Body ImagePub Date : 2025-05-16DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101898
Nicole Behrend , Petra Warschburger
{"title":"Broad conceptualizations of beauty: Scale validation and longitudinal associations with appearance comparison, body appreciation, and body image concerns in women from Germany","authors":"Nicole Behrend , Petra Warschburger","doi":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101898","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101898","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A broad conceptualization of beauty—defined as perceiving diverse physical appearances, body sizes/shapes, and inner characteristics of others as beautiful—represents a key facet of positive body image and is commonly assessed using the Broad Conceptualization of Beauty Scale (BCBS). The present work aimed to evaluate the factorial structure and internal consistency of the German version of the BCBS, as well as to examine its prospective, bidirectional relationships with appearance comparison, body appreciation, and weight/shape concerns. Data were analyzed from a large community sample of 1436 women with a mean age of 26.82 years (SD = 8.66). Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) revealed two factors, referring to external (BCBS-E) and internal (BCBS-I) beauty qualities. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling (ESEM) confirmed this two-factor structure, and Bifactor-ESEM modeling revealed a general factor. This bifactor-model also showed longitudinal invariance over six months, supporting its cross-validity. Both the general factor and subscales scores demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency. Prospective hierarchical regression analyses indicated a bidirectional relationship between appearance comparison and BCBS scores (general and subscale). Additionally, higher BCBS-E scores predicted greater decreases in weight/shape concerns over time, and greater body appreciation uniquely predicted greater increases in BCBS scores (general and subscale), even after accounting for the effects of appearance comparison and weight/shape concerns. Findings contribute to the limited research on women's ability to broadly conceptualize beauty in the German context and provide novel insights into its prospective relationships.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48312,"journal":{"name":"Body Image","volume":"53 ","pages":"Article 101898"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144070210","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Body ImagePub Date : 2025-05-15DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101900
Diana Harcourt , Marisa A. Krauter , Ella Guest , Kathleen R. Bogart
{"title":"Moving beyond the individual: The impact and importance of sociocultural influences on visible difference","authors":"Diana Harcourt , Marisa A. Krauter , Ella Guest , Kathleen R. Bogart","doi":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101900","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101900","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper examines sociocultural factors that shape the experiences of people living with visible differences, highlighting the impact of stigma, societal judgment and appearance-based discrimination, traditional and social media, and the importance of considering intersectionality and cultural context. Taking a sociocultural perspective, we examine how portrayals of visible difference in traditional and social media perpetuate stereotypes, promote unrealistic narrow beauty ideals and stigma. We show the value of considering how intersectional identities, such as gender, race, and sexuality, reveal the unique experiences of marginalized groups, and explore visible differences within low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where stigma and human rights violations persist, advocating for culturally sensitive interventions at family, community, healthcare, and governmental levels. We demonstrate the importance of integrating visible difference and disability research, promoting pride in identity, and involving people with lived experience in research, healthcare and advocacy. Recommendations include incorporating social models of disability into visible difference research and practice and increasing the presence of visible difference in disability work, fostering inclusive representation in the media, leveraging social media to normalize differences, and expanding research to capture the diversity of experiences of visible difference, particularly in underrepresented groups and regions. This would advance understanding and inform policies and practices that enhance acceptance, reduce stigma, and support the well-being of individuals living with visible differences and their families.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48312,"journal":{"name":"Body Image","volume":"53 ","pages":"Article 101900"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143946498","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Body ImagePub Date : 2025-05-14DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101902
Anna Gabrielle G. Patarinski , Kathryn Athanasaw , Anna L. Garban , Samantha L. Hahn , Heather A. Davis
{"title":"Weight self-stigma, but not body dissatisfaction, predicts binge eating across one academic year","authors":"Anna Gabrielle G. Patarinski , Kathryn Athanasaw , Anna L. Garban , Samantha L. Hahn , Heather A. Davis","doi":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101902","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101902","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Body dissatisfaction is a risk factor for disordered eating behaviors, including binge eating, dietary restriction, and purging. Research indicates weight self-stigma (WSS), the internalization of negative beliefs about one’s weight, is an additional risk factor for disordered eating behaviors. We sought to understand the relative contribution of WSS and body dissatisfaction on future disordered eating symptoms (binge eating, purging, dietary restriction) across 1 academic year when included in the same predictive model among a sample of college students [<em>N</em> = 259; 78 % women; 71 % white; Mean (<em>SD</em>) age = 19.21 (1.24) years]. Data were analyzed using three multiple linear regression models. In each, WSS and body dissatisfaction were specified as predictor variables while binge eating, purging, and dietary restriction were entered as outcome variables, adjusting for the relevant ED behavior at baseline. Baseline WSS (<em>p</em> < .001), but not body dissatisfaction (<em>p</em> > .05), predicted 8-month follow-up binge eating. Neither baseline WSS or body dissatisfaction predicted follow-up purging or dietary restriction (<em>p</em>s > .05). Results suggest that WSS is a stronger longitudinal predictor of binge eating than body dissatisfaction when included in the same model. Campus-wide interventions and messaging that address WSS may help reduce the risk of binge eating.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48312,"journal":{"name":"Body Image","volume":"53 ","pages":"Article 101902"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143946563","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Body ImagePub Date : 2025-05-13DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101903
Kyle T. Ganson , Alexander Testa , Rachel F. Rodgers , Jason M. Nagata
{"title":"Associations between muscularity-oriented social media content and muscle dysmorphia among boys and men","authors":"Kyle T. Ganson , Alexander Testa , Rachel F. Rodgers , Jason M. Nagata","doi":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101903","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101903","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aimed to determine whether viewing muscularity-oriented social media content was associated with muscle dysmorphia among a sample of boys and men from Canada and the United States. Data from the Study of Boys and Men (2024; N = 1553) were analyzed. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to determine the associations between viewing content with 1) muscular bodies, 2) muscle-building dietary supplements (e.g., whey protein), and 3) muscle-building drugs (e.g., anabolic-androgenic steroids) on social media and probable muscle dysmorphia. Findings revealed strong and positive associations between viewing muscularity-oriented social media content and probable muscle dysmorphia. Specifically, greater frequency of viewing content related to muscular bodies, muscle-building dietary supplements, and muscle-building drugs were all associated with having probable muscle dysmorphia, independent of total time spent on social media. The findings from this study underscore the need for more research to understand the directionality and risks associated with specific social media content among boys and men. Greater media and health literacy is needed for boys and men to support appropriate social media use.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48312,"journal":{"name":"Body Image","volume":"53 ","pages":"Article 101903"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143942248","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Body ImagePub Date : 2025-05-08DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101899
Bethany J. Ridley , Yumi Hamamoto , Piers L. Cornelissen , Robin S.S. Kramer , Kristofor McCarty , Martin J. Tovée
{"title":"Perceptual body image tasks require ethnically appropriate stimuli","authors":"Bethany J. Ridley , Yumi Hamamoto , Piers L. Cornelissen , Robin S.S. Kramer , Kristofor McCarty , Martin J. Tovée","doi":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101899","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101899","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Current body ideals and perceived weight status are often assessed with tests that include images which depict BMI dependent morphological changes in body shape. These images are almost exclusively based on White European (WE) bodies. However, East Asian (EA) and South Asian (SA) people have a different body composition and pattern of adipose deposition for a given BMI. As such, matching someone’s body from an EA or SA background to a WE body may lead to errors in estimation, as there are no equivalent bodies to match against. Therefore, we 3D scanned EA, SA and WE female volunteers and constructed computer-generated imagery (CGI) bodies based on a statistical analysis of the size and shape variation specific to each ethnic identity. We then asked participants to make judgements between pairs of bodies of the same or different ethnic identity as themselves. When presented with ethnically different stimuli, EA and SA participants significantly over-estimate body size and WE participants significantly under-estimate. Additionally, ethnically mismatched stimuli lead to significantly greater uncertainty about body size judgements. For the first time, we show that ethnically appropriate stimuli need to be used to assess body judgements and should be developed as a matter of urgency.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48312,"journal":{"name":"Body Image","volume":"53 ","pages":"Article 101899"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143923600","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Satisfaction with partner’s appearance, body criticism, and relationship quality in heterosexual couples: A dyadic study","authors":"Tania Fruchier , Fanny-Alexandra Guimond , Marie-Pierre Gagnon-Girouard , Geneviève Lavigne , Samuel Rochette , Noémie Carbonneau","doi":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101896","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101896","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Physical appearance and attraction are key factors shaping dynamics and perceptions in romantic relationships, contributing to satisfaction and overall relationship quality. This study aimed to investigate the associations between appearance-related factors and relationship quality in heterosexual couples using the actor-partner interdependence model (APIM). Specifically, we examined how each partner's perceptions of body criticism from the other, satisfaction with the partner’s appearance, perceived partner satisfaction with one’s appearance, and relationship quality are interrelated. A dyadic model was tested to include both intrapersonal (actor-to-actor) and interpersonal (actor-to-partner) associations. The sample consisted of 167 heterosexual adult couples from Quebec, Canada. The findings revealed small to moderate similarity within couples regarding satisfaction with their partner’s appearance, perceived partner satisfaction with their own appearance, and perceived body criticism. Actors’ satisfaction with their partner’s appearance was associated both directly and indirectly (through perceived partner satisfaction with one’s appearance) with their own relationship quality. Interestingly, women’s satisfaction with their partner’s appearance was directly associated with their partner’s relationship quality, a pattern not observed in men. Additionally, individuals who reported higher levels of body criticism from their partner perceived lower partner satisfaction with their appearance, which was linked to poorer relationship quality. Overall, these results underscore the complex interplay between appearance-related perceptions and mutual satisfaction in fostering relationship quality.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48312,"journal":{"name":"Body Image","volume":"53 ","pages":"Article 101896"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143911690","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Body ImagePub Date : 2025-05-03DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101893
Kristen M. Lucibello , Maryam Marashi , Madison F. Vani , Delaney Thibodeau , Catherine M. Sabiston
{"title":"Comparing the associations between body appearance and fitness self-conscious emotions across physical activity modalities: A multi-part study","authors":"Kristen M. Lucibello , Maryam Marashi , Madison F. Vani , Delaney Thibodeau , Catherine M. Sabiston","doi":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101893","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101893","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Body appearance and fitness self-conscious emotions have been identified as antecedents to aerobic physical activity. Including resistance training and statistically accounting for the co-occurrence of appearance and fitness emotions is essential for identifying which emotion facet may be more beneficial to target to facilitate different physical activities. This two-part study compared the associations among appearance and fitness self-conscious emotions (shame, guilt, envy, embarrassment, authentic pride, hubristic pride) and physical activity (strenuous, moderate, mild, resistance) among young adults. Participants in Study 1 (<em>N</em> = 401 women, M<sub>age</sub> ± SD = 25.66 ± 5.36) and 2 (<em>N</em> = 510, 70.4 % women, M<sub>age</sub> ± SD = 28.09 ± 5.87) completed validated measures and data were analyzed using Path models. Fitness but not appearance emotions were significantly related to physical activity when in the same model across studies. Fitness shame and guilt were associated with lower physical activity (significant <em>b</em> = −.15 to −.49) whereas fitness authentic and hubristic pride were associated with higher physical activity (<em>b</em> =.11 to.53). Inconsistent associations were noted for fitness embarrassment and envy. Findings suggest that person-level interventions should target fitness-related emotions and highlight that interpersonal and system-level influences via fitness environments and content should avoid fostering fitness shame and guilt and foster fitness pride.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48312,"journal":{"name":"Body Image","volume":"53 ","pages":"Article 101893"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143899381","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Body ImagePub Date : 2025-05-03DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101897
Flora Oswald , Devinder Khera , Jes L. Matsick , Kimberly E. Chaney
{"title":"Cultural stereotypes and personal beliefs about thin people: A form of fat resistance","authors":"Flora Oswald , Devinder Khera , Jes L. Matsick , Kimberly E. Chaney","doi":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101897","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101897","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Stereotypes about fatness and fat people are central to a large body of research examining how fatness operates in intergroup relations, and much is known about the content of these stereotypes about fat people. However, intergroup relations are necessarily bidirectional, and many fat people engage in resistance of the thin ideal, challenging the social power afforded to thinness. Building upon evidence that members of other marginalized groups engage in upward stereotyping – that is, hold stereotypes about members of relevant advantaged groups – we examined fat people’s knowledge and endorsement of stereotypes about thin people to gain insight into fat people’s resistance. In Study 1, we used a qualitative paradigm to elucidate fat people’s (<em>N</em> = 196) awareness of cultural stereotypes about thin people. In Study 2, we examined fat people’s (<em>N</em> = 139) personal endorsement of these stereotypes about thin people. Participants generally endorsed thin stereotypes at or above the scale mean, and endorsement of thin stereotyping was positively associated with fat people’s resistance to the notion that thin people are superior. Together, these studies highlight novel stereotype content about thin people and provide insight into fat people’s cognitive, affective, and attitudinal experiences within fat-thin intergroup relations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48312,"journal":{"name":"Body Image","volume":"53 ","pages":"Article 101897"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143902108","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Body ImagePub Date : 2025-05-02DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101894
Erika C. Moelle , Fiona A. Papps
{"title":"Mental freedom and body acceptance by others as correlates of embodied well-being in women with polycystic ovary syndrome in Australia","authors":"Erika C. Moelle , Fiona A. Papps","doi":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101894","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101894","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common reproductive-endocrinological-metabolic condition in women, causing bodies to diverge from cis-heteronormative feminine expectations. Greater body image concerns have been identified among women with PCOS, but further research is needed to identify drivers and mitigating factors. The ability to inhabit the body positively may be one such mitigating factor, and the developmental theory of embodiment is a novel framework allowing exploration of an integrated range of protective (and risk) sociocultural factors that may contribute to embodied well-being. This cross-sectional survey study therefore examined relationships among embodied well-being, severity of PCOS symptoms, body mass index (BMI), mental freedom (exposure to a social environment that facilitates an internalised critical stance towards oppressive social discourses, including femininity discourses on appearance and comportment), and perceived body acceptance by others in a sample of 140 women with PCOS, 18 years and over, living in Australia. Results of hierarchical multiple regression demonstrated that BMI and PCOS severity were negatively related to embodied well-being, but that when mental freedom and perceived body acceptance by others were added to the model, only PCOS severity, mental freedom, and body acceptance by others were significantly related to embodied well-being. Neither mental freedom nor body acceptance by others moderated the relationship between PCOS severity and BMI and embodied well-being. Results support BMI and PCOS severity as drivers of, and mental freedom and body acceptance by others as protective factors for, embodied well-being in women with PCOS, and have implications for interventions to support embodied well-being.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48312,"journal":{"name":"Body Image","volume":"53 ","pages":"Article 101894"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143895601","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}