Self-to-others and self-to-self relationships: paths to understanding the valence of body image and eating attitudes in emerging adult women

The healthy eating movement on social media and its psychological effects on body image

Introduction

The present study aims to investigate the relationship between social-media pressure, the tendency to internalize standards of beauty and attractiveness associated with thin bodies, which subsequently leads to distortion of body shape perceptions, and restrictive and emotional eating behavior disorders.

Methods

A survey-based research design was employed, utilizing an online questionnaire to collect data. The study sample consisted of 614 students, selected from the most prestigious universities in Bucharest. The questionnaire incorporated validated scales measuring Socio-Media Pressure for a Thin Body Image (SMPTB), Body Appreciation (BA), Body Shape Perception (BSP), Restrained Eating Behavior (REB), and Emotional Eating Behavior (EEB).

Results

The results confirmed the hypotheses of the research, meaning food restrictions are a way to diminish the level of dissatisfaction with body shape, to reduce the difference between the ideal body shape and the real one. Food restrictions are perceived as natural behaviors, appropriate to support the standards of beauty and attractiveness specific to this historical stage. Emotional eating disorders emerge as a way to compensate for the discomfort generated by low body esteem.

Discussion

The results underscore the pervasive influence of social media in shaping eating behaviors and body image perceptions. Food restrictions, framed as natural responses to societal pressures, highlight the need for interventions addressing the normalization of harmful beauty standards. Emotional eating behaviors reveal the psychological toll of body dissatisfaction, emphasizing the importance of strategies to foster positive body image and mental well-being. These findings provide a foundation for developing educational campaigns and therapeutic approaches targeting the psychological impact of social media on eating behaviors.

The Association of Body Image Perceptions with Behavioral and Health Outcomes among Young Adults

This study was conducted on 5 March 2024, by the Universidad Europea de Madrid. This study aims to explore how body image perceptions influence health behaviors and mental and physical health outcomes among a specific group of 605 young adults aged 20 to 35 engaged in strength training regimes. To measure these perceptions, the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ) was employed, an advanced tool that assesses multiple dimensions of body image through its subscales, including feelings of physical attractiveness, investment in one's appearance, and satisfaction with different body areas. Participants were segmented into two groups based on a median split of their self-reported body image. The survey assessed a diverse array of variables, including demographic details, physiological data, resistance training routines, and psychological attributes. In this revision, we consistently use the term 'dietary habits' to ensure clear and uniform language when discussing eating patterns. Notable differences were observed in dietary habits and exercise engagement, influenced significantly by body image perceptions. Negative body image was linked to less healthy dietary habits, diminished physical activity, and worse psychological outcomes, such as increased anxiety and depression. Conversely, a positive body image was associated with healthier dietary habits, more frequent physical activity, and better psychological health. The findings suggest that interventions aimed at improving body image could be crucial for enhancing overall health within this specific demographic. Due to the non-representative nature of the study group, conclusions are cautiously presented as applicable only to similar populations engaged in strength training. This study underscores the need for holistic strategies that encourage positive body image to improve both physical and psychological health outcomes in young adults.

The Enhancing Role of Emotion Regulation in the Links between Early Positive Memories and Self-harm and Suicidal Ideation in Adolescence

Adolescence is a critical developmental period associated with an increased variety of interrelated risks and vulnerabilities. Previous studies have found associations between early memories of warmth and safeness, as well as emotion regulation, and self-harm and suicidal ideation in adolescence. Additionally, these early emotional memories have been found to be positively linked with some indicators of emotion regulation during this period. The present cross-sectional study extends prior research by exploring the moderating role of emotion regulation in the relationships between early memories of warmth and safeness, as well as each of the following risk-related outcomes in adolescence, in younger (i.e., 13-15) and older (i.e., 16-19) adolescents: suicidal ideation and self-harm and its associated functions (i.e., automatic and social reinforcement. Three self-report measures of these early emotional memories, emotion regulation, and risk-related outcomes, and a sample of 7918 Portuguese adolescents (53.3% females), with ages ranging from 13 to 19 (M_age = 15.5), were used. In both age groups, at high levels of emotion regulation, early memories of warmth and safeness had a greater (negative) effect on suicidal ideation and the automatic reinforcement function of self-harm, compared to at average and low levels of emotion regulation. These findings highlight the enhancing role of emotion regulation on the associations between early memories of warmth and safeness and some risk-related outcomes in adolescents, both younger and older, which reveals the relevance of targeting emotion regulation when preventing or tackling these outcomes, regardless of adolescents' levels of early memories of warmth and safeness.

Potential Triggers for Risking the Development of Eating Disorders in Non-Clinical Higher-Education Students in Emerging Adulthood

Nowadays, eating disorders (ED) among individuals during emerging adulthood have become a crucial challenge to public health, taking into account the fact that the global prevalence of the ED risk in student-aged populations already stands at 10.4% and has been sharply increasing during the COVID-19 pandemic. In all, from 50% to 80% of all the ED cases go undetected or are not correctly diagnosed; moreover, these individuals do not receive specialized treatment. Therefore, early diagnosis detected via screening questionnaires for ED is highly recommended. This study aimed to identify the triggers for ED risk development in emerging-adulthood individuals and to reveal the factors significant not only for ED prevention but also for assessing individuals with subthreshold symptoms. This cross-sectional study provides the results for the ED symptom screening in 1716 Lithuanian higher-education students aged 21.2 ± 3.9, during emerging adulthood. According to the results of this study, 19.2% of students were at risk for ED. Potential risk factors such as sex (odds ratio (OR): 3.1, 95% CI: 1.9-4.9), body weight (self-reported body mass index) (adjusted (A) OR: 1.4; 95% CI: 1.2-1.7) and comorbidities such as smoking (AOR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.6-2.8), and perceived stress during the pandemic (AOR: 1.4; 95% CI: 1.1-1.8) are involved in anticipating the symptomatology of ED during emerging adulthood. Regular initial screenings with universally adopted questionnaires and further referral to a psychiatrist must be applied to promote both the diagnosis of early-onset symptomatology and the treatment of these ED in student-aged populations. Preventive programs for reducing the prevalence of overweight or obesity among students during emerging adulthood should focus on integration directions for the development of a positive body image.

Adolescent girls' body appreciation: influences of compassion and social safeness, and association with disordered eating

PURPOSE

Adolescence has been stated as a period in which body image and eating difficulties' have its greatest expression, especially in females. Nonetheless, protective factors, such as body appreciation and compassion, are not thoroughly studied in this developmental stage. The current study hypothesized that competences for self-compassion and receiving others' compassion associate positively with social safeness, and the three variables with body appreciation. Moreover, the association between body appreciation and disordered eating was analysed. A sample of Portuguese female adolescents was used.

METHODS

205 participants, aged between 12 and 18, completed a set of self-report measures in the school context. Data were explored via descriptive, correlational and path analysis.

RESULTS

Path analysis indicated that self-compassion and receiving compassion from others associate positively with feelings of social safeness which, in turn, associate with higher body appreciation. All the variables in study associated indirectly and negatively with disordered eating, and body appreciation presented a direct and negative association with disordered eating.

CONCLUSION

Findings of the current study may suggest the pertinence of developing programs for female adolescents that include the cultivation of compassionate and affiliative skills to promote positive body image and to prevent or intervene with disordered eating symptoms, with potential effects on overall well-being and mental health.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Cross-sectional descriptive study, Level V.

Potential contributing roles of early affiliative memories, social safeness and body appreciation to adolescents' well-being

Interpersonal and body image-related factors have been associated with adolescents' well-being. Since data on positive body image in adolescence and its relationship with well-being remain scarce, the present study explored the roles of early affiliative memories, social safeness, and body appreciation in adolescents' well-being. Path analysis' results showed that social safeness and body appreciation mediated the relationship between early affiliative memories and physical, psychological and school environment well-being. This suggests that not only early affiliative memories are important for adolescents' well-being but also current feelings of social belonging and body appreciation. Future longitudinal studies should further confirm these results.

The association between body appreciation and body mass index among males and females: A meta-analysis

To date, a number of studies have reported an association between body appreciation and body mass index (BMI), but the findings are not consistent. Using a meta-analytic approach, the current study aimed to clarify this association as well as to explore what factors might have contributed to the inconsistency across previous studies. By searching and screening potential studies published up to June 2019 in four databases, we identified 26 articles that reported an association between body appreciation and BMI among males, and 59 articles among females. Under a random-effects model, among males the overall estimate of the association between body appreciation and BMI was negative and small, with the pooled r = -.20 (95 % CI: -.25, -.14) and an adjusted (for publication bias) pooled r = -.11 (95 % CI: -.16, -.06). Among females, the overall estimate of the association was negative and small (but close to moderate), with r = -.27 (95 % CI: -.30, -.24). A mixed-effects model identified several moderators that contributed to the inconsistency across previous studies. These results indicate that the overall negative association between body appreciation and BMI is weak among males, and slightly larger among females. Potential explanations, implications, and future research directions are discussed.

An examination of the factor structure and preliminary assessment of the psychometric properties of a Hebrew translation of the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2)

The Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2) is a widely-used, 10-item measure of a core facet of positive body image. To extend its use internationally, we examined the factor structure and conducted a preliminary assessment of the psychometric properties of a novel Hebrew translation of the BAS-2. A sample of 613 Israeli adults (362 women, 251 men; age M = 29.52, SD = 9.47) completed the BAS-2 alongside demographic items and previously-validated measures of life satisfaction, self-esteem, self-compassion, and body investment. Exploratory factor analyses with a semi-random split-half subsample (n = 377) indicated that BAS-2 scores reduced to a single dimension with all 10 items. This factor structure was equivalent across women and men. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with a second split-half subsample (n = 235) showed the 1-dimensional factor structure had adequate fit following one modification and multi-group CFA showed that the model was invariant across sex. Men had significantly higher BAS-2 scores than women, but the effect size was small (d = 0.22). Evidence of construct validity was demonstrated through positive associations with indices of life satisfaction, self-esteem, self-compassion, and body investment. The availability of a validated BAS-2 Hebrew translation should advance future research of body appreciation in Israel.

Eating Disorders During Emerging Adulthood: A Systematic Scoping Review

Background: Eating disorders (EDs) during the transition to adulthood can derail social, psychological, and vocational development. Effective treatment is of paramount importance, yet young adults' treatment needs are typically less well met than those of adolescents. In recent years, there has been a considerable shift in how developmental psychologists understand the transition to adulthood, with this life-phase reconceptualized as "emerging adulthood" (EA) (~18-25 years). Engagement with burgeoning developmental research is likely key to providing more effective care for young people experiencing EDs. Aims: To review ED research which has utilized the concept of EA, and to assess the usefulness of this concept for ED research and practice. Methods: A systematic scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines for scoping reviews. Three databases (Psychinfo, PubMed, Embase) were searched for papers which explicitly focused on EDs during EA. No restrictions as to publication type, language, study design, or participants were applied. Included studies were assessed for developmental "informedness," and findings were qualitatively synthesized. Results: Thirty-six studies (N = 25,475) were included in the review. Most studies used quantitative methodologies, were cross-sectional in design and focused on identifying psychological and social factors which contribute to etiology of EDs. Many studies (N = 22) used well-defined samples of emerging adults (EAs); few studies (N = 8) included developmental measures relevant to EAs. Findings indicate that whilst factors implicated in EDs in adolescence and adulthood are relevant to EAs, EA-specific factors (e.g., identity exploration) may also contribute. Conventional ED services and treatments present difficulties for EAs, whilst those adapted to EAs' needs are feasible, acceptable, and more effective than treatment-as-usual. Directions for future research and clinical implications are discussed. Conclusion: Existing research indicates that the EA concept is relevant for understanding EDs during the transition to adulthood, and ED services should implement adaptations which exploit the opportunities and overcome the challenges of this developmental stage. EA is currently an underused concept in ED research, and future engagement with the developmental literature by both researchers and clinicians may be key to understanding and treating EDs during transition to adulthood.