Is implicit self-esteem linked to shape and weight concerns in restrained and unrestrained eaters?

Effects of full-body mirror exposure on eating pathology, body image and emotional states: Comparison between positive and negative verbalization

Mirror exposure (ME) is an effective technique to improve body image. However, evidence on the underlying mechanisms and the optimal verbalization instruction during ME is lacking. Therefore, this experimental study analyzed mechanisms of ME and therapeutic outcomes by comparing positive (PV) and negative (NV) full-body verbalization. N = 73 healthy females were randomized to a PV or an NV condition. PV participants verbalized positively while NV participants verbalized negatively about their whole body. Each participant underwent three standardized ME sessions. Before and after each ME session, positive affect, negative affect and body satisfaction were assessed. Before the first and after the third ME, participants completed questionnaires on cognitive-affective and behavioral aspects of body image, eating pathology and self-esteem. Regarding within-ME changes, the results indicate that positive affect and body satisfaction decreased while negative affect increased in the NV group but not in the PV group. In contrast, regarding between-ME changes, decreased negative affect as well as positive affect and increased body satisfaction were observed in both groups. However, eating pathology remained stable, whereas body-checking behavior increased and the PV condition was followed by higher levels of self-esteem compared to the NV condition. These findings suggest that both PV and NV improve negative affect and body satisfaction between-ME, and thus seem to be effective ME instructions. Given that NV led to increased negative affect within-ME and did not influence self-esteem, PV might represent the favorable instruction during ME for body-satisfied women.

Development of Short and Ultra-Short Forms of the Multidimensional Self-Esteem Scale

Abstract. The multidimensional assessment of self-esteem plays an important role in self-esteem research. In this article, we present the development of a short form and an ultra-short form of the Multidimensional Self-Esteem Scale (MSES; Schütz et al., 2016 ). Items were selected by eliminating redundant items and by using a deterministic search algorithm in a sample of 644 adults ( Mage = 47.0). Construct validity was established by investigating the relations between each MSES short form and other constructs and cross-validating the factor structure of both short forms of the MSES in 674 adolescents ( Mage = 14.2) and in 425 adults from a preregistered study ( Mage = 49.1). Both short scales demonstrated satisfactory reliability and factorial validity in all samples. Analyses examining relations with the Big Five personality traits, narcissism, and academic achievement supported construct validity in all age groups. The present research indicates that the short versions of the MSES are economic and valid instruments for measuring multidimensional self-esteem in adolescents and adults. The short form (MSES-24) should be particularly useful in applied research settings with a need to reduce participants’ burden, whereas the ultra-short form (MSES-12) may prove convenient for panel studies and large-scale research with limited time capacities.

Relations between implicit attitudes towards eating disorder stimuli and disordered eating symptoms among at-risk college women

This study examined implicit attitudes towards different eating disorder (ED) relevant stimuli- emaciation, hard-exercise, the self, and eating related stimuli-and their relationship with explicit ED symptoms in two symptomatic samples of college-aged women. Study 1 found that positive implicit attitudes towards eating and self-relevant images were associated with greater state body image satisfaction and self-esteem and with less ED-related intentions. Study 2 found that positive implicit attitudes towards eating and self-relevant images were associated with less trait global ED psychopathology and distress and greater self-esteem. Overall, positive implicit evaluations of eating and self-related stimuli were negatively associated with ED symptoms and related psychopathology and positively related to self-esteem. However, implicit attitudes towards emaciation and hard exercise were not associated with explicit ED symptoms in either sample. These findings suggest that implicit attitudes towards eating and self-related stimuli, in particular, may be viable targets for reconditioning in novel treatment paradigms such as therapeutic evaluative conditioning interventions.

Do thoughts about dieting matter? Testing the relationship between thoughts about dieting, body shape concerns, and state self-esteem

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Dieters are likely primed to think about their diet throughout the day (e.g., as they feel hungry). However, prior research has not tested whether and how thinking about dieting might have negative effects, like poor self-esteem and body shape concerns.

METHODS

We experimentally primed dieters' thoughts about their diets and tested whether: 1) dieting thoughts are related to poor state self-esteem through body shape concerns; and 2) dieting thoughts are related to body shape concerns through poor state self-esteem. Dieting participants (N = 225) were randomly assigned to complete a dieting or neutral prime.

RESULTS

Unexpectedly, there was a different pattern of results across male (n = 72) and female (n = 144) dieters. When accounting for body shape concerns, males primed to think about dieting (vs. neutral condition) reported greater state self-esteem. Further, the dieting prime indirectly led to lower body shape concerns through greater state global self-esteem. However, for females, the dieting prime indirectly led to poorer state self-esteem through its effects on body shape concerns.

LIMITATIONS

The sample was collected online and was predominantly female and Caucasian. Other limitations include self-report of dieting status and body mass index.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that for males, thoughts about dieting may actually be associated with greater state self-esteem, which may indirectly predict lower body shape concerns. In contrast, for females, when thoughts about dieting activate body shape concerns, poorer state self-esteem may follow. These results highlight important, potentially gender-specific relationships between thoughts about dieting, body shape concerns, and state self-esteem.

Distorted body image influences body schema in individuals with negative bodily attitudes

There is now a considerable body of evidence to suggest that internal representations of the body can be meaningfully separated into at least two general levels; body image as a perceptual construct and body schema as a motor metric. However, recent studies with eating disordered individuals have suggested that there may in fact be more interaction between these two representations than first thought. We aimed to investigate how body image might act to influence body schema within a typical, healthy population. 100 healthy adult women were asked to judge the smallest gap between a pair of sliding doors that they could just pass through. We then determined whether these estimates were sufficient to predict the size of the smallest gap that they could actually pass through, or whether perceptual and attitudinal body image information was required in order to make these predictions. It was found that perceptual body image did indeed mediate performance on the egocentric (but not allocentric) motor imagery affordance task, but only for those individuals with raised body image concerns and low self-esteem; body schema was influenced by both the perceptual and attitudinal components of body image in those with more negative bodily attitudes. Furthermore, disparities between perceived versus actual size were associated with body parts that had larger variations in adipose/muscle-dependent circumference. We therefore suggest that it may be the affective salience of a distorted body representation that mediates the degree to which it is incorporated into the current body state.

PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS AND DEVELOPMENT OF PHYSICAL EXERCISE DEPENDENCE

ABSTRACT Introduction: Excessive physical exercise combined with certain psychic and sociodemographic factors can lead to dependence. Objective: To examine which factors lead to the emergence of exercise dependence. Methods: Sample consisted of 103 men (mean age 27.3 years, SD 6.127) who performed exercises at gyms at least three times a week in the last year or more in Novi Pazar, Sjenica, Raska and Tutin, Serbia. Participants completed questionnaires and took appropriate tests. Results: Our results showed that there is no association between exercise dependence and financial status, number of siblings, level of education, family stability, health, and medication use among the interviewees. However, it was found that the degree of exercise dependence is associated with marital status and problems with the law. Regression analysis showed that body dysmorphia, body mass index and aggressiveness are better predictors of exercise dependence. Conclusion: People whose self-perception is dismorphic have lower self-esteem, and exercise in gyms to improve their physical appearance. If we consider other characteristics, such as unfavorable BMI, problems with the lаw and being single, it is hardly surprising these individuals cross the line between healthy exercise and exercise dependence. An important finding is that aggressiveness and exercise dependence are related to problems with the law due to aggression, and body dysmorphia. Level of Evidence; Diagnostic studies - Investigating a diagnostic test.

What factors mediate the relationship between global self-worth and weight and shape concerns?

The primary aim of this study was to investigate whether the relationship between global self-worth and weight concerns and global self-worth and shape concerns was mediated by pertinent body image factors, while controlling for gender and estimated BMI. Participants were 775 adolescents (56% male) aged 12-18years (M=14.6; SD=1.50). Mediation analysis revealed a direct and a mediated effect between global self-worth and two body image models: 1) weight concerns and 2) shape concerns. The strongest mediators in both models were physical appearance, restrained eating, and depression. Partial mediation was observed for both models, indicating that body image factors which span cognitive, affective, and behavioral constructs, explain the association between global self-worth and weight and shape concerns. Implications for future research, weight and shape concern prevention and global self-worth enhancement programs are discussed.

Self-imagery in individuals with high body dissatisfaction: the effect of positive and negative self-imagery on aspects of the self-concept

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Cognitive behavioural models of eating disorders highlight low self-esteem as a maintaining factor. This study explored the impact of positive and negative self-imagery on aspects of the working self (implicit and explicit self-esteem and self-concept clarity) in individuals with high body dissatisfaction (an important aspect of eating disorders). The impact of these images on state body satisfaction and affect was also explored.

METHOD

A group of participants with high body dissatisfaction completed measures of explicit self-esteem, self-concept clarity, state body satisfaction and affect prior to completing a negative (n = 33) or positive (n = 33) self-imagery retrieval task. Following this they completed the baseline measures and a measure of implicit self-esteem.

RESULTS

Holding a negative self-image in mind had a negative effect on explicit self-esteem, whilst holding a positive self-image had a beneficial effect. There were no effects of imagery on implicit self-esteem. Holding a negative image in mind led to a significant reduction in self-concept clarity; however, positive self-imagery did not affect self-concept clarity. Holding a negative self-image in mind led to a decrease in body satisfaction and state affect. The opposite was found for the positive self-imagery group.

LIMITATIONS

Implicit self-esteem was not measured at baseline.

CONCLUSIONS

Imagery techniques which promote positive self-images may help improve aspects of the working self, body satisfaction and affect in individuals with high levels of body dissatisfaction. As such, these imagery techniques warrant further investigation in a clinical population.

Implicit cognitive processes in binge-eating disorder and obesity

OBJECTIVES

Binge-eating disorder (BED) is characterized by recurrent binge eating episodes, associated eating disorder and general psychopathology, and commonly occurs in obese individuals. Explicit self-esteem and explicit weight bias have been linked to BED, while little is known about implicit cognitive processes such as implicit self-esteem and implicit weight bias.

METHODS

Obese participants with BED and an individually matched obese only group (OB) and normal weight control group (CG; each N = 26) were recruited from the community to examine group differences and associations in explicit and implicit self-esteem and weight bias, as well as the impact of implicit cognitive processes on global eating disorder psychopathology. Implicit cognitive processes were assessed using the Implicit Association Test.

RESULTS

Significantly lower explicit self-esteem, as well as higher exposure to explicit weight bias, compared to CG and OB was found in the BED group. All groups showed positive implicit self-esteem, however, it was significantly lower in BED when compared to CG. BED and CG demonstrated equally high implicit weight bias whereas OB did not. Explicit and implicit measures were not significantly correlated. Global eating disorder psychopathology was predicted by explicit and implicit self-esteem.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the present study add to the importance of implicit self-esteem and implicit weight bias beyond explicit measures in BED, while both were previously shown to be associated with onset and maintenance of BED. In conclusion, implicit cognitive processes should be focused on in interventions for BED to investigate their impact on psychological treatments.

The impact of an implicit manipulation of self-esteem on body dissatisfaction

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Given the theoretically postulated causal pathway from low self-esteem on body dissatisfaction, the aim of the present study was to experimentally test this linkage before and after a mirror exposure in body dissatisfied females.

METHOD

Thirty-six women with high body dissatisfaction (HBD) and 39 women with low body dissatisfaction (LBD) received either a positive or a negative implicit manipulation of self-esteem and participants' actual body dissatisfaction and negative emotions were assessed (T1). Following that, they underwent a one minute mirror exposure and actual body dissatisfaction and emotions were assessed once more (T2).

RESULTS

In the HBD group no effects of the self-esteem manipulation were found prior to the mirror exposure. However, the negative manipulation of self-esteem led to a significant increase of body dissatisfaction over the course of the mirror exposure. The positive manipulation of self-esteem did not decrease body dissatisfaction over the course of the mirror exposure. No effects of self-esteem on body dissatisfaction were found in the LBD group.

LIMITATIONS

Formal eating disorder diagnosis in study participants was not established. Therefore, the extension of the results to an eating disordered population is recommended.

CONCLUSIONS

The results yield evidence of a close linkage between negative self-esteem and body dissatisfaction in individuals high on body dissatisfaction. Consistent with cognitive theories, this link is only apparent when shape and weight schemas are activated, e.g. by the confrontation with one's own body.

Self-body recognition depends on implicit and explicit self-esteem

The present contribution bridges research on body image, self-esteem, and body recognition. Recent work in neuroscience indicates a superiority in the processing of self relative to others' body parts. The present contribution shows that this ability is not universal but it is qualified by individual differences in implicit and explicit self-esteem. In fact, two studies (n₁ = 41 and n₂ = 35) using two different paradigms in body recognition and direct and indirect measures of self-esteem reveal that this advantage in recognizing one's own body parts is associated with one's level of self-esteem. Moreover, it appears that measures of implicit and explicit self-esteem provide different contributions to self-body recognition abilities and that these contributions depend on how self-body recognition is assessed. Implications of these results are discussed notably in the perspective of research on body image.

The undue influence of shape and weight on self-evaluation in anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and restrained eaters: a combined ERP and behavioral study

BACKGROUND

Current theories and nosology assume that the self-evaluation (SE) of individuals with eating disorders (EDs) is unduly influenced by body shape and weight. However, experimental data supporting this link are scarce, and it is not specified which subdomains of SE might be affected.

METHOD

We studied patients with anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN) and healthy controls (HC) with an affective priming (AP) procedure (Study 1) to unveil explicit and implicit associations between shape/weight and SE. We used weight/shape-related prime sentences, complemented by affectively congruent and incongruent target words from two SE domains. AP effects were assessed by event-related potentials (ERPs), reaction times (RTs) and subjective ratings. The ratings were also assessed (Study 2) in undergraduate restrained (RES) and unrestrained eaters (UNRES).

RESULTS

Study 1 demonstrated stronger AP effects in both ED groups compared to HC on RTs and subjective ratings. ERPs showed AP effects only in the BN group. Restrained eaters showed similar, albeit less pronounced, priming effects on subjective ratings.

CONCLUSIONS

ED patients associate shape/weight concerns with the non-appearance-related SE domains of interpersonal relationships and achievement/performance. These associations seem to be encoded deeper in BN patients relative to the other groups. Links between shape/weight and SE explain how body dissatisfaction impacts on self-esteem and mood in ED. The existence of similar associations in restrained eaters supports a continuum model according to which increasing associations between shape/weight and SE go along with increasing levels of ED symptoms.