Siblings’ appearance-related commentary, body dissatisfaction, and risky eating behaviors in young women

The Effects of Appearance-Based Comments and Non-Appearance-Based Evaluations on Body Dissatisfaction and Disordered Eating Urges: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study

The current study used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to investigate whether appearance-based comments, social and performance-based evaluations affected levels of body dissatisfaction (BD) and urges to engage in disordered eating behaviors (DE) throughout daily life. A total of 620 participants completed a baseline questionnaire assessing sociodemographic variables. Participants then downloaded a mobile app which alerted them to complete short surveys assessing their levels of BD, DE urges, and experiences of receiving comments and evaluations six times per day for 7 days. Negative appearance-based comments predicted greater levels of state BD, while positive appearance comments predicted lower levels of state BD. Negative social and performance-based evaluations predicted an increase in state BD, while positive evaluations predicted a decrease in this outcome variable. No significant predictor was found for the DE urge outcomes. The present findings suggest that receiving negative and positive feedback in various domains of one's life may predict opposite outcomes for body image. However, these effects do not necessarily associate with urges to engage in DE in a nonclinical population.

Mediating Effects of Intimacy Between Body Talk and Girls' Body Dissatisfaction: The Forgotten Sibling Relationship

Teasing and pressure from family members influences the development of body dissatisfaction. Body dissatisfaction is a common experience for girls and can lead to eating disorders. However, most body image disturbance research to date neglects the possible influence of siblings. In light of this, the present study investigated the associations between sibling negative appearance-based talk, intimacy, and body dissatisfaction. The sample consisted of 113 mostly White, female adolescents, whose ages ranged from 12 to 19 years with a mean age of 14.85 (SD = 1.62). This study first examined direct associations between negative body talk, including appearance related teasing and pressure from siblings, and girls' body dissatisfaction. Second, indirect effects models with intimacy included were examined. There were significant direct links between appearance related pressure from siblings and body dissatisfaction, and significant indirect effects such that sibling teasing and pressure were associated with sibling intimacy, which was associated with body dissatisfaction. These results indicate that siblings play an important role in the development of girls' body dissatisfaction.

Exploring the Links Between Self-Compassion, Body Dissatisfaction, and Acceptance of Cosmetic Surgery in Young Italian Women

This study aimed to examine the association between positive (self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness) and negative (isolation, self-judgment, and over-identification) components of self-compassion, and both body dissatisfaction and acceptance of cosmetic surgery among women, through the mediation (for the negative components) of internalization and physical appearance comparison. The participants were 220 young Italian women aged 19–31 (M = 21) years, who completed a questionnaire assessing the variables of interest. Path analysis indicated that higher mindfulness was directly linked to lower acceptance of cosmetic surgery. Mindfulness presented the strongest link with cosmetic surgery, as it was directly associated with acceptance of cosmetic surgery for both social and interpersonal motivations and with consideration of undergoing some cosmetic procedures. Common humanity and self-kindness were related to acceptance of cosmetic surgery for social reasons. Over-identification seemed to be associated with body dissatisfaction and acceptance of cosmetic surgery both directly and indirectly through internalization and physical appearance comparison. Self-judgment and isolation did not present a significant association with either body dissatisfaction or acceptance of cosmetic surgery. These findings confirm that psychological assessment of women who are interested in cosmetic surgery is highly recommended. Interventions should not consider self-compassion as a whole, but they should rather focus on some of its components. The role of over-identification seems to be especially pivotal, as higher scores on this dimension are linked to higher levels of body dissatisfaction and greater acceptance of cosmetic surgery.

Validation of an Italian version of the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-4-Revised (SATAQ-4R) on non-clinical Italian women and men

Appearance-ideal internalization and appearance pressures are empirically-supported risk factors for body image disturbance and disordered eating in Western countries. Such a relationship has emerged also in the Italian context, where high rates of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating are present. The Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire (SATAQ) and its revisions are among the most commonly used instruments to assess the role of sociocultural influences on body image. Two studies were conducted to examine the psychometric properties of the female (Study 1, N = 732) and male (Study 2, N = 364) Italian versions of the SATAQ-4-Revised (SATAQ-4R-Female, SATAQ-4R-Male). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) indicated that the original seven-factor structure was replicated for women and men. The seven subscales (Internalization: Thin/Low Body Fat; Internalization: Muscular; Internalization: General Attractiveness; Pressures: Family; Pressures: Peers; Pressures: Significant Others; and Pressures: Media) showed good internal consistency and 4-week test-retest reliability. Associations between SATAQ-4R subscales and body dissatisfaction, eating disorder symptomatology, drive for muscularity, self-esteem, family influences, and peer influences, suggested good convergent validity among both women and men. The present study provides evidence for the validity and reliability of the male and female Italian versions of the SATAQ-4R.

Determining the relationship between body mass index, healthy lifestyle behaviors and social appearance anxiety

The aim of this study was to describe the relationship between nutritional status, healthy lifestyle behaviors and social appearance anxiety of individuals aged 20-65 (n = 500). A significant, positive relationship was seen between body mass index and nutrition, and negative relationship between body mass index and spiritual development, interpersonal relations, stress management. There was a negative relationship between the ORTO-15 score and health responsibility, physical activity, nutrition, spiritual development, interpersonal relationships, stress management. There was also a negative relationship between the Social Appearance Anxiety Scale and spiritual development, interpersonal relationships.