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Hamamoto Y, Oba K, Ishibashi R, Ding Y, Nouchi R, Sugiura M. Reduced body-image disturbance by body-image interventions is associated with neural-response changes in visual and social processing regions: a preliminary study. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1337776. [PMID: 38510808 PMCID: PMC10951070 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1337776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Body-image disturbance is a major factor in the development of eating disorders, especially among young women. There are two main components: perceptual disturbance, characterized by a discrepancy between perceived and actual body size, and affective disturbance, characterized by a discrepancy between perceived and ideal body size. Interventions targeting body-image disturbance ask individuals to describe their own body without using negative expressions when either viewing it in a mirror or imagining it. Despite the importance of reducing body-image disturbance, its neural mechanisms remain unclear. Here we investigated the changes in neural responses before and after an intervention. We hypothesized that neural responses correlated with the degree of body-image disturbance would also be related to its reduction, i.e., a reduction in perceptual and affective disturbances would be related to changes in attentional and socio-cognitive processing, respectively. Methods Twenty-eight young adult women without known psychiatric disorders underwent a single 40-min intervention. Participants completed tasks before and after the intervention, in which they estimated their perceived and ideal body sizes using distorted silhouette images to measure body-image disturbance. We analyzed the behavioral and neural responses of participants during the tasks. Results The intervention did not significantly reduce body-image disturbance. Analysis of individual differences showed distinct changes in neural responses for each type of disturbance. A decrease in perceptual disturbance was associated with bodily visuospatial processing: increased activation in the left superior parietal lobule, bilateral occipital gyri, and right cuneus. Reduced affective disturbance was associated with socio-cognitive processing; decreased activation in the right temporoparietal junction, and increased functional connectivity between the left extrastriate body area and the right precuneus. Discussion We identified distinct neural mechanisms (bodily visuospatial and socio-cognitive processing) associated with the reduction in each component of body-image disturbance. Our results imply that different neural mechanisms are related to reduced perceptual disturbance and the expression thereof, whereas similar neural mechanisms are related to the reduction and expression of affective disturbance. Considering the small sample size of this study, our results should be regarded as preliminary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumi Hamamoto
- Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
- Department of Psychology, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kentaro Oba
- Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Ryo Ishibashi
- Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yi Ding
- Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan
- School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Rui Nouchi
- Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Motoaki Sugiura
- Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
- International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
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2
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Ascione M, Carulla-Roig M, Miquel-Nabau H, Porras-Garcia B, Meschberger-Annweiler FA, Serrano-Troncoso E, Ferrer-Garcia M, Moreno-Sánchez M, Gutierrez-Maldonado J. Attentional Bias Modification Training Based on Virtual Reality and Eye Tracking in Anorexia Nervosa Patients. J Clin Med 2023; 12:5932. [PMID: 37762873 PMCID: PMC10531827 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12185932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Anorexia nervosa (AN) patients exhibit attentional bias (AB) related to the body, which is the tendency to pay greater attention to weight-related body areas compared to non-weight-related ones. This phenomenon has been linked to elevated levels of body dissatisfaction (BD) and may potentially reduce the effectiveness of body exposure therapy. The purpose of this pilot study is to assess the efficacy of a single session of a new body-related AB modification task (ABMT) that combines virtual reality with eye tracking in patients with AN. The goals of the ABMT are to reduce body-related AB by balancing attention between weight and non-weight-related body areas and to reduce BD levels. Twenty-three adolescent patients with AN were embodied in a virtual avatar and immersed in a virtual environment where they completed the ABMT. Body-related AB measures and BD levels were assessed before and after the training. A paired samples t-test showed statistically significant differences between pre-assessment and post-assessment; the complete fixation time on weight-related body parts was reduced and BD levels decreased. The initial evidence of the efficacy of this ABMT has important clinical implications, since AB and BD are considered risk factors for developing and maintaining eating disorder symptomatology among patients with AN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariarca Ascione
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d’Hebron 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (M.A.); (H.M.-N.); (F.-A.M.-A.); (M.F.-G.)
| | - Marta Carulla-Roig
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu of Barcelona, Passeig de Sant Joan de Déu, 2, Esplugues de Llobregat, 08950 Barcelona, Spain; (M.C.-R.); (E.S.-T.)
| | - Helena Miquel-Nabau
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d’Hebron 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (M.A.); (H.M.-N.); (F.-A.M.-A.); (M.F.-G.)
| | - Bruno Porras-Garcia
- Department of Population Health Science, University of Utah School of Medicine, 295 Chipeta Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA;
| | - Franck-Alexandre Meschberger-Annweiler
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d’Hebron 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (M.A.); (H.M.-N.); (F.-A.M.-A.); (M.F.-G.)
| | - Eduardo Serrano-Troncoso
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu of Barcelona, Passeig de Sant Joan de Déu, 2, Esplugues de Llobregat, 08950 Barcelona, Spain; (M.C.-R.); (E.S.-T.)
| | - Marta Ferrer-Garcia
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d’Hebron 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (M.A.); (H.M.-N.); (F.-A.M.-A.); (M.F.-G.)
| | - Manuel Moreno-Sánchez
- Department of Cognition, Development and Educational Psychology, University of Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d’Hebron 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Jose Gutierrez-Maldonado
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d’Hebron 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (M.A.); (H.M.-N.); (F.-A.M.-A.); (M.F.-G.)
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Mendoza-Medialdea MT, Meschberger-Annweiler FA, Ascione M, Rueda-Pina A, Rabarbari E, Porras-Garcia B, Ferrer-Garcia M, Gutiérrez-Maldonado J. Body Dissatisfaction and Body-Related Attentional Bias: Is There a Causal Relationship? J Clin Med 2023; 12:5659. [PMID: 37685726 PMCID: PMC10488727 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12175659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous research has shown an association between body dissatisfaction and attentional biases toward the body, but the nature of this relationship is not clear. It is possible that dissatisfaction causes attentional bias or that dissatisfaction is a result of such bias. To clarify the causal relationship between these two variables, this study manipulated dissatisfaction in a sample of healthy women by exposing them to images of "ideal" bodies and observed whether this manipulation increased attentional biases toward different body parts. Fifty-seven women took part in a pre-post experimental design in which they observed an avatar representing themselves in a virtual mirror before and after being exposed to "thin ideal" photographs. Eye-tracking technology was employed to quantify the frequency and duration of fixations on weight-related and weight-unrelated body parts. The outcomes revealed a successful induction of body dissatisfaction, leading participants to display a heightened number of fixations and prolonged fixation durations on unrelated-weight body parts. These findings remained significant after controlling for the effects of trait body dissatisfaction and body mass index. The results imply that heightened body dissatisfaction fosters the aversion of attention from weight-related body parts, which may function as a protective mechanism for preserving self-esteem and promoting psychological well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Teresa Mendoza-Medialdea
- Department of Psychology, Universidad de Jaén, Paraje las Lagunillas s/n, 23071 Jaén, Spain;
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Barcelona, Passeig de Vall d’Hebron 175, 08035 Barcelona, Spain (E.R.)
| | - Franck-Alexandre Meschberger-Annweiler
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Barcelona, Passeig de Vall d’Hebron 175, 08035 Barcelona, Spain (E.R.)
| | - Mariarca Ascione
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Barcelona, Passeig de Vall d’Hebron 175, 08035 Barcelona, Spain (E.R.)
| | - Alejandra Rueda-Pina
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Barcelona, Passeig de Vall d’Hebron 175, 08035 Barcelona, Spain (E.R.)
| | - Elisa Rabarbari
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Barcelona, Passeig de Vall d’Hebron 175, 08035 Barcelona, Spain (E.R.)
| | - Bruno Porras-Garcia
- Brain, Cognition, and Behavior Research Group, Consorci Sanitari de Terrassa (CST), Ctr. Torrebonica, s/n, 08227 Terrassa, Spain
- Department of Basic Sciences, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Josep Trueta Street, s/n, 08195 Sant Cugat del Vallès, Spain
| | - Marta Ferrer-Garcia
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Barcelona, Passeig de Vall d’Hebron 175, 08035 Barcelona, Spain (E.R.)
| | - José Gutiérrez-Maldonado
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Barcelona, Passeig de Vall d’Hebron 175, 08035 Barcelona, Spain (E.R.)
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Kirby AS, Jenks R, Walsh F, Duncan M. Attentional Biases Towards Body-Related Stimuli in Healthy Males: A Systematic Review. Psychol Rep 2023:332941231177243. [PMID: 37211416 DOI: 10.1177/00332941231177243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Recent literature has discussed the role of attentional biases towards body-related stimuli. Specific foci have been on those with high levels of body image concerns and female samples. Unfortunately, there has been limited focus on male samples within existing literature. The aim of the current study was to provide a critical synthesis of the findings of existing studies exploring attentional biases in adult males towards body-related stimuli. Critical synthesis of the findings of 20 studies explored four key methodologies: eye-tracking, dot-probe, visual search, and other methodologies (e.g. ARDPEI task). The current review provides evidence of specific attentional biases towards body-related stimuli in adult males experiencing body image concerns. Similar patterns of attentional biases are also demonstrated in males with body image pathologies. However, there appears to be distinct patterns of attentional biases for male and female participants. It is recommended that future research considers these findings and utilises measures developed specifically for male samples. Furthermore, additional variables require further attention, i.e. reasons for engaging in social comparison and/or engaging in physical activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra S Kirby
- Centre for Sport, Exercise and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, UK
- Department of Arts, Humanities and Human Sciences, Newman University, Bartley Green, UK
| | - Rebecca Jenks
- School of Psychological, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, UK
| | - Francesca Walsh
- School of Psychological, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, UK
| | - Michael Duncan
- Centre for Sport, Exercise and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, UK
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Miquel-Nabau H, Briseño-Oloriz N, Porras-Garcia B, Ascione M, Meschberger-Annweiler FA, Ferrer-Garcia M, Moreno-Sanchez M, Serrano-Troncoso E, Carulla-Roig M, Gutiérrez Maldonado J. Modification of Body-Related Attentional Bias through Virtual Reality and Eye-Tracking in Healthy Participants: Implications for Anorexia Nervosa Treatments. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13050764. [PMID: 37239236 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13050764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Cognitive biases have a significant impact on the etiology and treatment of eating disorders (EDs). These biases, including selective attentional bias (AB) to disliked body parts, may reinforce concerns about body shape, fear of gaining weight and body image disturbances and may contribute to dietary restriction and restraint. Decreasing AB could reduce core symptoms in anorexia nervosa (AN). This study represents a preliminary exploration aiming to assess whether AB towards weight-related (WR) and non-weight-related (NW) body parts could be reduced through an AB modification task in a virtual reality (VR) environment in healthy participants. A total of 54 female participants, aged 22.98 ± 1.89, were recruited. The task consisted of directing the participants' attention towards all body parts equally in a VR setting. Eye-tracking (ET) measurements (complete fixation time [CFT] and number of fixations [NF]) were made before and after the task. The results showed a significant reduction of the AB in the two groups with an initial AB towards WR body parts or towards NW body parts. Participants showed a tendency to more balanced (non-biased) attention after the intervention. This study provides evidence of the usefulness of AB modification tasks in a non-clinical sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Miquel-Nabau
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Natalia Briseño-Oloriz
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Bruno Porras-Garcia
- Department of Population Health Science, University of Utah School of Medicine, 295 Chipeta Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Mariarca Ascione
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Marta Ferrer-Garcia
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuel Moreno-Sanchez
- Department of Cognition, Development and Educational Psychology, University of Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d'Hebron 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eduardo Serrano-Troncoso
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu of Barcelona, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Marta Carulla-Roig
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu of Barcelona, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
| | - José Gutiérrez Maldonado
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
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6
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Hamamoto Y, Suzuki S, Motoki K, Oba K, Kawashima R, Sugiura M. Neural mechanisms of perceptual and affective body-image disturbance during own-body and ideal-body estimation. Behav Brain Res 2023; 444:114349. [PMID: 36801426 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
Body-image disturbance is a core feature of eating disorders and can predict their development in healthy individuals. There are two components of body-image disturbance: perceptual disturbance (associated with overestimation of body size) and affective disturbance (associated with body dissatisfaction). Previous behavioral studies have hypothesized that attention to particular body parts and negative body-related emotions resulting from social pressure are associated with the respective degrees of perceptual and affective disturbance; however, the neural representations that underlie this hypothesis have not been elucidated. Thus, this study investigated the brain regions and connectivity associated with the degree of body-image disturbance. Specifically, we examined the brain activations associated with participants' estimation of the width of their actual and ideal bodies; we sought to determine which brain regions and functional connectivity from body-related visual processing regions were correlated with the degree of each component of body-image disturbance. The degree of perceptual disturbance was positively correlated with excessive width-dependent brain activations in the left anterior cingulate cortex when estimating one's body size; it was positively correlated with the functional connectivity between the left extrastriate body area and left anterior insula. The degree of affective disturbance was positively correlated with excessive width-dependent brain activation in the right temporoparietal junction and negatively correlated with functional connectivity between the left extrastriate body area and right precuneus when estimating one's ideal body size. These results support the hypothesis that perceptual disturbance is associated with attentional processing, whereas affective disturbance is associated with social processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumi Hamamoto
- School of Medicine, Tohoku University, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan; Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, 4-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan; Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, 5-3-1 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0083, Japan.
| | - Shinsuke Suzuki
- Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, 4-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan; Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Tohoku University, 6-3 Aramaki aza Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578, Japan; Centre for Brain, Minds and Markets, Department of Finance, Faculty of Business and Economics, The University of Melbourne, 198 Berkeley St, Carlton, VIC 3053, Australia; Center for the Promotion of Social Data Science Education and Research, Hitotsubashi University, 2-1 Naka, Kunitachi, Tokyo 186-8601, Japan
| | - Kosuke Motoki
- Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, 4-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan; Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, 5-3-1 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0083, Japan; Department of Management, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Kentaro Oba
- Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, 4-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| | - Ryuta Kawashima
- Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, 4-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| | - Motoaki Sugiura
- Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, 4-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan; International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University, 468-1 Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8572, Japan
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Meschberger-Annweiler FA, Ascione M, Porras-Garcia B, Ferrer-Garcia M, Moreno-Sanchez M, Miquel-Nabau H, Serrano-Troncoso E, Carulla-Roig M, Gutiérrez-Maldonado J. An Attentional Bias Modification Task, through Virtual Reality and Eye-Tracking Technologies, to Enhance the Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12062185. [PMID: 36983186 PMCID: PMC10054656 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12062185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Mirror exposure therapies (METs) have been shown to be effective in reducing body image disturbances through the habituation process. Virtual reality (VR) combined with eye-tracking techniques can provide innovative solutions to some of METs’ limitations reported with patients with anorexia nervosa (AN), especially the negative influence of body-related attentional bias (AB). This pilot study aimed to assess the preliminary efficacy of a new VR-based AB modification task (ABMT) among healthy women and the procedure’s user experience. AB levels towards weight- and non-weight-related body parts, using complete fixation time (CFT) and number of fixations (NF), were assessed throughout the ABMT procedure (300 trials). The user experience was evaluated at the end of the procedure. The results showed that VR-based ABMT was effective in reducing AB significantly after 150 trials for both CFT- and NF-based measures, although 225 trials were necessary to get the same result for women with an NF initially more oriented towards weight-related body parts. Overall, the software received a “C-rating” on a scale from “A” (most usable) to “F” (least usable). These results provide evidence of the opportunity to use a VR-based ABMT procedure to reduce AB and improve existing treatments for AN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franck-Alexandre Meschberger-Annweiler
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d’Hebron 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mariarca Ascione
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d’Hebron 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Bruno Porras-Garcia
- Department of Population Health Science, University of Utah School of Medicine, 295 Chipeta Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Marta Ferrer-Garcia
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d’Hebron 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuel Moreno-Sanchez
- Department of Cognition, Development and Educational Psychology, University of Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d’Hebron 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Helena Miquel-Nabau
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d’Hebron 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eduardo Serrano-Troncoso
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu of Barcelona, Passeig de Sant Joan de Déu, 2, Esplugues de Llobregat, 08950 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Carulla-Roig
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu of Barcelona, Passeig de Sant Joan de Déu, 2, Esplugues de Llobregat, 08950 Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Gutiérrez-Maldonado
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d’Hebron 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence:
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St-Pierre MJ, Therriault PY, Faghihi U, Monthuy-Blanc J. Eating disorders: When food "Eats" time. Appetite 2023; 185:106509. [PMID: 36871602 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2023.106509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
The presence of a physical or mental health issue, such as an eating disorder (ED), impacts daily activities, also known as occupations. For example, an overinvestment in body shape and weight undoubtedly can lead to an underinvestment in other, more meaningful occupations. To address ED-related perceptual disturbances, a detailed log of daily time use can pinpoint food-related occupational imbalances. This study aims to characterize the daily occupations associated with EDs. The first specific objective (SO.1) is to categorize and quantify the temporal organization of a typical day's occupations as self-reported by individuals with an ED. The second specific objective (SO.2) is to compare daily occupational time use among people with different ED types. This retrospective study based on time-use research principles was conducted by analyzing data from an anonymized secondary dataset (Loricorps's Databank). Data were collected between 2016 and 2020, from 106 participants, with descriptive analysis completed to determine the average daily time use for each occupation. A series of one-way analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were performed to compare perceived time use in each occupation for participants with different types of EDs. The outcomes show a marked underinvestment in leisure categories compared to the general population. In addition, personal care and productivity can represent the blind dysfunctional occupations (SO.1). Moreover, compared to those with binge eating disorder (BED), individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) are significantly more invested in occupations that focus explicitly on perceptual disturbances, such as personal care (SO.2). The highlight of this study is the distinction between marked versus blind dysfunctional occupation, which offers specific avenues for clinical intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- M-J St-Pierre
- GR2TCA-Loricorps, Groupe de Recherche Transdisciplinaire des Troubles du Comportement Alimentaire, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 3351 Boulevard des Forges, Trois-Rivières, QC G8Z 4M3, Canada; Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, 7401 Rue Hochelaga, Montréal, QC H1N 3M5, Canada; Département d'ergothérapie, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 3351 Boulevard des Forges, C.P. 500, Trois-Rivières, QC G9A 5H7, Canada.
| | - P-Y Therriault
- Département d'ergothérapie, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 3351 Boulevard des Forges, C.P. 500, Trois-Rivières, QC G9A 5H7, Canada
| | - U Faghihi
- GR2TCA-Loricorps, Groupe de Recherche Transdisciplinaire des Troubles du Comportement Alimentaire, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 3351 Boulevard des Forges, Trois-Rivières, QC G8Z 4M3, Canada
| | - J Monthuy-Blanc
- GR2TCA-Loricorps, Groupe de Recherche Transdisciplinaire des Troubles du Comportement Alimentaire, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 3351 Boulevard des Forges, Trois-Rivières, QC G8Z 4M3, Canada; Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, 7401 Rue Hochelaga, Montréal, QC H1N 3M5, Canada
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Razmus M, Czubak-Paluch K, Brytek-Matera A. The relationship between body mass index and food preoccupation in women: A moderated mediation of body-related self-conscious emotions and self-esteem. EUROPEAN EATING DISORDERS REVIEW 2023; 31:188-196. [PMID: 36352323 DOI: 10.1002/erv.2955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Individuals who are preoccupied with food are more likely to develop maladaptive eating behaviours and eating disorders. Thus, it is advisable to investigate the factors that increase vulnerability to food preoccupation (FP) to prevent its harmful impact on physical and mental health. Our objective in this study was to investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and FP in Polish women (N = 407) and examine a possible pathway through body-related shame and body-related guilt and self-esteem. METHOD Participants completed an abbreviated version of the Eating Attitudes Test-26, the Body and Appearance Self-Conscious Emotions Scale, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. RESULTS The findings demonstrated a positive indirect effect of BMI on FP through body-related shame and body-related guilt. However, this effect was moderated by self-esteem only for body-related shame; namely, in women with a low or average level of self-esteem, higher BMI was related to higher body-related shame, which, in turn, was associated with higher levels of FP. These associations were not observed in women with a high level of self-esteem. DISCUSSION Body-related shame may help explain the relationship between BMI and FP. Moreover, self-esteem serves as a protective factor against body-related shame related to higher BMI and, as a result, against FP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Razmus
- Institute of Psychology, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Lublin, Poland
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10
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Barberis N, Calaresi D, Cannavò M, Verrastro V. Body mass index and quality of life in individuals with polycystic ovary syndrome: Dysmorphic concerns and eating disorders as mediators. Front Public Health 2022; 10:962083. [PMID: 36276397 PMCID: PMC9581187 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.962083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Weight issues, dysmorphic concerns and eating disorders are common among individuals with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and are linked to poor quality of life (QoL). The goal of the current study was to examine whether the association between body mass index (BMI) and QoL was mediated by dysmorphic concerns, examining also the relations with eating disorder symptomatology. Methods Questionnaires were administered to 435 individuals with PCOS aged between 18 and 40 years (M = 27.62; SD = 4.83) to measure dysmorphic concerns, eating disorder symptoms and QoL. Participants were also asked to report their height and weight to compute their BMI. Results Structural equation modeling was used to observe the relationship between the variables. The results revealed a direct relationship between QoL, BMI, dysmorphic concerns and eating disorder symptomatology. In addition, dysmorphic concerns were related to BMI and eating disorder symptomatology. Furthermore, the results showed the mediating role of dysmorphic concerns and eating disorder symptoms in the relationship between BMI and QoL. Conclusion The current results highlight the potential importance of harmful relationships with one's own body and food, explaining why weight issues may be linked to different levels of QoL in PCOS individuals. The implications of these findings are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Barberis
- Department of Health Sciences, Magna Græcia University, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Danilo Calaresi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Marco Cannavò
- Department of Health Sciences, Magna Græcia University, Catanzaro, Italy,*Correspondence: Marco Cannavò
| | - Valeria Verrastro
- Department of Health Sciences, Magna Græcia University, Catanzaro, Italy
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11
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Hamamoto Y, Suzuki S, Sugiura M. Two components of body-image disturbance are differentially associated with distinct eating disorder characteristics in healthy young women. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0262513. [PMID: 35020770 PMCID: PMC8754315 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Body-image disturbance comprises two components. The first is perceptual in nature, and is measured by a discrepancy between one’s actual body and perceived self-image (“perceived–actual discrepancy”). The other component is affective, and is measured by a discrepancy between one’s perceived self-image and ideal body image (“perceived–ideal discrepancy”). The present study evaluated the relationships between body-image disturbance and characteristics of eating disorders such as symptoms and related personality traits. In a psychophysiological experiment, female university students (mean ± SD age = 21.0 ± 1.38 years) were presented with silhouette images of their own bodies that were distorted in terms of width. The participants were asked whether each silhouette image was more overweight than their actual or ideal body images. Eating-disorder characteristics were assessed using six factors from the Japanese version of the Eating Disorder Inventory 2 (EDI2). We found that perceived–actual discrepancies correlated with negative self-evaluation (i.e., factor 3 of the EDI2), whereas perceived–ideal discrepancies correlated with dissatisfaction with one’s own body (i.e., factor 2 of EDI2). These results imply that distinct psychological mechanisms underlie the two components of body-image disturbance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumi Hamamoto
- School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai-shi, Miyagi, Japan
- Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai-shi, Miyagi, Japan
- * E-mail: ,
| | - Shinsuke Suzuki
- Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai-shi, Miyagi, Japan
- Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai-shi, Miyagi, Japan
- Brain, Minds and Markets Laboratory, Department of Finance, The University of Melbourne, Carlton Victoria, Australia
| | - Motoaki Sugiura
- Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai-shi, Miyagi, Japan
- International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University, Sendai-shi, Miyagi, Japan
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12
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Nivière P, Da Fonseca D, Deruelle C, Bat-Pitault F. [Use of virtual reality in eating disorders]. Encephale 2021; 47:263-269. [PMID: 33814164 DOI: 10.1016/j.encep.2020.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2020] [Revised: 11/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Virtual reality is a new technology that can be used to model an environment with which an individual can interact using all five senses. It is notably used in psychiatry for anxiety disorders and addictions, and its use in eating disorders has been growing in recent years. Indeed, virtual reality offers interesting advantages, such as its ability to personalize any environment, which is also more secure and controllable. Recent studies show promising results in the understanding, evaluation, and therapeutic management of eating disorders. The use of avatars in anorexia nervosa allows for a correct assessment of the perceptual (body image distortion) and cognitive-affective (body dissatisfaction) components of the body image disorder in a similar way to conventional methods, but also for a better understanding of them. Moreover, avatars allow the development of innovative therapeutic protocols and are thus used in the context of exposure therapy. The new body swapping protocol, based on a multisensory illusion, offers particularly promising results in the reduction of body image disorder. For bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder, virtual reality has made it possible to better characterize the triggering mechanisms of binge eating episodes through studies that have observed different responses to food-related environments and stimuli. At the therapeutic level, virtual reality cue exposure therapy has the most empirical support. Its aim is to reduce or eliminate the anxiety and craving felt by a patient in response to exposure to food or other food-related cues by preventing the patient from consuming food, and results show clear reductions in anxiety, craving and binge eating episodes. While all these results seem to indicate a bright future for virtual reality in eating disorders, further studies are needed to validate the positive impact of its use, but also its limitations. Notably, cyber sickness could alter the smooth running of virtual reality therapy sessions by causing nausea and disorientation. Moreover, it is important to verify that a therapeutic protocol does not lose its effectiveness when it is transposed into virtual reality. However, virtual reality seems to be a therapeutic tool that is better accepted by patients, and even better by adolescents, which is very interesting for eating disorders since adolescents are the most affected. Virtual reality could therefore help motivate patients to pursue treatment and reduce the dropout rate while offering good therapeutic results. Thus, studies conducted in recent years have shown that virtual reality is a promising tool in the understanding, assessment and treatment of eating disorders, and future research should confirm this, particularly in the adolescent population.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Nivière
- Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone, CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, 27 boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France.
| | - D Da Fonseca
- Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone, CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, 27 boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France; Service de Pédopsychiatrie, Hôpital Salvator, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - C Deruelle
- Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone, CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, 27 boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - F Bat-Pitault
- Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone, CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, 27 boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France; Service de Pédopsychiatrie, Hôpital Salvator, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
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13
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AN-VR-BE. A Randomized Controlled Trial for Reducing Fear of Gaining Weight and Other Eating Disorder Symptoms in Anorexia Nervosa through Virtual Reality-Based Body Exposure. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10040682. [PMID: 33578767 PMCID: PMC7916489 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10040682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In vivo body exposure therapy is considered an effective and suitable intervention to help patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) reduce their body image disturbances (BIDs). However, these interventions have notable limitations and cannot effectively reproduce certain fears usually found in AN, such as the fear of gaining weight (FGW). The latest developments in virtual reality (VR) technology and embodiment-based procedures could overcome these limitations and allow AN patients to confront their FGW and BIDs. This study aimed to provide further evidence of the efficacy of an enhanced (by means of embodiment) VR-based body exposure therapy for the treatment of AN. Thirty-five AN patients (16 in the experimental group, 19 in the control group) participated in the study. FGW, BIDs, and other body-related and ED measures were assessed before and after the intervention and three months later. The experimental group received treatment as usual (TAU) and five additional sessions of VR-based body exposure therapy, while the control group received only TAU. After the intervention, ED symptoms were clearly reduced in both groups, with most of the changes being more noticeable in the experimental group. Specifically, after the intervention and at follow-up, significant group differences were found in the FGW and BIDs, with the experimental group showing significantly lower values than the control group. The current study provides new insights and encouraging findings in the field of exposure-based therapies in AN. VR technology might improve research and clinical practice in AN by providing new tools to help patients confront their core fears (i.e., food- or weight-related cues) and improve their emotional, cognitive, and behavioral responses to their body image.
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14
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Hartmann A, Borgers T, Thomas JJ, Giabbiconi CM, Vocks S. Faced with one's fear: Attentional bias in anorexia nervosa and healthy individuals upon confrontation with an obese body stimulus in an eye-tracking paradigm. Brain Behav 2020; 10:e01834. [PMID: 32920961 PMCID: PMC7667378 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Cognitive biases, particularly attentional biases, have been shown to be central to anorexia nervosa (AN). This study looked at attention deployment when consecutively viewing an obese and own body stimulus that both might represent feared stimuli in AN. METHODS Individuals with AN (n = 26) and mentally healthy controls (MHCs; n = 16) viewed a picture of themselves and a standardized computer-generated obese body in random order for 4,000 ms each and then rated the attractiveness of the body parts of both stimuli. We compared dwell times on subjectively unattractive versus attractive body parts, and body parts that show weight status and gain most strongly (stomach, hips, thighs) versus least strongly. RESULTS For both stimuli, participants focused longer on the subjectively unattractive body parts (p < .01 and .001), with an even stronger attentional bias in individuals with AN regarding the obese stimulus (p < .05). Both groups also gazed longer at body parts indicative of weight status or gain (both stimuli p < .001), with no group differences. CONCLUSIONS The attentional bias to one's own subjectively unattractive body parts might represent a mechanism maintaining body image disturbance in women in general. This attentional bias is even stronger when women with AN are confronted with an obese stimulus, highlighting a potential mental preoccupation with being fat or weight gain and a behavior distinct for the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- AndreaSabrina Hartmann
- Unit of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Tiana Borgers
- Unit of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Jennifer Joanne Thomas
- Eating Disorders Clinical and Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Claire-Marie Giabbiconi
- Unit of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Silja Vocks
- Unit of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany
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15
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Porras-Garcia B, Ferrer-Garcia M, Serrano-Troncoso E, Carulla-Roig M, Soto-Usera P, Miquel-Nabau H, Shojaeian N, de la Montaña Santos-Carrasco I, Borszewski B, Díaz-Marsá M, Sánchez-Díaz I, Fernández-Aranda F, Gutiérrez-Maldonado J. Validity of Virtual Reality Body Exposure to Elicit Fear of Gaining Weight, Body Anxiety and Body-Related Attentional Bias in Patients with Anorexia Nervosa. J Clin Med 2020; 9:E3210. [PMID: 33027945 PMCID: PMC7600187 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9103210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Fear of gaining weight (FGW), body image disturbances, associated anxiety and body-related attentional bias are the core symptoms of anorexia nervosa (AN) and play critical roles in its development and maintenance. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the usefulness of virtual reality-based body exposure software for the assessment of important body-related cognitive and emotional responses in AN. Thirty female patients with AN, one of them subclinical, and 43 healthy college women, 25 with low body dissatisfaction (BD) and 18 with high BD, owned a virtual body that had their silhouette and body mass index. Full-body illusion (FBI) over the virtual body was induced using both visuo-motor and visuo-tactile stimulation. Once the FBI was induced, the FBI itself, FGW, body anxiety and body-related attentional bias toward weight-related and non-weight-related body areas were assessed. One-way analyses of covariance (ANCOVA), controlling for age, showed that AN patients reported higher FGW, body anxiety and body-related attentional bias than healthy controls. Unexpectedly, patients with AN reported significantly lower FBI levels than healthy participants. Finally, Pearson correlations showed significant relationships between visual analog scales and body-related attentional bias measures, compared to other eating disorder measures. These results provide evidence about the usefulness of virtual reality-based body exposure to elicit FGW and other body-related disturbances in AN patients. Thus, it may be a suitable intervention for reducing these emotional responses and for easing weight recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Porras-Garcia
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d’Hebron 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (B.P.-G.); (M.F.-G.); (H.M.-N.); (N.S.)
| | - Marta Ferrer-Garcia
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d’Hebron 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (B.P.-G.); (M.F.-G.); (H.M.-N.); (N.S.)
| | - Eduardo Serrano-Troncoso
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu of Barcelona; Passeig de Sant Joan de Déu, 2, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain; (E.S.-T.); (M.C.-R.); (P.S.-U.)
| | - Marta Carulla-Roig
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu of Barcelona; Passeig de Sant Joan de Déu, 2, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain; (E.S.-T.); (M.C.-R.); (P.S.-U.)
| | - Pau Soto-Usera
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu of Barcelona; Passeig de Sant Joan de Déu, 2, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain; (E.S.-T.); (M.C.-R.); (P.S.-U.)
| | - Helena Miquel-Nabau
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d’Hebron 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (B.P.-G.); (M.F.-G.); (H.M.-N.); (N.S.)
| | - Nazilla Shojaeian
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d’Hebron 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (B.P.-G.); (M.F.-G.); (H.M.-N.); (N.S.)
| | - Isabel de la Montaña Santos-Carrasco
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Calle del Prof Martín Lagos, s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (I.d.l.M.S.-C.); (B.B.); (M.D.-M.)
| | - Bianca Borszewski
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Calle del Prof Martín Lagos, s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (I.d.l.M.S.-C.); (B.B.); (M.D.-M.)
| | - Marina Díaz-Marsá
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Calle del Prof Martín Lagos, s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (I.d.l.M.S.-C.); (B.B.); (M.D.-M.)
| | - Isabel Sánchez-Díaz
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital Universitario de Bellvitge- IDIBELL and CIBEROBN, Barcelona; Carrer Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907 Hospitalet del Llobregat, Spain; (I.S.-D.); (F.F.-A.)
| | - Fernando Fernández-Aranda
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital Universitario de Bellvitge- IDIBELL and CIBEROBN, Barcelona; Carrer Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907 Hospitalet del Llobregat, Spain; (I.S.-D.); (F.F.-A.)
| | - José Gutiérrez-Maldonado
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d’Hebron 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (B.P.-G.); (M.F.-G.); (H.M.-N.); (N.S.)
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Body-Related Attentional Bias among Men with High and Low Muscularity Dissatisfaction. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9061736. [PMID: 32512745 PMCID: PMC7355895 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9061736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have found gender differences in body-related attentional bias (AB), with women showing AB towards weight-related body parts. However, few studies have assessed the relationship between body-related AB and muscularity dissatisfaction (MD) in men. This study aimed to assess the presence of muscle-related AB in men, using a combination of a virtual reality (VR) embodiment-based technique and eye-tracking (ET) technology. Twenty men with high MD and 20 with low MD, owned a virtual avatar that had the same silhouette and body mass index as the participant. To analyze the gaze data, muscle-related areas of interest (M-AOIs) and nonmuscle-related areas of interest (NM-AOIs) were defined. The complete fixation time and the number of fixations on each AOI were recorded. Mixed between (group)-within (AOI_condition) analyses of variance showed a statistically significant interaction between group and time (p < 0.05) in both AB measures. Follow-up analyses revealed an AB towards M-AOIs only in men with high MD. Overall, men with high MD spent more time looking and displayed a higher number of fixations on M-AOIs, specifically the chest and shoulders, compared to men with low MD. This study provides new information about the relationship between MD and body-related AB in men. Combining VR with ET technologies presents interesting opportunities in the study of body image in men.
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