Body image states in everyday life: Evidence from ecological momentary assessment methodology

How social media images of sexualized young women elicit appearance commentary from their peers and reinforce objectification

Social media platforms like Instagram enable users to share, view, and provide feedback on images, including photographs of oneself (e.g., selfies). In a 3 × 2 between-subjects online experiment, we investigated how women evaluate and react to photographs of their peers on social media and the role that feedback might play in both objectification of others and oneself. U.S. adult young women (N = 256; Mage = 20.06, SDage = 1.57) viewed social media images of sexualized peers, non-sexualized peers, or landscapes (control). Then, they provided feedback on the images via social media hashtags (#) or not (tagging vs. no tagging). Results revealed that participants who viewed sexualized peers demonstrated the highest levels of state self-objectification and were more likely to dehumanize the women in the photos. Hashtags generated by participants indicated that those who viewed sexualized peers engaged in greater appearance-related objectification, specifically related to body parts, and sexual objectification than those who viewed non-sexualized peers. In addition, generating hashtags that specifically focused on body parts heightened viewers' state self-objectification. These findings illustrate the complexities of social media content production and consumption, particularly for young women.

Testing for longitudinal bidirectional associations between self-compassion, self-criticism, and positive body image components

Previous cross-sectional studies have reported associations between self-compassion, self-criticism, and positive body image, yet prospective studies establishing the temporal order of these relationships are missing. The present study sought to clarify the nature of these associations by investigating possible longitudinal bi-directional links between self-compassion, self-criticism, and three components of positive body image (body appreciation, functionality appreciation, and body image flexibility). Data were analyzed from 2982 adult women who completed survey instruments at baseline (T0), four-month follow-up (T1), and eight-month follow-up (T2). Attrition rate ranged from 0-56% across time-points. Cross-lagged panel models were computed to test for bidirectional associations. We found evidence of reciprocal, negative associations between self-criticism and the three components of positive body image across the three time-points. We also found evidence that T0 self-compassion predicted increased body image flexibility and functionality appreciation at T1 (paths were non-significant from T1 to T2), whereas T0 body appreciation predicted increased T1 self-compassion (but was non-significant from T1 to T2). Findings suggest that compassionate and uncritical ways of responding to the self may be relevant precursors and outcomes to positive body image, depending on the timing of assessment, highlighting viable targets for intervention.

Daily instability in body dissatisfaction in individuals with and without eating disorders

Body dissatisfaction (BD) includes negative thoughts and feelings about one's body shape. Although typically assessed as a trait, BD has been found to fluctuate within a day. The present study examined whether daily instability in BD differs according to trait BD, eating disorder (ED) diagnosis, and engagement in maladaptive exercise. Participants with EDs (n = 166) and controls (n = 44) completed a self-report measure of trait BD and reported BD and engagement in maladaptive exercise five times daily for 14 days as part of an ecological momentary assessment protocol. BD instability was calculated as adjusted mean squared successive difference. On average across assessments, participants with EDs reported a 16% change in their BD ratings between consecutive assessments, which was significantly higher than the 12% change in controls. Trait BD was significantly inversely associated with BD instability in individuals with EDs, but not in controls. BD instability did not differ across ED diagnoses or between days with versus without maladaptive exercise. Findings suggest that BD is a dynamic state that varies within a day, especially in participants with EDs. Further research is needed to clarify whether this heightened instability in BD is a clinically relevant factor underlying ED symptoms.

Comorbidity between body dissatisfaction and nicotine vaping among young adults in college: a daily diary study

Objective: The purpose of this study was to elucidate comorbidity between body dissatisfaction and nicotine vaping. Participants: Participants were 121 college students (M age = 20.51 years; 75.0% female; 75.2% White) who participated in a 14-day daily diary study. Methods: Logistic regression was used to test links between baseline trait body dissatisfaction and vaping frequency across 14 days. Multilevel logistic regression was used to test within-person, daily links between body dissatisfaction and nicotine vaping. Results: Each additional unit of trait body dissatisfaction increased the odds of frequent vaping by 33% (95% CI [1.00, 1.77]) and daily vaping by 54% (95% CI [1.10, 2.15]). Within-person, daily associations between body dissatisfaction and vaping were nonsignificant. Conclusions: Body dissatisfaction may increase college students' risk for engaging in frequent nicotine vaping. However, daily changes in body dissatisfaction may not predict same- or next-day vaping. College students with body dissatisfaction may benefit from nicotine interventions.

Accelerometer-Based Physical Activity and Shape and Weight Concerns Among Youth With Overweight and Obesity: A Pilot Exploratory Ecological Momentary Assessment Study

Background: A bidirectional association between shape and weight concerns (SWC) and physical activity (PA) has been previously documented. This relationship may be particularly salient among youth with overweight/obesity, given that social marginalization of larger bodies has been associated with elevated SWC and barriers to PA. This pilot study explores reciprocal relationships between momentary SWC and accelerometer-assessed PA behavior. Methods: Youth with overweight/obesity (N = 17) participated in a 14-day ecological momentary assessment protocol, during which they were prompted to respond to questions about SWC several times per day. They also continuously wore Actiwatch 2 accelerometers to capture light and moderate-to-vigorous PA behavior. Results: Hierarchical linear modeling revealed a unidirectional association between SWC and PA, whereby after engaging in a higher duration of PA, participants reported lower SWC. SWC did not predict subsequent PA. Conclusion: The findings support a negative temporal relationship between PA and SWC. While further work is needed to replicate and extend these preliminary findings, they may suggest that PA acutely benefits SWC among youth with overweight and obesity.

Momentary appearance focused self-concept is associated with dietary restraint and binge eating in female university students: An experience sampling study

OBJECTIVE

Appearance focused self-concept (i.e., overvaluing the importance of appearance for self-definition and self-worth) is theorized to predict dietary restraint and binge eating in the short-term (e.g., daily life). Yet, no research has examined whether appearance focused self-concept increases within-persons during a day and if such increases are linked to greater dietary restraint and binge eating for that day. We addressed this gap in knowledge.

METHOD

Sixty-three female university students completed four items from the Beliefs About Appearance Scale as a measure of appearance focused self-concept six times per day (9 am, 11 am, 1 pm, 3 pm, 5 pm, and 7 pm) for 14 days. Daily at 9 pm, they completed measures of dietary restraint and binge eating for that day.

RESULTS

Analyzing data from 555 days, latent growth curve analyses revealed a small-to-moderate linear increase in appearance focused self-concept from 9 am to 3 pm that plateaued from 3 to 7 pm. A more rapid linear increase in appearance focused self-concept from 9 am to 3 pm was associated with greater binge-eating frequency during that day, but not with dietary restraint. The findings were observed when adjusting for between-day appearance focused self-concept at 9 am, which was positively associated with dietary restraint and binge-eating frequency.

DISCUSSION

Findings are discussed in relation to research on appearance focused self-concept as a risk factor for disordered eating. Findings are also discussed in relation to how sociocultural factors may increase appearance focused self-concept over time. Future research should delve into the within-day dynamic interplay between appearance focused self-concept and disordered eating.

PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE

Our study revealed a noteworthy increase in the importance women attach to their appearance over the course of a day, correlating with increased binge eating during that day. Additionally, heightened appearance importance at the onset of a day was associated with more dietary restraint and binge eating during that day. These findings suggest a shorter timescale for the connection between appearance importance and disordered eating than previously understood.

Body dissatisfaction and disordered eating symptoms in children's daily life: Can parents protect against appearance comparison on social media?

Research suggests that body dissatisfaction is common among children. However, it remains largely unknown how body dissatisfaction occurs on a daily basis and which environmental factors are linked to this. The purpose of this study was to examine (1) state body dissatisfaction, dietary restraint, compensatory exercise and loss of control eating among children and its association with upward comparisons via social media and (2) whether trust in parents may attenuate this association. Children from 10 to 12 years old (N = 50) were assessed three times a day during a two-week period. Trust was examined via a baseline questionnaire. State body dissatisfaction, dietary restraint, compensatory exercise, loss of control eating and upward comparisons were examined via Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA). Multilevel analyses indicated that an a higher level of upward comparison is associated with a higher level of state body dissatisfaction, compensatory exercise and loss of control eating. Trust in father significantly moderated the association between appearance comparison and body dissatisfaction. No evidence was found for the protective role of trust in mother. Future research is necessary to enhance our understanding of state body dissatisfaction among children and of environmental factors that may protect children from the adverse effects of social media.

Effects of videoconferencing use on momentary changes in disordered eating urges, body dissatisfaction, and mood

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to a global surge in videoconferencing use for work/study-related reasons. Although these platforms heighten exposure to one's image, the implications of videoconferencing use on body image and eating concerns remain scantly examined. This study sought to investigate, in an Australian sample, whether videoconferencing for work/study-related reasons predicted increases in body dissatisfaction (BD), urge to engage in disordered eating (DE; restrictive eating, exercise, overeating/purging), and negative mood at the state level. Participants (N = 482, 78.8% women, Mage  = 20.5 years [SD = 5.3]) completed baseline demographic measures, accompanied by an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) of videoconferencing for work/study-related reasons, BD, DE urges, and negative mood six times a day for 7 days via a smartphone application. Most participants (n = 429; 89.0%) reported state-based videoconferencing use during the EMA phase. Consistent with expectations, state-based videoconferencing use was associated with an increase in state-level urges to engage in exercise. However, contrary to predictions, state-based videoconferencing use was linked to a decrease in state-level BD at the next assessment point and failed to predict negative mood and urges to engage in restrictive eating or overeating/purging at the state level. Given the simplified measure of videoconferencing use, the current research is considered preliminary and future replication and extension, using more nuanced measures, is warranted.

Examining trait-like factors as predictors of state-level responses to food intake in women with bulimia nervosa, purging disorder, and controls

OBJECTIVE

Theories suggest that elevated negative affect and weight/shape concerns explain both who is affected by bulimic symptoms as well as when bulimic symptoms occur, suggesting that individual differences predict within-subject differences. However, few studies have tested this theoretical premise.

METHOD

In the present study, participants (N = 119) diagnosed with bulimia nervosa (N = 57), purging disorder (N = 31), and non-eating disorder controls (N = 31) completed measures of negative affect and weight/shape concerns and later made momentary affect and weight/shape concerns ratings before and after an ad lib meal.

RESULTS

State negative affect and weight/shape concerns increased post-meal. No moderating effect of trait negative affect was observed for state affect. In contrast, between-subject differences in weight/shape concerns moderated within-subject increases in state weight/shape concerns. Diagnostic group did not account for this effect.

DISCUSSION

Findings point to viable treatment targets for disordered eating. Targeting elevated weight/shape concerns early in interventions could facilitate reductions in purging after food intake for bulimia nervosa and purging disorder.

PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE

In the present study, individual differences in weight/shape concerns at baseline predicted greater increases in state weight/shape concerns following eating. These effects were maintained when considering possible differences related to presence and type of eating disorder. Results suggest that targeting weight/shape concerns earlier in treatment may be important for reducing maladaptive responses to eating across eating disorders.

The whole is more than the sum of its parts: A qualitative investigation of body-dissatisfied college women's experiences of relational body image

Research on relational body image suggests that women's body image changes across their important relationships, with women most at risk for maladaptive body image reporting the most extreme changes. To enrich our understanding of relational body image beyond that offered by prior psychologically-based quantitative research, the present study integrated critical-feminist approaches. Eighteen female-identified university students participated in a one-on-one semi-structured interview. Each participant first completed ratings of her body image across seven important relationships, which the interviewer used to create a graph depicting her relational body image. The interviewer shared the graph with the participant to prompt reflection on her subjective experiences of relational body image and asked her a series of questions. Reflexive thematic analysis, informed by a critical-realist framework, was used to identify themes. One overarching theme, "The Whole Is More than The Sum of Its Parts," demonstrated how relational body image may be understood as a unique configuration of interconnected factors within a specific relationship. Three subthemes then highlighted how interpersonal, idiographic, and systemic factors come together to influence subjective experiences of relational body image. The present results suggest that personalized treatment targets within specific relationships may be a worthwhile focus for future body image interventions.

Body image flexibility and exercise motivation: A two-sample replication study

Body image flexibility - defined as one's ability to accept positive and negative body-related experiences - is theorized to promote adaptive motivational and behavioural outcomes. To date, there is a dearth of literature examining how body image flexibility is related to exercise motivation, a key predictor of exercise behaviour. The purpose of this study was to examine prospective within- and between-person associations between body image flexibility and autonomous and controlled exercise motivation in two independent samples. In Study 1 (N = 204) and Study 2 (N = 165), university students completed online surveys once a week for three weeks. Findings were consistent across studies, whereby during weeks when participants experienced higher than usual body image flexibility, they reported lower levels of controlled motivation (bs = -0.13 to -0.09, ps < .001). Further, participants with higher average levels of body image flexibility reported lower average scores of controlled motivation (bs = -0.30 to -0.27, ps< .001). Body image flexibility was not associated with autonomous motivation in either study. The findings provide novel insights on the relationship between body image flexibility and exercise motivation and identify body image flexibility as a potential modifiable factor that may be associated with lower controlled exercise motivation in daily life.

A mixed method approach to evaluating eating-related psychopathologies in collegiate student-athletes

OBJECTIVE

To examine the presence of body image concerns, drive for muscularity, and disordered eating behaviors in collegiate student-athletes.

PARTICIPANTS

One hundred and one NCAA Division I student-athletes participated in Phase I; 15 of these also participated in Phase II.

METHODS

This study employed a mixed method, sequential explanatory design. Participants first completed survey measures assessing body image concern, drive for muscularity, and eating behaviors. These results influenced open-ended, semi-structured interviews, which were thematically analyzed.

RESULTS

Body image and disordered eating behaviors were of greater concern than drive for muscularity. Student-athletes reported engaging in eating behaviors as opposed to not eating, yet these eating behaviors trended toward disordered behaviors such as obsessive "healthy eating" or orthorexia.

CONCLUSIONS

This study took a novel methodological approach to examining student-athlete body image and eating behaviors. Results emphasize the need for further support and education for student-athletes around body image and eating behaviors.

Intervening on Social Comparisons on Social Media: Electronic Daily Diary Pilot Study

BACKGROUND

Literature has underscored the dark aspects of social media use, including associations with depressive symptoms, feelings of social isolation, and diminished self-esteem. Social comparison, the process of evaluating oneself relative to another person, is thought to contribute to these negative experiences such that people with a stronger tendency to compare themselves with others are particularly susceptible to the detrimental effects of social media. Social media as a form of social connection and communication is nevertheless an inevitable-and arguably integral-part of life, particularly for young adults. Therefore, there is a need to investigate strategies that could alter the manner in which people interact with social media to minimize its detrimental effects and maximize the feelings of affiliation and connection.

OBJECTIVE

This pilot study examined the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of a brief web-based intervention designed to alter engagement with social media and promote psychological well-being by encouraging social savoring as an alternative to social comparison. Social savoring was operationalized as experiencing joyful emotions related to the happiness of someone else's experiences (ie, feeling happy for someone else).

METHODS

Following an intensive longitudinal design, 55 college students (mean age 19.29, SD 0.93 years; n=43, 78% women and n=23, 42% White) completed baseline measures (individual differences, psychological well-being, connectedness, and social media use) and then 14 days of daily surveys on their social media activity and well-being. On day 8, the group that was randomized to receive the intervention watched a video instructing them on the skill of social savoring and was asked to practice this skill during days 8 to 14.

RESULTS

Overall, participants reported positive perceptions of the intervention. Participants who watched the intervention video reported significantly higher performance self-esteem (P=.02) at posttest than those in the control condition, after controlling for baseline levels. Participants also reported significantly higher state self-esteem (P=.01) on days in which they engaged in more social savoring while using social media, and the use of social savoring increased significantly (P=.01) over time, suggesting that participants found it helpful. Participants in both conditions reported significantly lower levels of social comparison (control: P=.01; intervention: P=.002) and higher levels of connectedness (control: P<.001; intervention: P=.001) at posttest than at baseline.

CONCLUSIONS

Initial evidence from this pilot study suggests that a web-based social savoring intervention may help minimize the potentially harmful consequences of social media use, at least in some domains. Future work is needed to examine the effectiveness and acceptance of this intervention in different age groups and in clinical samples that are in part characterized by higher levels of comparison with others (eg, people with eating disorders).

Examining the Role of Body Image Instability in Young Adult Women: Conceptualization, Development, and Psychometric Evaluation of the Vacillating Body Image Scale (VBIS)

The current study conceptualized body image instability as a maladaptive tendency to vacillate between different self-perceptions of one's overall body image and developed a corresponding measure to assess body image instability. Results from a series of studies of young adult women demonstrated the validity, reliability, and utility of the Vacillating Body Image Scale (VBIS) as a meaningful measure of body image instability. In Study 1, we found that body image instability, as assessed by the VBIS, represents a unidimensional and reliable construct. In Study 2, we found evidence for both the convergent and discriminant validity of the VBIS in relation to other individual differences measures (i.e., self-concept schema, broad personality factors). In Study 3, the concurrent criterion validity of the VBIS was supported for young adult women in relation to a range of adjustment measures. Finally, in Study 4, we found consistent evidence for the incremental validity of the VBIS in predicting subsequent variations in eating disturbances, even after controlling for global self-esteem and self-concept instability. Overall, our findings offer promising support for our contention that body image instability, as measured by the VBIS, represents an important construct for understanding eating-related disturbances and other health outcomes in young adult women.

"I listen to my body now": a qualitative exploration of positive body image in breast cancer survivors

OBJECTIVE

Existing research has identified the high prevalence of body image concerns among female breast cancer survivors. However, it has neglected to explore the experience of positive body image among this group, despite its potential utility for intervention development. The present study therefore aimed to explore the experiences of breast cancer survivors who self-identified as experiencing a positive relationship with their post-treatment bodies.

DESIGN

Twenty-two participants (M age = 54, SD = 8.38) were interviewed using a semi-structured approach.

RESULTS

Thematic analysis identified three overarching themes amongst the qualitative data: (1) Resisting appearance pressures, (2) Receiving care, and (3) Self-worth beyond appearance. Findings indicated that women's life experiences had led them to develop a critical awareness of the unrealistic nature of appearance ideals. Their experience of positive body image was also attributed to engaging in self-care and receiving supportive care from others. Finally, women expressed prioritising functionality and health over their physical appearance.

CONCLUSION

The present findings advance the theoretical understanding of positive body image in a breast cancer population. They also provide an opportunity to test theorised models of positive body image.

The effects of exposure to social media images of thin and average size women on body satisfaction among young women: Emotion regulation and self-efficacy as modulating factors

Although appearance comparison has emerged as an important mechanism underlying the detrimental effects of exposure to idealized social media images on body image among young women, little is known regarding the role of the direction of these comparisons. In addition, to date, little attention has been paid to the role of self-regulation processes in these effects. A sample of 260 female students (M_age = 19.6) from a University in Paris completed an online survey where they were randomly assigned to view thin-ideal or average size social media images of women. Participants reported on state body satisfaction before and after exposure, as well as state appearance comparison and direction of appearance comparison, and trait emotion regulation difficulties and self-efficacy. Findings revealed no main effect of condition. However, among participants who engaged in upwards appearance comparison the thin-ideal condition was associated with greater decreases in body satisfaction. In addition, three-way interactions revealed that emotional regulation difficulties and self-efficacy both further moderated these effects. These findings suggest that self-regulation processes may be important to account for in the effects of exposure to social media images on body satisfaction among young women.

Engagement with social media content results in lower appearance satisfaction: An experience sampling study using a wrist-worn wearable and a physical analogue scale

Social media use is consistently associated with more negative body image, but much of this literature is cross-sectional and/or lacks ecological validity. To overcome these limitations, we examined associations between everyday social media engagement and appearance satisfaction using an experience sampling method. Fifty participants from Central Europe completed a 14-day experience sampling phase in which they reported their appearance satisfaction at two random time-points each day, as well as following active engagement with social media content, using a wrist-worn wearable and a physical analogue scale (PAS; i.e., angle of a participant's forearm between flat and fully upright as a continuous response scale). Results indicated that engagement with social media content was significantly associated with lower appearance satisfaction. Additionally, we found that engagement with the content of known others was associated with significantly lower appearance satisfaction than engagement with the content of unknown others. These effects were stable even after controlling for participant demographics, active vs. passive daily social media use, and body image-related factors. These results provide evidence that everyday social media engagement is associated with lower appearance satisfaction and additionally provides preliminary support for the use of a PAS in body image research using an experience sampling method.

Individual differences in relational body image: Within-person variability predicts maladaptive trait body image

Findings have been mixed as to whether individual differences in within-person variability in body image predict maladaptive body image and eating behaviors. The current study aimed to resolve this ambiguity by addressing limitations of past research. First, we measured within-person variability in body image across the context-sensitive domain of relationships. Second, we incorporated the latest statistical methods to increase the robustness of the results. Online, 189 female-identified undergraduates completed seven baseline measures of trait body image. At least three days later, in-lab, participants were guided to generate a list of the most important people in their lives (i.e., friends, family members, close others) using egocentric network methods. Participants then completed a set of three relationship-specific measures in which they reported on their typical body image with 10 people from their list, one by one. Multiverse analysis tested the hypothesis that, across combinations of measures, within-person variability in relational body image would positively predict indicators of maladaptive body image. In 84 regression analyses, permutation testing supported our overall hypothesis (p = .006); however, results varied across different model specifications. Results provide further evidence for the predictive power of within-person variability in body image and yield valuable methodological and statistical recommendations.

Body dissatisfaction frequency and duration: Dissociable dimensions of trait body dissatisfaction

This work proposes that trait body dissatisfaction rests on two dissociable components: 1) frequency of body dissatisfaction episodes, and 2) duration of such episodes, with higher trait body dissatisfaction resulting from more frequent and/or prolonged episodes. The current research aimed to develop a measure of these two dimensions (i.e., the Body Dissatisfaction Frequency Duration Questionnaire; BDFDQ) and test this theoretical model by investigating whether body dissatisfaction frequency and duration 1) were structurally dissociable, 2) meaningfully dissociable, and 3) each associated with different aspects of disordered eating behavior. Study 1 (N = 300, 42% women) developed the BDFDQ and showed that frequency and duration are structurally dissociable. Study 2 (N = 400, 50% women) showed that the two-factor model was invariant across gender and both subscales showed good psychometric properties of reliability and validity. Results further supported that frequency and duration are meaningfully dissociable by revealing that each component accounted for unique variance in trait body dissatisfaction. Study 3 (N = 279, 77% women) replicated Study 2 findings and established that frequency and duration subscales each associated with different aspects of disordered eating behavior. Together, findings imply that body dissatisfaction frequency and duration represent two separable dimensions underlying trait body dissatisfaction.

#Body goals or #Bopo? Exposure to pregnancy and post-partum related social media images: Effects on the body image and mood of women in the peri-pregnancy period

Women who are pregnant or have recently given birth use social media where they may encounter content promoting appearance ideals or offering more realistic representations of the body during this unique period. To date, little is known regarding the ways in which different social media content may impact the body image and mood of women who are pregnant or postpartum. A sample of 261 participants aged 21-44, mean (SD) age = 31.79 (4.402), were randomly allocated online to view either thin-and-toned ideal or body positive social media content specific to the pregnancy and postpartum period, or a neutral travel condition. Findings revealed that exposure to the body positive images had positive effects on body image relative to the thin-and-toned ideal condition, as well as leading to increases in some indices of positive body image, while the thin-ideal images were harmful. Partial support emerged for the protective roles of body appreciation and low social media-related rumination among women exposed to the thin-and-toned ideal images. Social media content may be harmful or helpful to the body image and mood of pregnant and postpartum women, which is important given the documented relationships between maternal body image, mood, and maternal and infant outcomes.

Within-person examination of the exercise intention-behavior gap among women in midlife with elevated cardiovascular disease risk

Engaging in moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) is important for protecting cardiovascular health among women in midlife (i.e., ages 40-60), particularly if they have already developed conditions that increase their risk for cardiovascular disease (e.g., hypertension). Although the gap between MVPA intentions and behavior is well documented in other populations, little is known about the intention-behavior gap in this at-risk group - particularly as it plays a role in daily life. The present study employed an ecological momentary assessment design to examine the relation between women's MVPA intentions and behavior in the subsequent 3 hours, as well as momentary moderators of this relation (i.e., affective states and body satisfaction). Surveys sent to women's smartphones 5 times per day for 10 days while they wore ActiGraph GT3X waistband accelerometers. Women achieved their exercise intentions at only 13% of occasions on which they set intentions. Although the most common intended exercise was walking, women engaged in more minutes of MVPA after setting intentions to do yoga or Pilates than any other type of exercise (sr = 0.25). Multilevel models showed a modest within-person relation between minutes of intended MVPA and observed MVPA in the next 3 hours (sr = 0.20). This relation was moderated within-person by the reported extent of positive affect (particularly contentment) and body satisfaction (srs = 0.35 and 0.28, respectively). Findings extend knowledge about the physical activity intention-behavior gap to an at-risk population of women and identify positive affect and body satisfaction as potential contextual influences for this group, which could inform improvements to existing interventions (e.g., delivering intervention content at times with lower-than-usual body satisfaction).

The impact of nature exposure on body image and happiness: an experience sampling study

Exposure to nature is associated with improved psychological well-being and positive body image. Here, we examined whether everyday exposure to natural environments is associated with state body image outcomes (and, for comparative reasons, state happiness) using an experience sampling method. One-hundred-and-seven participants completed a 30-day experience sampling phase in which they reported their state body image (body weight, body shape, and physical appearance satisfaction), state happiness, and features of the surrounding environment (total = 6,025 responses) at three random time-points each day. Results indicated that being outdoors was associated with significantly higher state body image on all three indicators, but effect sizes were lower compared to effects on state happiness. Specific environment type was also important, with blue-spaces and wood- and grasslands, respectively, having stronger effects than other environments. These results provide evidence that everyday exposure to natural environments is associated with more positive state body image and greater happiness.

Gender differences in the relation between interpersonal stress and momentary shape and weight concerns in youth with overweight/obesity

The purpose of this study was to examine relations between interpersonal stress and momentary shape and weight concerns among pre-adolescent and early adolescent boys and girls with overweight/obesity, using ecological momentary assessment (EMA). We also aimed to determine whether interpersonal stress was differentially related to shape/weight concerns in boys versus girls. Forty youth, ages 8-14 years (53% female), with overweight or obesity reported their state-level shape/weight concerns and negative affect and their recent interpersonal stress (i.e., stress experienced since the last EMA assessment) multiple times a day, for two weeks. Results indicated that interpersonal stress predicted shape/weight concerns in girls but was not related to shape/weight concerns in boys. At the between-person level, higher overall feelings of loneliness and social rejection and a higher overall desire for more friends predicted higher average levels of shape/weight concerns. At the within-person level, higher momentary ratings of loneliness, social rejection, and desire for more friends predicted lower shape/weight concerns. These data suggest that the tendency to experience interpersonal stress may be more detrimental to body satisfaction for girls with overweight/obesity than for boys with overweight/obesity. Interventions that focus on reducing interpersonal stress may be effective in ameliorating shape/weight concerns in girls with overweight/obesity.

Bidirectional relationships between intuitive eating and shape and weight overvaluation, dissatisfaction, preoccupation, and fear of weight gain: A prospective study

Using a prospective design, we investigated possible bi-directional relationships between intuitive eating and four empirically distinct components of negative body image: overvaluation (judgements of self-worth contingent upon weight/shape), dissatisfaction (general discontent with weight/shape), preoccupation (ruminative thinking about weight/shape), and fear of weight gain. We assessed adult women at baseline (T1) and four-month follow-up (T2), as prior work has demonstrated that this time lag is sufficient to detect change in intuitive eating scores. After adjusting for T1 intuitive eating scores and demographic confounds, higher T1 dissatisfaction was the only body image component to significantly predict lower T2 intuitive eating scores in both univariate and multivariate models. Higher T1 intuitive eating scores also significantly predicted lower scores on each of the four negative body image components at T2. Findings suggest that general body discontent may be one of the more important body image variables that lead to decreases in intuitive eating principles. Present findings also add to a growing body of evidence demonstrating the potentially adaptive role of intuitive eating on psychological health indices.

Body Image in Borderline Personality Disorder: A Systematic Review of the Emerging Empirical Literature

As an element of distorted self-image, body image disturbances may be relevant to borderline personality disorder (BPD). Therefore, this systematic review aims to critically discuss and summarize empirical findings in this matter. Based on the available theoretical models, three body image components were identified: (a) perception, (b) affect and cognition, and (c) general body dissatisfaction. We conducted a systematic search of the empirical literature published in English in the MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Scopus databases until June 2021 using a priori eligibility criteria (BPD; BPD symptoms or features in nonclinical groups; quasipsychotic or psychotic symptoms were not considered). We included k = 10 records meeting the criteria. Compared with other analyzed groups, individuals diagnosed with BPD obtained higher scores in the three components of body image disturbances. The issue of body image in BPD is relatively understudied, although current research findings clearly indicate disturbances in all of the abovementioned body image components in individuals with BPD or significant relationships of these components with BPD traits or symptoms both in clinical and nonclinical samples. Eventually, possible practical implications and future research directions are also discussed.

Targets of comparison and body image in women's everyday lives: The role of perceived attainability

Appearance comparisons can negatively influence women's body image, but little is known about the potential impact of comparison targets. We conducted an ecological momentary assessment study in which female undergraduate students (N = 146) completed a brief online survey at five random times every day for five days. In this survey, participants were asked if they had made an appearance comparison. If so, they were asked who they compared themselves to (i.e., close peer, acquaintance, stranger, celebrity/model), how they rated compared to that person (i.e., more attractive, just as attractive, less attractive), and how attainable that person's appearance is to them. All participants then completed state measures of mood, appearance satisfaction, and intention to diet and exercise. Upward comparisons (i.e., to more attractive others) to all targets were associated with less appearance satisfaction, lower positive mood, and more thoughts of dieting and exercising than when no comparisons were made. There were indirect relationships between comparisons to celebrities/models versus all other targets and appearance satisfaction via perceived attainability of the target's appearance. These findings suggest that celebrities may be particularly harmful appearance comparison targets in women's everyday lives because their attractive appearance is perceived to be less personally attainable than other targets.

State versus trait weight, shape, and eating concerns: Disentangling influence on eating behaviors among sexual minority women

This study examined the relative influence of trait and state weight, shape, and eating concerns on dysregulated eating in the daily lives of sexual minority women with overweight and obesity. This study is a secondary analysis of data from an Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) study of 55 sexual minority women with overweight/obesity. Trait shape, weight, and eating concerns were assessed at baseline. For the following five days, participants used a smartphone to report state weight/shape concerns, overeating, and binge eating five times daily. Women who endorsed higher levels of trait weight, shape, and eating concerns at baseline reported more frequent state weight/shape concerns in daily life. Trait eating concerns were associated with higher odds of binge eating during EMA, but trait weight/shape concerns were unrelated to future dysregulated eating. In daily life, state weight/shape concerns was associated with greater risk for over/binge eating at the concurrent EMA prompt, the subsequent EMA prompt, and over the course of a full day, independent of trait concerns. State weight and shape concerns may play an important role in predicting dysregulated eating in daily life among sexual minority women of higher body weight.

The differential impact of viewing fitspiration and thinspiration images on men's body image concerns: An experimental ecological momentary assessment study

To date, little is known about the impact of fitspiration and thinspiration exposure on men, as previous studies on these social media trends were primarily conducted on women. Male participants (n = 223) completed baseline measures of trait body image, then used a smartphone application to complete up to six state-based assessments daily for seven days. In each assessment, participants were randomly assigned to one of three image conditions (fitspiration, thinspiration, or neutral). Before and after viewing each image, they reported state body fat dissatisfaction, muscularity dissatisfaction, negative mood, and urge to engage in behaviours to reduce body fat and increase muscularity. Multi-level analyses revealed that compared to viewing neutral images, viewing fitspiration images increased men's body dissatisfaction, whereas viewing thinspiration images decreased body dissatisfaction. Viewing either fit- or thinspiration images also led to lower mood and greater urges to increase muscularity, whereas only fitspiration images increased urges to reduce body fat. Men with greater baseline muscularity dissatisfaction and higher appearance comparison were most vulnerable to muscularity dissatisfaction after viewing fitspiration images. Findings suggest the importance of limiting exposure to fitspiration imagery and implementing social media literacy programmes for men and well as women.

Rationale and Design of the Women's Health And Daily Experiences Project: Protocol for an Ecological Momentary Assessment Study to Identify Real-Time Predictors of Midlife Women's Physical Activity

BACKGROUND

Midlife women are at an elevated risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and associated mortality. Those who have additional risk conditions such as obesity or hypertension report specific barriers to engaging in cardioprotective behaviors such as physical activity (PA). Considerable effort has been devoted to understanding PA determinants and designing interventions for midlife women, although with suboptimal success, as increasing PA could meaningfully attenuate CVD risk. An updated approach to understanding PA among midlife women could improve upon existing resources by focusing on novel psychosocial influences on PA in this population (ie, body satisfaction, social interactions, social comparisons, mood state) and within-person relations between these influences and PA in the natural environment.

OBJECTIVE

The overarching goal of Project WHADE (Women's Health And Daily Experiences) is to use an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) approach to capture ecologically valid relations between midlife women's psychosocial experiences and PA as they engage in their normal daily activities. The primary aim of the study is to identify within-person psychosocial predictors of variability in PA (ie, experiences associated with higher vs lower PA for a given individual).

METHODS

Midlife women (aged 40-60 years) with one or more additional risk markers for CVD (eg, hypertension) will be recruited from primary care clinics and the general community (target n=100). Eligible women will complete an initial survey and a face-to-face baseline session before engaging in a 10-day EMA protocol. Psychosocial experiences will be assessed using a brief self-report via a smartphone 5 times per day, and PA will be assessed throughout waking hours using a research-grade monitor. Participants will return for a brief exit interview at the end of 10 days. Multilevel models that address the nested structure of EMA data will be used to evaluate the study aims.

RESULTS

Recruitment and enrollment are ongoing, and a total of 75 women have completed the protocol to date. Data collection is expected to be completed in Fall 2020.

CONCLUSIONS

Project WHADE is designed to identify naturally occurring psychosocial experiences that predict short-term variability in midlife women's PA. As such, the results of this study should advance the current understanding of PA among midlife women by providing further insight into within-person psychosocial influences on PA in this group. In the future, this information could help inform the design of interventions for this population.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/19044.

"eLoriCorps Immersive Body Rating Scale": Exploring the Assessment of Body Image Disturbances from Allocentric and Egocentric Perspectives

The first objective of this study was to test the convergent and discriminant validity between the “eLoriCorps Immersive Body Rating Scale” and the traditional paper-based figure rating scale (FRS). The second objective was to explore the contribution of the egocentric virtual reality (VR) perspective of eLoriCorps to understanding body image disturbances (BIDs). The sample consisted of 53 female and 13 male adults. Body size dissatisfaction, body size distortion, perceived body size, and ideal body size were assessed. Overall, outcomes showed good agreement between allocentric perspectives as measured via VR and the FRS. The egocentric VR perspective produced different results compared to both the allocentric VR perspective and the FRS. This difference revealed discriminant validity and suggested that eLoricorps’ egocentric VR perspective might assess something different from the traditional conception of body dissatisfaction, which an allocentric VR perspective generally assesses. Finally, the egocentric VR perspective in assessing BIDs deserves to be studied more extensively to explore the possibility of finding two types of body image distortion: (a) an egocentric perceptual body distortion, referring to internal body sensation affected by intra-individual changes, and (b) an allocentric perceptual body distortion, referring to external body benchmarks constructed by inter-individual comparison occurring in a given cultural context.

Relational body image: Preliminary evidence that body image varies within a person from one specific relationship to another

Although social factors influence body image, it remains unknown whether a given individual's body image varies from one specific relationship to another. The present study examined this novel concept of relational body image by investigating the extent to which individuals' body image differs across their relationships with specific others. These differences were expected to arise in part due to differences in how an individual perceives others' personal body preoccupation, others' acceptance of her body, and others' body size relative to her own. Eighty-seven female undergraduates reported on their typical levels of body appreciation, appearance orientation, and intuitive eating with 10 people in their lives, and reported on the characteristics of these others. Intraclass correlations revealed that participants' body image and eating varied across their different relationships. Furthermore, participants perceived differences in others' acceptance of the participant's body, body preoccupation, and body size. Multilevel modelling showed that participants reported more adaptive body image and eating patterns in relationships with others whom they perceived to be relatively more accepting of their body, less body preoccupied, and more similar in size to them. Findings provide initial support for the concept of relational body image.

Iowa Gambling Task and Distortion in Perception of Body Image Among Adolescent Women With Eating Disorders

The Iowa gambling task (IGT) is an instrument for the neuropsychological evaluation of cognitive and emotional decision making (DM) processes that was created to test the somatic marker hypothesis (SMH) described by Damasio in 1994. It was initially applied to patients with frontal lobe lesions due to its association with executive functions but was subsequently used on patients with a variety of disorders. Although the DM process is inherently perceptual, few studies have applied the IGT to examine DM processes in patients with eating disorders (EDs), and even fewer have associated the IGT to the perceptual distortion of body image (PDBI) in this population. People diagnosed with ED exhibit heightened control over their somatic responses-for example, they can delay digestion for hours-and DM may be affected in this condition. This study compares the performance of two samples of adolescent women-hospitalized patients with ED, and healthy controls with similar demographic characteristics-on the IGT using body image as a possible factor in the SMH. Seventy-four women with a mean age of 14.97 years (SD = 2.347) participated. To analyze their body self-image, we used the figure-rating scale and compared the results with their body mass index (BMI). Correlations between indices of the IGT and distortion in body image were then explored. The results revealed significant differences between the groups in terms of evolving performance on the partial IGT. Patients with ED performed worse than their healthy counterparts in the last 40 trials and exhibited greater distortions in their body image, especially in terms of overestimation. Indices of these distortions were negatively correlated with the total IGT. These results are compatible with the SMH because they suggest that patients with ED evinced blindness with regard to the future, as described by their authors. In addition, a negative correlation was found between the IGT and PDBI, showing that a more distorted body image was associated with lower IGT, that is, more disadvantageous or riskier decisions were made by the subjects with more distortion.

State-Based Markers of Disordered Eating Symptom Severity

Recent work using naturalistic, repeated, ambulatory assessment approaches have uncovered a range of within-person mood- and body image-related dynamics (such as fluctuation of mood and body dissatisfaction) that can prospectively predict eating disorder behaviors (e.g., a binge episode following an increase in negative mood). The prognostic significance of these state-based dynamics for predicting trait-level eating disorder severity, however, remains largely unexplored. The present study uses within-person relationships among state levels of negative mood, body image, and dieting as predictors of baseline, trait-level eating pathology, captured prior to a period of state-based data capture. Two-hundred and sixty women from the general population completed baseline measures of trait eating pathology and demographics, followed by a 7 to 10-day ecological momentary assessment phase comprising items measuring state body dissatisfaction, negative mood, upward appearance comparisons, and dietary restraint administered 6 times daily. Regression-based analyses showed that, in combination, state-based dynamics accounted for 34-43% variance explained in trait eating pathology, contingent on eating disorder symptom severity. Present findings highlight the viability of within-person, state-based dynamics as predictors of baseline trait-level disordered eating severity. Longitudinal testing is needed to determine whether these dynamics account for changes in disordered eating over time.

An Ecological Momentary Assessment of Self-improvement and Self-evaluation Body Comparisons: Associations with College Women's Body Dissatisfaction and Exercise

Upward body comparisons are prevalent among college women and associated with body dissatisfaction and disordered eating. However, less is known about distinguishing features of the comparisons themselves as they occur in daily life. The primary purpose of the present study was to examine whether two types of upward body comparisons previously studied experimentally (self-improvement and self-evaluation) are differentially associated with body- and exercise-related outcomes in real-life settings using ecological momentary assessment (EMA). Undergraduate women (N = 74) between 18-25 years (Mage = 20.4, SD = 1.63) completed five surveys on smartphones daily for seven days. EMA measures assessed body comparisons, body dissatisfaction, and exercise cognitions and behaviors. Baseline body dissatisfaction, comparison tendency, and exercise behavior were examined as moderators. Multilevel analyses revealed that both self-improvement and self-evaluation were associated with greater exercise thoughts (ps < .05), but not with changes in body dissatisfaction (ps> .05). Moderator analyses revealed differences between the two types and their associations with outcomes for select subgroups. For example, self-improvement comparisons were associated with fewer exercise thoughts among participants with high baseline exercise behaviors (p < .01). Further research is needed to understand the differences between self-improvement and self-evaluation and the potential protective mechanisms of self-improvement.

Body image in and out of the lab: Correspondence between lab-based attentional bias data and body shape dissatisfaction experiences in daily life

Accumulating lab-based studies have identified attentional biases in processing of negative appearance-related information among individuals with elevated trait body shape and weight dissatisfaction (BD). How these biases translate into experiences of BD in daily life remains unclear and, hence, was the focus of the present study. Thirty-eight women aged between 18-40 years completed a baseline survey and modified dot-probe task with both fat and thin appearance-related stimuli in a laboratory setting. Participants also downloaded a smartphone app that prompted them 10 times per day for 7 days to rate current body dissatisfaction. Results revealed that heightened BD in daily life tended to be transitory, and followed by a substantially lower rating of BD by the next survey (∼1-2 h later). For individuals with elevated trait BD and facilitated attention towards thin body images, this reduction in state BD was more gradual. Surprisingly, delayed disengagement towards thin body images was associated with greater reduction in state BD. Consistent with the hypothesis, moderating effects were not observed when initial state BD level was low. Susceptibility for immediate, short-term attentional biases towards appearance-related information may be a vulnerability factor for the prolonged persistence of negative body image experiences in daily life.

The Happy American Body 2.0: Predictors of affective body satisfaction in two U.S. national internet panel surveys

The first national study of body image was reported four decades ago in the article The Happy American Body (Berscheid et al., 1973). To provide a modern follow-up to this study, we used two Internet panel surveys of U.S. adults to examine feelings about appearance (Survey 1: Married N = 1095; Single N = 5481) and weight, appearance, body, and muscle size/tone (Survey 2: N = 1601). Mean ages across samples for men and women ranged from 42-53. On the positive side, many men and women were somewhat-to-very satisfied with their appearance (67 %; 57 %), overall body (61 %; 46 %), weight (54 %; 42 %), and muscle tone/size (56 %; 41 %). Mean gender differences were small (Cohen's ds = 0.18-0.32), as were sexual orientation differences within each gender (ds = |0.00-0.25|). Looking at negative body image, fewer men than women were somewhat-to-very unhappy with their appearance among married (19 %; 29 %) and single participants (29 %; 35 %), and fewer men were somewhat-to-extremely dissatisfied with their appearance (18 %; 24 %), body (27 %; 39 %), weight (36 %; 49 %), muscle tone/size (27 %; 41 %). Nearly one-fifth of men (18 %) and one-fourth of women (27 %) were very-to-extremely dissatisfied with at least one of these traits, highlighting the importance of body image interventions.

Body image during sexual activity in the population of Polish adult women

Introduction

Recently it has been shown that body image during sexual activities is a better predictor of the diversity of sexual experience than body image as a psychological trait. To measure contextual body image (as a state) the Body Exposure During Sexual Activity Questionnaire (BESAQ) was developed.

Material and methods

845 women aged 18-55 years were included in the study. The original model was first translated into Polish and consulted to create the version to be further validated. The original model was tested using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The population was divided in two equal groups – group 1 was used for exploratory factor analysis. Discriminant and convergent validity were checked. Sexual function was assessed by the Changes in Sexual Function Questionnaire.

Results

The Polish model of BESAQ (BESAQ-PL) consisted of 28 items with 2 lower-order factors. It had a satisfactory goodness of fit – comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.93, Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) = 0.94, root-mean-square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.06 and χ² = 1360.0, df = 337, p< 0.001, excellent internal consistency measured by Cronbach’s α = 0.88 and satisfactory discriminate validity. State body image (BESAQ-PL) did not predict sexual functioning. Face was the most important for self-consciousness during sexual contact in the population of Polish women.

Conclusions

State body image correlates with sexual functions but is not a major factor influencing sexual performance. Women in Poland are not anxious about body exposure during sexual activity. The BESAQ-PL may be used in the population of Polish women between 18 and 55 years of age.

Trait body image flexibility as a predictor of body image states in everyday life of young Australian women

The present study evaluated whether individuals with varying levels of trait body image flexibility differ in the severity, variability, and correlates of state body dissatisfaction experienced in their daily lives. One hundred and forty-seven women completed a baseline measure of trait body image flexibility, followed by a 7-day ecological momentary assessment phase in which participants self-reported state body dissatisfaction, disordered eating behavior, drive for thinness, and appearance comparisons at 10 semi-random intervals daily. Higher trait body image flexibility predicted lower average scores, less frequent reporting of high state body dissatisfaction, and less variability in their state body dissatisfaction ratings. Individuals with higher trait body image flexibility were also less likely to engage in a range of behaviors and cognitions previously shown to produce body dissatisfaction, including upward appearance comparisons, drive for thinness, binge eating, and dieting. However, few of these state-based relationships involving body dissatisfaction and these related behaviors and cognitions were moderated by trait body image flexibility. Overall, this pattern of findings suggests that body image flexible individuals may have less negative body image because they are less inclined to engage in behaviors and cognitions in their daily lives that encourage negative body image.