The impact of different responses to negative body talk on body satisfaction, shame, and future negative body talk likelihood: A UK sample

Development of Body Dissatisfaction in Women and Men at Different Educational Levels During the Life Course

BACKGROUND

Our study examines the rarely investigated associations between body dissatisfaction and educational level over the life course in women and men.

METHODS

A Finnish cohort (N = 1955) was followed by questionnaires at ages 22, 32, 42, and 52. Body dissatisfaction was measured by asking the respondents to evaluate their appearance using five response options. Analyses were done using logistic regression, while latent class analyses were used to identify classes of body dissatisfaction trajectories over the life course.

RESULTS

Body dissatisfaction increased with age in women and men. Among men, body dissatisfaction was related to lower education at the ages of 32 and 42. Also, men with lower education were more likely to maintain a less positive body image over the life course. In women, increasing body dissatisfaction during the life course was associated with lower education.

CONCLUSIONS

Differences in body dissatisfaction based on educational level are important to take into account in public health actions aiming to reduce socioeconomic inequalities in health and well-being.

Examining the individual and relational impacts of varying responses to negative body talk within college women's female friendships

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.