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Sebastian RM, Serier KN, Pacheco CR, VanderJagt H, Mullins CR, Jackson TA, Smith JE. Examining the individual and relational impacts of varying responses to negative body talk within college women's female friendships. Body Image 2023; 45:192-200. [PMID: 36947891 DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2023.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
Many college women make self-disparaging comments about their appearance to others. This "fat talk" (negative body talk) is a causal risk factor for body image disturbance, which in turn predicts eating disorders and depression. Research is needed to identify effective responses to negative body talk; namely, those that reduce negative body talk without shaming its initiator or damaging the relationship. The current study examined the impact of different responses to negative body talk on the likelihood of future negative body talk and on individual and relationship factors. College women (N = 160) recalled a situation using negative body talk with a female friend. Participants listened to audio recordings of four responses (Deny/Reassure, Challenge, Empathize/Reciprocate, Ignore) and rated appearance satisfaction, shame, friendship support, and likelihood of future negative body talk after each. Linear mixed models indicated that the Deny/Reassure response followed closely by the Challenge response were most beneficial for individual and relationship factors; however, participants reported being least likely to use future negative body talk after the Ignore response. Recommendations for developing promising responses to negative body talk include combining responses to balance validation (Deny/Reassure) and change (Challenge), and studying the contribution of other relationships and varying body dissatisfaction levels.
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Nolen E, Myers TA, Kvaka A, Murnen SK. “Your Body is Not Representative of Who You Are”: Exploring the Relations Between Feminist Attitudes, Feminist Identity, and Responses to Negative Body Talk Among Women. PSYCHOLOGY OF WOMEN QUARTERLY 2022. [DOI: 10.1177/03616843221136867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Negative body talk is a normative behavior among United States women and is an important area of intervention for women's health and well-being. Identifying as a feminist and/or endorsing feminist beliefs, which can promote a resistant stance toward cultural appearance standards, may protect against negative body talk. We conducted a mixed-methods study with an online sample of 447 predominantly White (81.1%) United States women between the ages of 18–73 years ( M = 41.25, SD = 12.54). We used Consensual Qualitative Research-Modified to systematically code open-ended survey data comprising responses to negative body talk and assessed whether liberal feminist attitudes or feminist identity relate to response categories. We categorized women's responses to negative body talk along with a feminist spectrum which ranged from explicit reinforcement of the thin ideal to a resistant stance toward beauty standards. Liberal feminism was negatively correlated with explicit reinforcement of the thin ideal, and both liberal feminism and feminist identity were positively correlated with a resistant stance. Therapists and practitioners who work with women on issues related to body image disturbance might consider supporting their clients in developing a feminist identity that can critically filter cultural messages that further objectify women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin Nolen
- Steve Hicks School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Taryn A. Myers
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Wesleyan University, Virginia Beach, VA, USA
| | - Adrienne Kvaka
- Department of Psychology, Kenyon College, Gambier, OH, USA
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Miller KE, Kelly AC, Kraus GE. Adaptive body image can be contagious: An examination of college women facing situational body image threats. Body Image 2022; 42:222-236. [PMID: 35809493 DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The present research examined whether and which adaptive body image displays in peers can promote more adaptive body image in self. In two studies, female-identified undergraduates recalled a personally distressing body image event. In Study 1, participants (N = 158) then heard an alleged female-identified peer responding to her own distressing body image event with either self-compassion, self-esteem enhancement, or distraction. Participants across conditions reported increased body acceptance and body image-related self-compassion, and decreased body image distress, but changes did not vary by condition. Study 2 sought to determine which component(s) common to Study 1's conditions explained the benefits participants experienced. Participants (N = 207) listened to an alleged peer: describe body image distress with which she coped adaptively; express body image distress but no adaptive coping; or deny body image distress and relate positively to her body. Hearing a peer cope adaptively with body image distress yielded the greatest body image benefits, whereas hearing a peer deny body image distress was generally least helpful. Results suggest that learning how a peer copes adaptively with body image distress may be most helpful in the face of personal body image distress, and support the overarching theory that adaptive body image may be socially transmissible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn E Miller
- Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada.
| | - Allison C Kelly
- Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada.
| | - Giselle E Kraus
- Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada.
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Mills J, Mata A, Ling M, Trawley S. The impact of different responses to negative body talk on body satisfaction, shame, and future negative body talk likelihood: A UK sample. Body Image 2021; 38:325-333. [PMID: 34087542 DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2021.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2020] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
A recent online experiment found that, following a negative body talk induction task, receiving a response of ignoring the comment, compared with reassuring, reciprocating, and challenging, led to worse body satisfaction and socio-emotional outcomes for Australian women. The current online study aimed to replicate and extend this study by examining the effects of these four negative body talk responses on body satisfaction, shame, and future negative body talk likelihood in UK-based women. Participants (N = 156, Mage = 25.29, SDage = 5.64, rangeage = 18-40) recalled a scenario in which they engaged in negative body talk and were randomly assigned to receive one of four responses. Contrary to hypotheses, there were no significant differences in body satisfaction, shame, or future negative body talk likelihood across the four groups. Preferred negative body talk response data were mixed, with challenge and reassurance responses preferred at comparable rates, and just under a quarter of participants preferring a response outside of the original four. Possible explanations, including that the responses used in the original Australasian study may not perfectly correspond with UK women's experiences of social interactions and heterogeneous motivations for engaging in negative body talk necessitate more nuanced and sophisticated responses, are explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Mills
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Australia.
| | - Adrienn Mata
- School of Psychology, Counselling, and Psychotherapy, The Cairnmillar Institute, Australia
| | - Mathew Ling
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Australia.
| | - Steve Trawley
- School of Psychology, Counselling, and Psychotherapy, The Cairnmillar Institute, Australia.
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Lucibello KM, Koulanova A, Pila E, Brunet J, Sabiston CM. Exploring adolescent girls' experiences of body talk in non-aesthetic sport. J Adolesc 2021; 89:63-73. [PMID: 33873102 DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2021.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Body image concerns may contribute to poor sport experiences and low sport participation in girls. Objectification theory and evidence from studies in non-sport contexts suggests body talk may elicit an environment that fosters negative body image. However, the phenomenon of body talk within adolescent girls sport is not well-understood from an in-depth person-centered perspective. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to explore adolescent girl athletes' experiences of body talk within sport. METHODS Twenty Canadian girl athletes (ages 14-18 years) enrolled in team-based non-aesthetic sports participated in one semi-structured interview. Using a qualitative description approach, an inductive thematic analysis was used to generate three themes. RESULTS "Body talk as a performance tactic" highlighted complimentary and negative body talk pertaining to sport performance came from coaches, opposing players, and parents. "Casual conversations and body talk" reflected body talk from teammates and male spectators that was not specific to sport but occurred in the sport context. "Coping with body talk" reflected strategies athletes used to combat negative body talk from teammates, and reflected the athletes' perceptions that negativity towards the body is normative. CONCLUSIONS Body talk served many purposes within sport; researchers should further explore the diverse motivations and perceived utility of body talk across sport stakeholders. Creating standardized resources and policies to eliminate body talk may foster more positive and supportive sport experiences for girls.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alyona Koulanova
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Eva Pila
- School of Kinesiology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jennifer Brunet
- School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Gallagher KA, Sonneville KR, Hazzard VM, Carson TL, Needham BL. Evaluating gender bias in an eating disorder risk assessment questionnaire for athletes. Eat Disord 2021; 29:29-41. [PMID: 31079562 DOI: 10.1080/10640266.2019.1613846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Due to stigma, eating disorders are under-researched, underdiagnosed and undertreated among men. This is particularly pertinent among athletes, as athletic goals are a major risk factor for disordered eating in men. This gender stereotype may be reinforced by eating disorder risk assessment tools that better reflect female symptoms. We examine an eating disorder risk assessment questionnaire in a population of athletes to assess both (1) gender bias in individual items and (2) gender differences on a cognitive and behavioral subscale, identified through a factor analysis. Controlling for eating disorder risk, we found that female gender significantly predicted high risk scores on four items; male gender significantly predicted high risk scores on four other items. We also found that women were more likely to score above the median on a cognitive subscale than men with the same level of eating disorder risk, while men were more likely to score above the median on a behavioral subscale. These results may be applied practically to allow eating disorder risk assessment tools to better capture eating disorder risk independent of gender. These methods may be applied to other questionnaires and other social identities, to expand the scope of eating disorder research and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Traci L Carson
- School of Public Health, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Belinda L Needham
- School of Public Health, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Hart E, Chow CM. "I just don't want to be fat!": body talk, body dissatisfaction, and eating disorder symptoms in mother-adolescent girl dyads. Eat Weight Disord 2020; 25:1235-1242. [PMID: 31352618 DOI: 10.1007/s40519-019-00756-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Mothers serve as a primary socializing figure among adolescent girls at a time when they are at high risk of body image concerns and disordered eating behavior, and this influence may vary by weight status. Body talk may be one mechanisms of influence in this relationship. The current study utilized an observational measure of body talk to investigate the relationship between adolescent girls' body talk with mothers, eating disorder symptoms, and body dissatisfaction. METHODS Participants included 100 mother-daughter dyads who completed self-report measures of body dissatisfaction and eating behavior and engaged in a 10-min discussion about the daughter's body image. RESULTS Results indicated that the relationship between both positive and negative body talk and body dissatisfaction varied by weight status. For healthy/underweight adolescents, negative body talk is related to higher body dissatisfaction (b = 0.04, SE 0.01, p < 0.01) and positive talk is related to lower body dissatisfaction (b = - 0.06, SE 0.02, p < 0.001). No relationship was found for individuals of overweight/obese status. Body talk was unrelated to eating disorder symptoms for all adolescents. CONCLUSIONS Given the current findings, mothers should continue to limit their engagement in body talk (particularly negative talk) within the home. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V, cross-sectional descriptive study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Hart
- Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI, USA.
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Thinking about overeating results in higher likelihood of anticipated fat talk. Body Image 2019; 31:13-18. [PMID: 31430600 DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2019.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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Chow CM, Hart E, Tan CC. Interactive role of weight status and fat talk on body dissatisfaction: an observation of women friends. Eat Weight Disord 2019; 24:869-878. [PMID: 30238235 DOI: 10.1007/s40519-018-0579-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The current study examined the interactive role of weight status and fat talk on body dissatisfaction among women friends. METHOD Sixty pairs of women friends completed a measure of body dissatisfaction and engaged in an observed fat talk interaction with their friend. RESULTS Women's weight status was related to their own, but not their friend's, body dissatisfaction. Observed fat talk was significantly related to individuals' own and their friend's body dissatisfaction. A significant interaction effect showed that the association between fat talk and body dissatisfaction was minimal for women with higher weight status. In contrast, fat talk was associated with more body dissatisfaction for women with lower weight status. CONCLUSION These findings suggest the importance of examining the conjoint effect of personal (e.g., weight status) and contextual (e.g., fat talk) factors on body image issues. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V, cross-sectional descriptive study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chong Man Chow
- Psychology Department, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI, 48197, USA.
| | - Ellen Hart
- Psychology Department, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI, 48197, USA
| | - Cin Cin Tan
- Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
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Mills J, Mort O, Trawley S. The impact of different responses to fat talk on body image and socioemotional outcomes. Body Image 2019; 29:149-155. [PMID: 30999123 DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2019.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Revised: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Fat talk, the act of making disparaging comments about one's own appearance, has been associated with an extensive range of negative body image outcomes. Despite this well-established body of literature highlighting the prevalence and consequences, scant research exists on the impact of different responses to fat talk in situ. The current online experiment aimed to explore four different responses to fat talk and their impact on body satisfaction, shame, and feelings of support. Female participants (N = 191, Mage = 23.52, SDage = 4.54, rangeage = 18-40) recalled or imagined an experience of engaging in fat talk before being randomly assigned to receive a set response (where their fat talk was either challenged, ignored, reassured, or reciprocated). Largely in line with hypotheses, the Ignore condition led to the lowest level of body satisfaction and perceived support, and the highest level of shame. The Challenge condition resulted in positive outcomes for both perceived support and feelings of shame. The findings demonstrate that ignoring fat talk is associated with negative outcomes, providing evidence to inform practical guidelines aimed at tackling the social phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Mills
- School of Psychology, Counselling, and Psychotherapy, The Cairnmillar Institute, Australia.
| | - Olivia Mort
- School of Psychology, Counselling, and Psychotherapy, The Cairnmillar Institute, Australia.
| | - Steven Trawley
- School of Psychology, Counselling, and Psychotherapy, The Cairnmillar Institute, Australia.
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Miller K, Kelly A, Stephen E. Exposure to body focused and non-body focused others over a week: A preliminary investigation of their unique contributions to college women's eating and body image. Body Image 2019; 28:44-52. [PMID: 30580168 DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2018.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Revised: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 12/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated how exposure to non-body focused others (i.e., those who are not preoccupied with their body weight/shape or appearance) and exposure to body focused others uniquely affect young women's eating and body image over a week, within a day, and from one day to the next. For seven consecutive days, 92 female college students completed nightly online questionnaires about their daily experiences. Between-persons, multilevel modelling revealed that higher average levels of exposure to non-body focused others over the week uniquely predicted greater intuitive eating, greater body appreciation, and less dietary restraint, whereas higher average exposure to body focused others predicted these outcomes in the opposite direction. Within-persons, exposure to body focused others did not predict eating and body image, but exposure to non-body focused others did. On days when women had more exposure to non-body focused others than their personal average level or than the previous day's level, eating and body image were better. These findings are the first to suggest that independent of exposure to body focused others, level of exposure to non-body focused others - within and across days - contribute positively to eating and body image.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn Miller
- Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada.
| | - Allison Kelly
- Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Stephen
- Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
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