screenshots (n_biographies = 443, n_pictures = 1277; M_age = 23.15, SD = 2.94; 72.20 % women). Of those 443 participants, 237 additionally completed a body image linkage survey (M_age = 23.36, SD = 2.90; 71.30 % women). Sexualized self-presentation appeared in 4.30 % of biographies and 56.80 % of profile pictures, mainly through sexualized facial expressions. Women, non-heterosexual users, and those holding a more negative body image engaged more in sexualized self-presentation. Platform type and positive body image indicators did not relate to engagement in sexualized self-presentation. Future research is recommended to explore whether the extensive presence of sexualized self-presentations on MDAs impacts users’ personal and relational well-being.

Interpersonal distance (IPD) refers to the distance naturally maintained during social interactions, while peripersonal space (PPS) refers to the immediate space surrounding the body, or the space within reaching distance. Previous research has preliminarily indicated that IPD is associated with body image disturbances. We sought to expand extant literature by exploring associations between aspects of positive and negative body image, IPD, and PPS. Seventy-five women from the United Kingdom aged 18–40 years completed measures of body appreciation, body image flexibility, body shame, body surveillance, and body dissatisfaction. IPD boundaries were estimated using a lab-based comfort-distance task, whereas PPS boundaries were estimated using an audio-tactile reaction-time task. Measures of body acceptance by others and fear of negative evaluation were completed as potential mediators. Overall, we identified positive associations between IPD, body surveillance, and fear of negative evaluation, with no statistically significant associations identified between the other indices. The association between active IPD and body surveillance was mediated by fear of negative evaluation, even after controlling for demographic factors. These findings suggest a nuanced relationship between IPD and body image-related factors, highlighting the role of social evaluation anxiety. Future investigations should use experimental designs to further understand these relationships and their implications.

Rumination regarding appearance is a major cause of body dissatisfaction among adolescents. Body ‎image concerns in this age group may lead to ‎considerable psychological distress. Studies suggest that adaptive emotion regulation strategies such as cognitive reappraisal and self-compassion can counteract the harmful consequences of rumination. The goal of the current study was to assess if and to what extent cognitive reappraisal and self-compassion can improve female adolescents’ body satisfaction and appreciation after engaging in appearance-related rumination. ‎Using an experimental design, 142 healthy female adolescents underwent an appearance-related rumination induction. ‎Following this, participants were randomly allocated to one of three experimental conditions requiring to implement either self-compassion, cognitive reappraisal, or rumination using a writing task. State body dissatisfaction ‎and appreciation were assessed at baseline, post-appearance rumination, and post-‎writing tasks. Appearance-related rumination increased state body dissatisfaction and reduced body appreciation in all groups. Importantly, state body dissatisfaction and appreciation fully restored to their baseline levels after implementing self-compassion and cognitive reappraisal, but not rumination. The findings provide empirical evidence regarding the negative consequences of appearance-related rumination among adolescents and demonstrate how adaptive emotion regulation strategies can assist in coping efficiently with appearance-related rumination.