Body ImagePub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-10-04DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101975
Joel Bates , Nadia Maalin , Tracey Thornborrow
{"title":"Aspects of body image as moderators and mediators in the relationship between minority stress and depression among diverse LGBTQIA+ identities","authors":"Joel Bates , Nadia Maalin , Tracey Thornborrow","doi":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101975","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101975","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, plus) individuals are at higher risk of adverse mental health outcomes than cisgender heterosexual (cishet) individuals due to experiences of minority stress. In the current study, we compared levels of appearance anxiety, depressive symptoms, body appreciation and self-esteem among LGBTQIA+ and cishet individuals. Further, among LGBTQIA+ individuals, we tested a hybrid theoretical model to examine the protective effects of body appreciation and self-esteem in the relationships between minority stress, appearance anxiety, and depression. A total of 581 participants (aged 16–65) completed demographic and psychometric measures, including the Minority Stress Measure, Body Appreciation Scale-2, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Physical Appearance State and Trait Anxiety Scale, and Beck Depression Inventory, via an online survey. Results confirmed that LGBTQIA+ individuals had poorer mental health outcomes than cishet participants, characterised by higher levels of depressive symptoms and appearance anxiety, and lower body appreciation and self-esteem. Further, our hybrid model showed that LGBTQIA+ individuals with lower body appreciation and self-esteem were particularly vulnerable to appearance anxiety and depression related to minority stress, whilst body appreciation reduced the impact of minority stress on depression. These findings may inform potential directions for interventions targeted towards LGBTQIA+ populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48312,"journal":{"name":"Body Image","volume":"55 ","pages":"Article 101975"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145233789","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 : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-09-17DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101968
Wenn Lynn Ooi , Helen Nasser , Julian Simmons , Isabel Krug
{"title":"Corrigendum to “A systematic review and meta-analysis on the temporal relationship between appearance comparisons and body dissatisfaction: Body image 53 (2025) 101885”","authors":"Wenn Lynn Ooi , Helen Nasser , Julian Simmons , Isabel Krug","doi":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101968","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101968","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":48312,"journal":{"name":"Body Image","volume":"55 ","pages":"Article 101968"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145082084","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 : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-10-13DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101976
Christy K. Ahn , Jason M. Nagata , Rachel F. Rodgers , Alexander Testa , Kyle T. Ganson
{"title":"Associations between sexting behaviours and muscle dysmorphia symptomatology among a Canadian sample of young adults","authors":"Christy K. Ahn , Jason M. Nagata , Rachel F. Rodgers , Alexander Testa , Kyle T. Ganson","doi":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101976","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101976","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sexting is increasingly prevalent among young adults and has been linked to body dissatisfaction and disordered eating. However, its relationship with muscle dysmorphia symptoms remains unexplored. This study investigates the association between sexting behaviours and muscle dysmorphia symptomatology in a Canadian sample of young adults aged 18–30 (<em>N</em> = 878). Participants reported their sexting activities over the past 12 months and completed the Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder Inventory (MDDI) to assess muscle dysmorphia symptomatology. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed significant associations between receiving unsolicited photo and video sexts and greater overall muscle dysmorphia symptomatology. Sending photo sexts was also associated with greater total muscle dysmorphia symptoms, Drive for Size, and Functional Impairment. Sending video sexts, however, was associated with greater Drive for Size subscale scores only. Asking for photo sexts was associated with greater total muscle dysmorphia symptoms and Drive for Size, while asking for video sexts did not show any significant associations. None of the sexting behaviours studied were significantly associated with the Appearance Intolerance subscale. These findings suggest that sexting may be associated with muscularity-related body image concerns among young adults, potentially through sociocultural processes prevalent in digital contexts, such as exposure to idealized body norms, appearance-based social comparisons, and the pursuit of external validation via image-based body portrayals. This study contributes to the growing literature on the relationships between online engagement and body image, emphasizing the need for future research and targeted interventions to address the unique societal experiences of young adults in an increasingly technological world.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48312,"journal":{"name":"Body Image","volume":"55 ","pages":"Article 101976"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145294067","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 : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-11-04DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101992
Wenn Lynn Ooi , Matthew Fuller-Tyszkiewicz , Julian Simmons , Isabel Krug
{"title":"Body comparisons are bidirectionally linked with body dissatisfaction but not disordered eating urges","authors":"Wenn Lynn Ooi , Matthew Fuller-Tyszkiewicz , Julian Simmons , Isabel Krug","doi":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101992","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101992","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We assessed the bidirectional relationship between body comparisons (BC) with body dissatisfaction (BD) and disordered eating (DE) urges in daily life. A secondary aim was to assess whether these effects were moderated by BC context (e.g., in person, social media, traditional media) and gender. Undergraduate men and women (<em>n</em> = 521, 76.0 % female-identifying) completed baseline measures and a 7-day ecological momentary assessment (EMA) reporting BC (frequency, direction and context), BD levels, and DE urges including food restriction, exercising and overeating. Data (collected 2020 – 2022) were statistically controlled for potential COVID lockdown effects. Multilevel analyses revealed a bidirectional relationship between upward BC and BD, suggesting a reinforcing cycle. Downward BC predicted a decrease in BD, but during moments of heightened state BD, individuals were less likely to engage in downward BC. Urge to engage in compensatory exercise significantly predicted subsequent engagement in upward BC, but none of the remaining relationships between BC and DE urges were significant, suggesting other factors may play a more central role in these relationships. The effect of upward BC on BD were more pronounced in person and via other contexts than on social media, potentially due to increased awareness of digital image manipulation. Gender did not moderate these relationships, highlighting shared psychological processes across men and women. These findings underscore the context-dependent nature of BC in body image concerns. Future research could investigate whether strategies developed to promote media literacy on social media can be adapted to help individuals manage in-person or other real-world comparisons.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48312,"journal":{"name":"Body Image","volume":"55 ","pages":"Article 101992"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145453646","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 : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-06-23DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101929
Gemma Sharp , Isabella McGrath
{"title":"Genital body image: A brief review and future directions","authors":"Gemma Sharp , Isabella McGrath","doi":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101929","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101929","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Genital body image or genital self-image encompasses an individual’s attitudes, feelings, and behaviours surrounding their own genitals. Despite the crucial importance of genitals in propagating the human species, genital body image remains a highly understudied concept in broader body image research. Nevertheless, the existing literature suggests a sizeable percentage of people across the gender spectrum experience dissatisfaction with their genital size, shape and/or form. This paper provides a brief summary of the existing genital body image research, focusing on sociocultural factors of influence such as media representations of genital ideals and peer and partner commentaries on genitals, as well as the impacts of genital body image concerns such as poorer sexual and psychological well-being and consideration of cosmetic genital procedures and surgeries. This paper additionally discusses current educational interventions and programs which aim to promote a positive genital body image. The paper also identifies gaps in current research and important suggestions for future research including greater inclusivity of gender, sexual orientation and ethnic diversity, given often radically different perspectives on genital body image, as well as recognition of the rapidly changing landscape of genital representations in media such as amateur pornography and pornographic content on OnlyFans. The paper concludes with recommendations for the inclusion of genital body image content in existing body image programs and other genital body image intervention needs. We hope that this discussion results in greater recognition of the concept of genital body image and prompts the establishment of new collaborations and initiatives.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48312,"journal":{"name":"Body Image","volume":"54 ","pages":"Article 101929"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144338273","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 : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-08-06DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101948
Kristen Murray , Alex McGregor , Ruozhou Jin , Fiona Xu , Liana Leach
{"title":"Body appreciation at work: Examining indirect effects in the relationship between job demands, job resources, and workplace well-being","authors":"Kristen Murray , Alex McGregor , Ruozhou Jin , Fiona Xu , Liana Leach","doi":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101948","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101948","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Psychosocial conditions at work play a key role in physical and mental health. Despite evidence of a relationship with these conditions and their outcomes, body image has been largely absent from workplace well-being research. The current study drew from the Job Demands-Resources Model to address this gap by conceptualising body appreciation, a component of positive body image, as a personal resource connecting focal job demands and job resources with workplace well-being. A total of <em>N</em> = 402 working adults aged 20–65 years (49 % Women) from the United Kingdom were recruited via Prolific to complete an online cross-sectional survey. Greater emotional demands and lower manager support were associated with lower body appreciation which, in turn, was associated with greater burnout, and poorer work engagement and job satisfaction. No gender differences were observed in these relationships, nor associations between quantitative or cognitive demands, or colleague support, and body appreciation. The study underlines the need for a greater focus on body image in employee well-being. Future research would benefit from prospective designs accounting for the complex interrelationships between a range of body image indicators, body-related demands and resources, and influences at the team and organisational-level.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48312,"journal":{"name":"Body Image","volume":"54 ","pages":"Article 101948"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144780459","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 : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-07-09DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101941
Liam Cahill , Chase O. Staras , Bethany A. Jones , A. Treshi-Marie Perera , Daragh T. McDermott
{"title":"“I feel good, I feel comfortable, I feel at home”: Understanding the role of positive body image manifestations, body neutrality and functionality appreciation for trans men","authors":"Liam Cahill , Chase O. Staras , Bethany A. Jones , A. Treshi-Marie Perera , Daragh T. McDermott","doi":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101941","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101941","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Body image concerns are prevalent among trans men, yet research has primarily focused on appearance-based dissatisfaction rather than alternative frameworks. There is also limited research directly and purposefully exploring the experiences of trans men. This qualitative study explored how trans men navigate body image, gender congruence, and quality of life, using reflexive thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 20 participants from seven Global North countries. Findings highlight how societal masculinity norms initially reinforced body dissatisfaction and gender incongruence, leading participants to internalise rigid body ideals. However, over time, many redefined masculinity in ways that prioritised authenticity and self-acceptance, particularly through medical transition. Gender-affirming care played a key role in reducing distress associated with gender incongruence, enabling trans men to disengage from unrealistic body ideals. Many participants described a shift towards body neutrality and functionality appreciation, reframing their relationship with their bodies by focusing on what they could do rather than how they looked. These findings suggest that body image interventions and gender-affirming care may benefit from integrating approaches beyond appearance-based frameworks. Given the novelty of functionality appreciation and body neutrality in trans men’s body image research, future studies should explore their role in psychosocial well-being and long-term adjustment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48312,"journal":{"name":"Body Image","volume":"54 ","pages":"Article 101941"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144588848","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 : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-07-25DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101945
Mia L. Pellizzer , Marcela Radunz , Jamie-Lee Pennesi , Yuan Zhou , Tracey D. Wade
{"title":"Piloting single session interventions in a sample of weight concerned youth: Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial","authors":"Mia L. Pellizzer , Marcela Radunz , Jamie-Lee Pennesi , Yuan Zhou , Tracey D. Wade","doi":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101945","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101945","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Eating disorders are highly prevalent and often present during adolescence and emerging adulthood. Effective early intervention as problems emerge, such as dieting and elevated weight concern, can prevent long-term chronicity. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of single session interventions (SSIs) for early intervention, delivered via a smartphone app and with consumer consultation, that are focused on transdiagnostic psychological processes implicated in the development and maintenance of eating disorders. App content is informed by previous work in defining transdiagnostic psychological processes and a subsequent Delphi study that presented the list of processes to relevant stakeholders to achieve consensus on those processes most important for early intervention. The first phase of this project will include engagement with young people and members of our Expert Advisory Group (people with lived experience, significant others, and clinicians and researchers specialising in eating disorders) to inform nine SSIs, presented on a smartphone app. The second phase will entail a pilot randomised controlled trial of the nine SSIs and a waitlist control condition to evaluate the effectiveness, feasibility, and acceptability of the SSIs for the early intervention of eating disorders for young people aged 14–25 years old with elevated weight concern. The primary outcomes are acceptability and feasibility, and global eating disorder psychopathology. Secondary outcomes include mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, self-harm) and SSI-specific outcomes (for example, perfectionism). Assessment will occur at baseline, post-treatment, and at a one-month follow-up. Analyses will use linear mixed modelling and reflexive thematic analysis for qualitative feedback items.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48312,"journal":{"name":"Body Image","volume":"54 ","pages":"Article 101945"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144704425","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 : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-07-09DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101936
Shima Golmohamadi , Kristen Murray , Louise M. Farrer
{"title":"Examining the unique benefits of functionality appreciation for body image, self-objectification, and well-being in women","authors":"Shima Golmohamadi , Kristen Murray , Louise M. Farrer","doi":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101936","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101936","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Functionality-focused interventions promote body image and well-being in women. However, whether these benefits are unique compared to appearance or personality appreciation remains unclear. The current study addressed this gap using an experimental post-only online study design in a sample of 260 women (ages 18–73) who were randomly allocated to complete a brief 10-minute writing task fostering appreciation of body functionality or appearance, or personality as a non-body-specific comparison. Effects on state well-being (i.e., positive and negative affect, gratitude), body image (i.e., body appreciation, appearance, and functionality satisfaction), and self-objectification were examined alongside task acceptability. In line with study hypotheses, results indicated that women in the functionality condition reported lower state self-objectification than women in both the appearance and personality conditions, greater body appreciation and functionality satisfaction than the personality condition, and greater gratitude compared to the appearance condition. The functionality condition was also rated as more meaningful than the personality condition and more helpful than both comparison conditions. Results support the unique benefits of brief writing tasks fostering functionality appreciation in women as a viable and acceptable target for body image and well-being promotion. Future studies testing change and duration of effects in more diverse samples are needed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48312,"journal":{"name":"Body Image","volume":"54 ","pages":"Article 101936"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144581217","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 : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-06-28DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101931
Zexuan Jiang , Siyu Wang , Wesley R. Barnhart , Peiyi Wang , Shijia Wu , Jason M. Nagata , Jinbo He
{"title":"Validating the revised male body attitudes scale and examining its prospective associations with eating disorder psychopathology and muscle dysmorphia symptoms in Chinese adult men","authors":"Zexuan Jiang , Siyu Wang , Wesley R. Barnhart , Peiyi Wang , Shijia Wu , Jason M. Nagata , Jinbo He","doi":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101931","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101931","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the present study, we translated and validated the Revised Male Body Attitudes Scale (MBAS-R) and examined its longitudinal associations with thinness- and muscularity-oriented eating disorder (ED) psychopathology and muscle dysmorphia symptoms in Chinese adult men. A total of 400 Chinese adult men (<em>M</em><sub>age</sub> = 30.24 years, <em>SD</em> = 8.55) were recruited to participate in two sequential phases: a baseline survey and a 6-month follow-up. Using baseline data, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported the original three-factor structure of the MBAS-R (i.e., muscularity, body fat, and height subscales), with the removal of one item. The MBAS-R total scale and subscales showed good internal consistency (McDonald’s ω =.81–.93), adequate test-retest reliability (ICC =.86–.95), and strong construct validity as demonstrated by significant positive associations with eating and body image disturbances, as well as weight and height actual-ideal discrepancies. Using both baseline (<em>N</em> = 400) and follow-up (<em>N</em> = 254) data, longitudinal analyses showed that higher MBAS-R total and/or subscale scores at baseline were significantly associated with higher levels of thinness-oriented ED psychopathology and muscle dysmorphia symptoms at follow-up, but not muscularity-oriented ED psychopathology. The findings of the present study support the sound psychometric properties of the MBAS-R and its use in Chinese adult men, highlighting the prospective role of disturbed body attitudes in relation to greater ED psychopathology and muscle dysmorphia symptoms in Chinese men.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48312,"journal":{"name":"Body Image","volume":"54 ","pages":"Article 101931"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144501076","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}