Seeing ghosts: negative body evaluation predicts overestimation of negative social feedback

Negative comments and social media: How cognitive biases relate to body image concerns

Body image concern (BIC) is a prevalent issue thought to be exacerbated by social media. In addition to sociocultural factors, cognitive biases may also contribute to BIC. We explore whether cognitive biases in memory for body image-related words, presented in a mock social-media context, are associated with BIC in young adult women. A sample of 150 University students was presented with a series of body image-related comments aimed at either themselves, a close friend, or a celebrity in a recognisable social media context. Afterwards, a surprise memory task was completed that assessed the participant's memory for body image-related words (item memory), their insight (metamemory), and to whom a specific word was directed (source memory). Self-referential biases were identified for both item memory and source memory. Individuals with greater BIC displayed a greater self-referential bias for correctly and incorrectly sourcing negative words to themselves compared with both friend and celebrity. A greater self-referential effect in metacognitive sensitivity was also associated with higher BIC. We provide novel evidence for a cognitive bias in sourcing negative body image-related information to the self in individuals with higher BIC. The results should inform cognitive remediation programmes aimed at treating individuals with body and eating-related disorders.

Reducing body dissatisfaction by means of an evaluative conditioning procedure in undergraduate women: A replication study

The aim was to investigate whether a computer-based evaluative conditioning (EC) procedure using positive social feedback is effective in enhancing body satisfaction. Prior findings in three small-scale studies were mixed showing positive effects in pre-clinical samples, but not in a clinical sample of eating disorder patients. Therefore, our main goal was to replicate the original finding of Martijn et al. (2010) in a well-powered unselected sample of 129 female undergraduates. We assessed the impact of EC on questionnaire measures of body satisfaction as well as on affective ratings of the participants' body pictures used in the task to verify whether the EC procedure was effective in heightening the subjective valence of these pictures. Supporting the validity of the current EC procedure, participants in the experimental condition rated their own pictures after the training as more positive than participants in the control condition. However, this effect of the EC procedure did not transfer to the self-report indices of body satisfaction. In addition, women with relatively high body concern did not profit more from the EC procedure than women with relatively low body concern. Together, these findings suggest that the EC procedure in its present form is not ready for use as an intervention for improving body satisfaction. However, it seems worthwhile to investigate in future studies how the EC procedure can be further strengthened in a way that effects on stimulus ratings eventually also 'spill over' to the level of self-reported body satisfaction.

Self-Assessment of the Body and Social Competences in the Group of Mothers and Their Adult Daughters

The main research objective of this study was seeking the predictive role of general self-esteem and the body image in social competences among women and their biological daughters. As it stands, there is a lack of research showing the mothers and their adult daughters at the same time in the context of measuring the same psychological variables, i.e., general self-esteem, self-assessment of the body and specific social competences in the scope of behaviour in intimate situations, situations requiring social exposure and assertiveness. The study group comprised 102 individuals; 51 pairs of mothers (40-64 years old, M = 51.33) and their biological daughters (19-25 years old, M = 22.49). The following instruments were used: The Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, the Contour Drawing Rating Scale, the Body Esteem Scale, the Social Competence Scale, categorized interview (to measure BMI and collect data describing the criteria for selection to the research group). The significance of the differences and the stepwise regression analysis were performed. The results of the study demonstrated the following to be significant predictors of social competences in subjects: General self-esteem B = 0.615, discrepancy real-obligatory body image B = 0.275 among daughters, and physical condition B = 0.362 in mothers. The general self-esteem of daughters positively influences all verified types of their social competences (competences in intimate situations, in case of social exposure and ability to be assertive). However, it is the significant predictor only for mothers' competences in dealing with situations of social exposure. Discrepancy real-obligatory body image: Seems to be the predictor of daughters' social competences conditioning effectiveness in situations requiring assertiveness. The physical condition among mothers seems to be especially important for their assertiveness and effectiveness in intimate situations. The conflict between the real and the ideal body image is also an important aspect in predicting the assertiveness in the group of mothers. The study results can prove to be helpful in creating preventive and educational programs focused on self-esteem and social competencies in women, including the context of the relation between mothers and their daughters.

Diminishing covariation bias in women with a negative body evaluation and the potential roles of outcome aversiveness and interpretation of social feedback

Women with a more negative body evaluation perceive that their body is associated with more negative social feedback. This covariation bias could reinforce negative body evaluation. We investigated whether covariation bias could be diminished and explored the potential roles of outcome aversiveness and interpretation of negative social feedback associated with one's body. Ninety-seven undergraduate women completed a computer task wherein photos of their body, a control woman's body, and a neutral object were followed by negative social feedback or nothing. When the relation between each category and the negative feedback was random, women with a more negative body evaluation perceived more negative feedback following their body. They also experienced negative feedback following their body and the control woman's body as more aversive. After a manipulation block, women with a more negative body evaluation no longer perceived more negative feedback for their body. These effects coincided with improvements in state body evaluation.

Parasympathetic cardio-regulation during social interactions in individuals with obesity-The influence of negative body image

Individuals with obesity in Western societies often face weight-related stigmatization and social exclusion. Recurrent exposure to prejudice and negative social feedback alters one's behavior in future social interactions. In this study, we aimed to investigate autonomic nervous system and affective responses to social interactions in individuals with obesity. Women and men with (n = 56) and without (n = 56) obesity participated in episodes of social inclusion and social exclusion using a virtual ball-tossing game. During the experiment, heart rate was measured and parasympathetic activity (overall high-frequency power and event-related cardiac slowing) was analyzed. Our results show that in novel social interactions, women with obesity, relative to the other groups, exhibited the strongest increase in parasympathetic activity. Furthermore, parasympathetic activity was related to a more negative body image in individuals with obesity, but not in lean individuals. Additionally, women with obesity reported a stronger decrease in mood after social exclusion than did the other participants. Our results demonstrate influences of objective and subjective bodily characteristics on parasympathetic cardio-regulation during social interactions. In particular, they show behavioral and physiological alterations during social interactions in women with obesity.

A Dutch translation and validation of the Body Appreciation Scale-2: An investigation with female university students in the Netherlands

This paper describes a Dutch translation and validation of the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2; Tylka & Wood-Barcalow, 2015a), an instrument for assessing key components of positive body image. Dutch-speaking female university students (N=310, M_age=21.31, SD=3.04) completed the Dutch BAS-2. To assess its construct validity, participants also completed measures of appearance satisfaction, functionality satisfaction, self-objectification, self-esteem, and optimistic life orientation. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a one-dimensional factor structure of the Dutch BAS-2, substantiating the BAS-2 factor structure found in samples of U.S., Chinese, and Iranian university students and community adults. Dutch BAS-2 scores also demonstrated good internal consistency (α=.90), convergent validity, and incremental validity. In addition, lower body mass indices were associated with higher Dutch BAS-2 scores. The present findings support the cross-cultural equivalence of the BAS-2 and thus its promise in enabling research on positive body image in diverse cultural contexts.

Covariation bias in women with a negative body evaluation: How is it expressed and can it be diminished?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Women with a negative body evaluation display covariation bias: They overestimate the relation between their own body and negative social feedback. This study aimed to develop a more fine-grained understanding of this covariation bias and to determine whether it could be diminished.

METHODS

Seventy women completed a computer task wherein three categories of stimuli--pictures of their own body, a control woman's body, and a neutral object--were followed by (nonverbal) negative social feedback or nothing. Participants' estimates of the relation between each stimulus category and negative social feedback were assessed throughout the task.

RESULTS

Before starting the task, women with a more negative state body evaluation expected their body to be followed by more negative social feedback (demonstrating a priori covariation bias). During the task, when the relation between stimulus category and negative social feedback was random, women with a more negative trait and state body evaluation perceived at the present moment (online covariation bias) and retrospectively (a posteriori covariation bias) that their body was followed by more negative social feedback. When contingencies were manipulated so that women's own body was rarely followed by negative social feedback, covariation bias was temporarily diminished; this coincided with improvements in state body evaluation.

LIMITATIONS

The task did not incorporate neutral or positive social feedback and focused only on undergraduate women.

CONCLUSIONS

Covariation bias exists preexperimentally and occurs when situational information is ambiguous. It is possible to (temporarily) diminish covariation bias. This might be a technique for improving body evaluation.

Decreasing body dissatisfaction using a brief conditioning intervention

OBJECTIVE

Body dissatisfaction in females is common and a risk factor for the development of an eating disorder. This study tested whether body dissatisfaction could be improved using a brief conditioning intervention in which photographs of participants' bodies were selectively paired with positive social stimuli (smiling faces) and photographs of other bodies were paired with neutral or negative social stimuli (neutral and frowning faces).

METHOD

39 women (mean age = 22.46; 64.1% Caucasian) with high body dissatisfaction were randomized to either the evaluative conditioning intervention (n = 22) or to a delayed waitlist control condition (n = 17). Body dissatisfaction (specifically, shape and weight concern), restraint, eating concern, and self-esteem were assessed at baseline, post treatment and again after four and 12 weeks.

RESULTS

Compared to women in the delayed waitlist control condition, women in the treatment condition demonstrated a significant decrease in shape and weight concern, and a significant increase in self-esteem. Similar trends were found for the control condition after they completed the intervention. Changes at post treatment related to body dissatisfaction were maintained at 12-week follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Repeatedly pairing photographs of an individual's body with positive social feedback may lead to improved body image and self-esteem.