Social Roles as a Moderator of the Relationship Between Internalization of Body Shape Ideals and Body Dissatisfaction Among Women in Middle Adulthood

Social Roles as a Moderator of the Relationship Between Internalization of Body Shape Ideals and Body Dissatisfaction Among Women in Middle Adulthood PDF Author: Jenny H. Jo
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Body image in women
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Research focusing on body dissatisfaction and its contributing factors, such as internalization of body shape ideals (i.e., thin-ideal and muscular-ideal), remains sparse among women in middle adulthood. Furthermore, social life roles (i.e., parental and marital status) and achievements (i.e., educational attainment), typically substantiated in middle adulthood, may represent important factors that moderate the relationship between internalization of body shape ideals and body dissatisfaction among women in middle adulthood. The present thesis sought to examine the association between internalization of body shape ideals (i.e., thin-ideal and muscular-ideal) and body dissatisfaction in a sample of women in middle adulthood. This study also sought to examine whether social roles (i.e., marital status, parental status, and educational status) moderate the association between internalization of body shape ideals (i.e., thin-ideal and muscular-ideal) and body dissatisfaction among women in middle adulthood. Analyses were conducted utilizing cross-sectional data of 349 women in middle adulthood (mean (SD) age=50.17 (9.61) years; age range=35-65 years) who completed assessments evaluating for thin-ideal internalization, muscular-ideal internalization, and body dissatisfaction. Models for moderation were examined with age and BMI as covariates. Higher levels of thin-ideal internalization and muscular-ideal internalization were associated with greater levels of body dissatisfaction among women in middle adulthood, above and beyond age and BMI. However, the association between muscular-ideal internalization and body dissatisfaction was diminished without BMI in the model, suggesting statistical suppression. Neither marital status and parental status significantly interacted with body-shape ideal internalization in predicting body dissatisfaction. Education status significantly interacted with thin-ideal internalization, but not muscular-ideal internalization, in predicting body dissatisfaction. At lower educational attainment, thin-ideal internalization was more strongly related to body dissatisfaction than at higher educational attainment. This study adds to the growing literature examining the association between body-shape ideal internalization and body dissatisfaction among women in middle adulthood. Furthermore, this study is the first to examine how social roles may moderate the relationship between body-shape ideal internalization and body dissatisfaction among women in middle adulthood. This study was limited to a cross-sectional design which precludes inferences on the direction of causality and temporal associations. Thus, longitudinal designs should be used in future research understand temporal relationships among these variables.

Social Roles as a Moderator of the Relationship Between Internalization of Body Shape Ideals and Body Dissatisfaction Among Women in Middle Adulthood

Social Roles as a Moderator of the Relationship Between Internalization of Body Shape Ideals and Body Dissatisfaction Among Women in Middle Adulthood PDF Author: Jenny H. Jo
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Body image in women
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Research focusing on body dissatisfaction and its contributing factors, such as internalization of body shape ideals (i.e., thin-ideal and muscular-ideal), remains sparse among women in middle adulthood. Furthermore, social life roles (i.e., parental and marital status) and achievements (i.e., educational attainment), typically substantiated in middle adulthood, may represent important factors that moderate the relationship between internalization of body shape ideals and body dissatisfaction among women in middle adulthood. The present thesis sought to examine the association between internalization of body shape ideals (i.e., thin-ideal and muscular-ideal) and body dissatisfaction in a sample of women in middle adulthood. This study also sought to examine whether social roles (i.e., marital status, parental status, and educational status) moderate the association between internalization of body shape ideals (i.e., thin-ideal and muscular-ideal) and body dissatisfaction among women in middle adulthood. Analyses were conducted utilizing cross-sectional data of 349 women in middle adulthood (mean (SD) age=50.17 (9.61) years; age range=35-65 years) who completed assessments evaluating for thin-ideal internalization, muscular-ideal internalization, and body dissatisfaction. Models for moderation were examined with age and BMI as covariates. Higher levels of thin-ideal internalization and muscular-ideal internalization were associated with greater levels of body dissatisfaction among women in middle adulthood, above and beyond age and BMI. However, the association between muscular-ideal internalization and body dissatisfaction was diminished without BMI in the model, suggesting statistical suppression. Neither marital status and parental status significantly interacted with body-shape ideal internalization in predicting body dissatisfaction. Education status significantly interacted with thin-ideal internalization, but not muscular-ideal internalization, in predicting body dissatisfaction. At lower educational attainment, thin-ideal internalization was more strongly related to body dissatisfaction than at higher educational attainment. This study adds to the growing literature examining the association between body-shape ideal internalization and body dissatisfaction among women in middle adulthood. Furthermore, this study is the first to examine how social roles may moderate the relationship between body-shape ideal internalization and body dissatisfaction among women in middle adulthood. This study was limited to a cross-sectional design which precludes inferences on the direction of causality and temporal associations. Thus, longitudinal designs should be used in future research understand temporal relationships among these variables.

The Impact of Social Comparison on Body Dissatisfaction in the Naturalistic Environment

The Impact of Social Comparison on Body Dissatisfaction in the Naturalistic Environment PDF Author: Taryn A. Myers
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Feminism
Languages : en
Pages : 136

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Book Description
Drawing on Festinger's (1954) social comparison theory and its modern applications, this research investigated the relationship between upward appearance-focused social comparisons and body dissatisfaction using Ecological Momentary Assessment, which allows for examination of these phenomena in their natural context. Participants were 94 undergraduate women, who answered questionnaires five times per day for five days using Palm Personal Data Assistant (PDA) devices. Analyses were conducted using Hierarchical Linear Modeling, which allows for examination of longitudinal data both within and across participants. Results revealed a positive relationship between upward, appearance-focused social comparisons and body dissatisfaction. This relationship was moderated by thin-ideal internalization; in addition, feminist beliefs moderated the relationship between upward, appearance-focused social comparisons and body checking, the behavioral component of body dissatisfaction. Although appearance schema activation did not mediate the relationship between social comparison and body dissatisfaction, the related construct of appearance schematicity served as a moderator the social comparison-body dissatisfaction relationship. As a secondary research question, the impact of social comparison and subsequent body dissatisfaction on thoughts of exercising and dieting was examined. Social comparison was found to be related to both types of thoughts, and body dissatisfaction partially mediated these relationships. These findings further illuminate the nature of the relationship between social comparison and body dissatisfaction while expanding its study using novel technology.

A Social Relations Examination of Body Image

A Social Relations Examination of Body Image PDF Author: Kathryn Mary Huryk
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781658490795
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 159

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Book Description
Studies examining sociocultural models of disordered eating and body image have demonstrated that appearance-related social comparisons play a mechanistic role in the development and maintenance of body dissatisfaction amongst young women. The most frequent and consequential forms of body comparison are those that young women make with the bodies of their real-life peers and acquaintances, whom they encounter in daily life. Researchers have posited that these comparisons provide women with evidence of the discrepancy between their actual and ideal bodies, resulting in the experience of being dissatisfied. This theory evokes unanswered questions about how women perceive and evaluate the size of their own and others’ bodies. The current study was the first to attempt to apply the methodology of the Social Relations Model (SRM) to the examination of body image in a naturalistic peer group. In doing so, this study aimed to elucidate how young women perceive their own and others’ bodies, while accounting for the complexities of interpersonal perceptual dynamics. Participant groups were recruited from undergraduate sororities, given that sorority women are at increased risk for body dissatisfaction. The online survey consisted of self-ratings and other-ratings of body image distortion and dissatisfaction, as well as self-reports of thin-ideal internalization and social identity. The final sample of participants who completed the survey consisted of 31 sorority women with a mean age of 20.19 years, from a diverse range of sociodemographic backgrounds. The sample size was insufficient to support SRM analysis, and post hoc analysis was pursued to address a subset of study aims. Results suggested that sorority women demonstrated minimal levels of self and other-related body image distortion and dissatisfaction, but that variability in these effects may be related to other features of the target and rater. The current study provided pilot data to support future SRM analysis of body image, and feasibility issues encountered in the present project are discussed.

Self-determined Non-conformity, Feminine Gender Roles, and Feminist Ideals as Resistance Factors Against Internalization of the Thin Ideal Body and Body Dissatisfaction

Self-determined Non-conformity, Feminine Gender Roles, and Feminist Ideals as Resistance Factors Against Internalization of the Thin Ideal Body and Body Dissatisfaction PDF Author: Carly S. Bicheler
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Body image disturbance
Languages : en
Pages : 188

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Book Description
"The relationship between body dissatisfaction and the development of disordered eating has been widely studied in psychology (e.g., Steiner-Adair, 1986; Streigel-Moore, Silberstein, & Rodin, 1986). This research has documented the apparent link between sociocultural pressures (from media and interpersonal relationships) and eating pathology. Stice (1994) developed the Sociocultural Model of Bulimia (SMB), positing that this relationship would be mediated by internalization of the thin ideal body presented in U.S. culture, and body dissatisfaction. Stice and other researchers hypothesized that some factors may interrupt this link at different points within the SMB. However, this literature has, to a large extent, neglected to examine potential resistance factors that women can actively learn and use to resist internalization and/or body dissatisfaction (Twamley & Davis, 1999). The studies that did address the role of active resistance factors within the SMB had two major problems: defining and measuring these resistance factors. The present study used the SMB as a foundation to investigate three potential resistance factors that may moderate relationships within the SMB: self-determined non-conformity, rejection of traditional feminine gender roles, and endorsement of feminist ideals. This study was designed to improve upon the work of previous studies by using more appropriate measures of these factors and clarifying their potential moderating roles within the SMB. Two hundred fifty-seven women from a wide range of ages and backgrounds provided questionnaire data and demographic information. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used to establish whether or not these three factors moderated the relationship between sociocultural pressures and internalization and/or the relationship between internalization and body dissatisfaction within the SMB, and to test gender roles as a mediator of the relationship between sociocultural pressures and internalization. Results indicated that self-determined non-conformity, rejection of tradition feminine gender roles, and endorsement of feminist ideals do not act as moderators in the relationship between sociocultural pressures and internalization, or in the relationship between internalization and body dissatisfaction. Gender roles were found to partially mediate the relationship between sociocultural pressures and internalization. Implications, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed."--Abstract.

Social Comparison of Body Image in Middle-Aged Women: Implications for Body Image Theory

Social Comparison of Body Image in Middle-Aged Women: Implications for Body Image Theory PDF Author: Frances Bozsik
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Body image in women
Languages : en
Pages : 155

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Book Description
Body image dissatisfaction persists into middle age for women. Despite this, most research addressing this area has focused on younger adult women. Therefore, this study sought to explore middle-aged women’s body image experience in more depth. Specifically, aspects of the Tripartite Influence Model, including media pressure, interpersonal pressure, internalization, and social comparison were explored to examine their relevance for middle-aged women’s body image. A sample of 158 predominately White participants completed this online study (87 younger adult women, 71 middle-aged adult women). Participants completed questionnaires which examined perceived interpersonal pressure within close relationships, media usage, self-comparison to media and to close others, and eating disorder symptoms. Results indicated that middle-aged women were frequently exposed to different forms of media than younger adult women; however, parallel to younger adult women, they compared their body shape to similarly-aged media models. Further, body shape and weight comparisons were made to peers and family members to a similar degree as in a younger sample. Middle-aged women reported perceiving the most consistent pressure to alter their shape and weight from their children and partners, though peer pressure to alter the body was more closely related to disordered eating symptoms. These findings suggest that elements of the Tripartite Influence Model apply to middle-aged women. Clinically, these findings may be used to inform treatment for body image concerns and disordered eating among middle-aged White women.

The Body Project

The Body Project PDF Author: Eric Stice
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 0199859248
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 305

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Book Description
Eating disorders are among the most prevalent psychiatric disorders in adolescent and young adult females, affecting approximately 10% of young women. Unfortunately, less than half of those with eating disorders receive treatment, which can be very expensive. Thus, effective prevention has become a major public health priority. The Body Project is an empirically based eating disorder prevention program that offers young women an opportunity to critically consider the costs of pursuing the ultra-thin ideal promoted in the mass media, which improves body acceptance and reduces risk for developing eating disorders. Young women with elevated body dissatisfaction are recruited for group sessions in which they participate in a series of verbal, written, and behavioral exercises in which they consider the negative effects of pursuing the thin-ideal. Chapters provide information on the significance of body image and eating disorders, the intervention theory, the evidence base which supports the theory, recruitment and training procedures, solutions to common challenges, and a new program aimed at reducing obesity onset, as well as intervention scripts and participant handouts. The Body Project is the only currently available eating disorder prevention program that has been shown to reduce risk for onset of eating disorders and received support in trials conducted by several independent research groups. The group sessions are brief and fun to lead, and this guide provides all of the necessary information to walk clinicians, teachers, counselors, and volunteers through leading the program for vulnerable young women.

Media Exposure and Body Dissatisfaction

Media Exposure and Body Dissatisfaction PDF Author: L. Alison Davis
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Body image in women
Languages : en
Pages : 168

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Book Description


Exploration of a Dissonance-based Body Dissatisfaction Intervention

Exploration of a Dissonance-based Body Dissatisfaction Intervention PDF Author: Sarah M. Godoy
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781321151428
Category : Body image disturbance
Languages : en
Pages : 84

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Book Description
Results showed preliminary support for a model incorporating discussion of values and identity as part of a dissonance-based approach. Significant short-term findings were found, including decreased thin ideal internalization, decreased body dissatisfaction, and improved self-esteem.

Does Culture Moderate the Relationship Between Awareness and Internalization of Western Ideals and the Development of Body Dissatisfaction in Women?

Does Culture Moderate the Relationship Between Awareness and Internalization of Western Ideals and the Development of Body Dissatisfaction in Women? PDF Author: Cortney Soderlind Warren
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
The sociocultural model of eating disorders suggests that awareness of a thin physical ideal directly affects internalization of that ideal, which in turn, directly affects body dissatisfaction. The current study evaluated the general accuracy of the sociocultural model and examined the potential for ethnicity to protect against eating disorder symptomatology by moderating the relationships between awareness and internalization and between internalization and body dissatisfaction. Spanish (n = 100), Mexican American (n = 100), and Euro-American (n = 100) female participants completed various questionnaires measuring sociocultural attitudes towards appearance and body dissatisfaction. Analysis of covariance with tests of homogeneity of slope and path analysis using maximum likelihood with robust standard errors tested the two relationships by ethnic group. Results supported the sociocultural model: there was strong evidence for the mediational effect of internalization on the relationship between awareness and body dissatisfaction. Furthermore, ethnicity moderated the relationships such that both relationships were significantly stronger for Euro-American women than for Mexican American or Spanish women. Within the Mexican American group level of acculturation also moderated these relationships. Taken together, the results of this study highlight how ethnicity can protect against the development of eating disorder symptoms. Denouncing the thin ideal, minimizing appearance as an indicator of female value, and emphasizing personal traits other than appearance as determinants of worth are important in protecting against the development of body dissatisfaction and more severe eating pathology.

The Role of General and Media-specific Social Comparisons on Body Dissatisfaction

The Role of General and Media-specific Social Comparisons on Body Dissatisfaction PDF Author: Nicole D. Huelskamp
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Mass media
Languages : en
Pages : 108

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Book Description
Abstract: Research has shown that women are adversely affected by the media portrayals of extremely thin women. Exposure to these images often leads to body dissatisfaction which is often a precursor to the development of eating disorders. Research has used social comparison as a framework for why only some women are affected more negatively than others from this media exposure. This study was intended to extend this research by investigating the relationship between general social comparison and media- specific social comparison and their effects on body dissatisfaction using a mediation model. In a survey of 279 college-age women from a large Midwestern university, the data indicated that both general social comparison and media-specific social comparison play a role in body dissatisfaction. In fact, general social comparison was still significant after controlling for both media-specific social comparisons with glamour and athletic media images. What this study has shown is that social comparison seems to work both through the general and media-specific paths in predicting body dissatisfaction and that research should continue to investigate this relationship.