Body-related embarrassment: The overlooked self-conscious emotion

The Relationships Between Body-Related Emotion Intolerance and Restrictive Eating as a Function of Multidimensional Perfectionism

OBJECTIVE

Emotion intolerance and perfectionism are two maintaining mechanisms to eating disorder symptomology. However, it is unclear how these mechanisms relate to one another. This study explored whether perfectionism is a vulnerability factor for facets of restrictive eating in the context of body-related emotions.

METHODS

Female undergraduate students (N = 148) completed questionnaires assessing baseline levels of self-critical perfectionism and personal standards perfectionism. Participants then engaged in an ecological momentary assessment protocol where body-related emotion intolerance and restrictive eating facets (cognitive restraint and behavioral restriction) were assessed over 10 consecutive days. Multilevel modeling and simple slopes analysis were used to explore these moderated relationships. Within-person (Level 1 body-related emotion intolerance) and between-person (Level 2 perfectionism dimensions) relationships were examined.

RESULTS

Based on the analyses, both self-critical and personal standards perfectionism dimensions interacted with body-related emotion intolerance to predict increases in restrictive eating facets.

CONCLUSION

These findings indicate that personal standards perfectionism, though conceptualized as the less maladaptive dimension of perfectionism, should not be ignored when conceptualizing and intervening with restrictive eating. Recommendations are provided on how to refine treatment targets to be more attuned with situations that elicit body-related emotion intolerance.

Daily Bursts of Body-Related Self-Conscious Emotions Relate to Attention and Reaction Time in Adolescents

Body-related self-conscious emotions (e.g., shame, guilt, envy, and embarrassment), which are particularly salient in sport, are foundational to adolescents' attention and performance. Adolescents' (N = 72) self-conscious emotions and attention were examined using self-reported single-item measures across 4 days. After completing these measures, adolescents' reaction time was measured using a hand laterality judgment task. Data were analyzed using multilevel regression models. Controlling for age and gender, attention, and reaction times were regressed on body-related self-conscious emotions in separate multilevel models. Results indicate that, on the days that adolescents experience higher levels of body-related shame, envy, and embarrassment, they had more difficulty blocking out distracting thoughts. Further, higher levels of body-related embarrassment related to longer reaction times. This study is consistent with previous research indicating that body image may significantly impact motor performance. In addition to adolescents' performance, these results may have implications for adolescents' participation and enjoyment of sport experiences.

Associations among negative weight-related experiences, weight bias internalization, and body-related self-conscious emotions in adolescents: A daily diary study

INTRODUCTION

The present study examined the between- and within-person associations among negative weight-related experiences, weight bias internalization, and body shame, embarrassment, and pride in adolescents.

METHODS

Participants were 93 Canadian students (Mage = 15.54, 59.10% girls, 40.86% white) who completed a 5-day daily diary study in 2021. Multilevel models were estimated to examine the between- and within-person associations, as well as the cross-level interactions.

RESULTS

Fifty-nine negative weight-related experiences were reported from 22 participants (23.66%) over the 5-day study period. Adolescents with higher average negative weight-related experiences (OR = 19.60, 95% CI = 1.90-202.67) and weight bias internalization (OR = 3.66, CI = 2.07-6.46) had greater odds of reporting shame. Similarly, higher average negative weight-related experiences (OR = 16.29, CI = 3.65-72.75) and weight bias internalization (OR = 2.08, CI = 1.53-2.82) was associated with greater odds of embarrassment. No within-person effects were noted, such that reporting more negative weight-related experiences or weight bias internalization than one's own average was not related to body emotions.

CONCLUSIONS

This distinction underscores that the persistent, rather than episodic, aspects of negative weight-related experiences and weight bias internalization are most impactful on adolescents' body image. These findings have implications for recruitment and screening for individual-level interventions for internalized weight bias and body image, and highlight the need for system-level policies and changes that prohibit negative weight-related experiences and messages to reduce likelihood of internalizing weight bias among adolescents.

Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the body image life disengagement questionnaire in a sample of adolescents

BACKGROUND

The negative consequences of body image concerns manifest in ways such as negative emotional experiences, eating disorders, and problems with social life. The Body Image Life Disengagement Questionnaire (BILD-Q) is an instrument for assessing the impact of body image concerns specifically on adolescents' life disengagement. The objective of this study is to create a Chinese version of the BILD-Q and assess its validity and reliability with Chinese adolescents.

METHODS

A total of 593 adolescents were recruited, of whom 316 (Sample 1) completed only the BILD-Q and 277 (Sample 2) completed the BILD-Q, Eating Attitudes Test (EAT), and Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2). Data from Sample 1 were used for the item analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and test-retest reliability, while data from Sample 2 were used for the BILD-Q's confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and associations of BILD-Q with EAT and BAS-2. Both samples were used together for calculating descriptive statistics, measurement invariance, and internal consistency. EFA and CFA were used to verify the single-factor structure of the BILD-Q. Measurement invariance across genders was verified by multi-group CFA. The reliability of the instrument was verified using Cronbach's alpha and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Finally, the convergent validity of the instrument was verified by correlating the BILD-Q scores with the EAT and BAS-2 scores.

RESULTS

The results support a single-factor structure for the Chinese version of the BILD-Q, with good reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.888, ICC value = 0.759). Gender invariance was established: no significant differences were found in BILD-Q scores between the male and female groups. Life disengagement was positively correlated with eating disorder psychopathology and negatively correlated with body appreciation, supporting the convergent validity of the BILD-Q.

CONCLUSION

The Chinese version of the BILD-Q has strong psychometric properties when used with Chinese adolescents and can be used to assess the impact of body image concerns on their life disengagement.

Gender-specific effects of self-objectification on visuomotor adaptation and learning

Self-objectification can influence cognitive and motor task performance by causing resources to be reallocated towards monitoring the body. The present study investigated effects of recalling positive or negative body-related experiences on visuomotor adaptation in women and men. Moderating effects of positive and negative affect were also explored. Participants (100 women, 47 men) were randomly assigned to complete a narrative writing task focused on body-related pride or embarrassment before performing a visuomotor adaptation (cursor rotation) task. A retention test of the visuomotor task was completed after 24 h. Men in the embarrassment group were more impacted by the initial cursor rotation (in movement time and accuracy) than the pride group and showed poorer retention of movement time. Women in the embarrassment group were less accurate than the pride group following initial rotation. In women only, affect modulated the effects of the negative recalled scenario. Further analysis indicated that the differences between embarrassment and pride groups remained in a subset of participants (34 women, 28 men) who explicitly referred to their own movement within their recalled scenarios. These results demonstrate that recalling body-related self-conscious emotions can impact visuomotor adaptation and learning in both women and men, but effects may differ between genders.

Impact of symptoms, experiences, and perceptions of the menstrual cycle on recreational physical activity of cyclically menstruating individuals: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

The menstrual cycle often presents barriers to participation in daily life activities, including physical activity (PA), which is a cornerstone of health and well-being. The purpose of this systematic review was to explore and summarize the impact of symptoms, experiences, and perceptions of the menstrual cycle on recreational PA (RPA), including sports, exercise and active recreation, in the general population.

METHODS

Six databases were searched for studies that investigated the impact of the menstrual cycle on PA among individuals who were cyclically menstruating, healthy, and not involved in professional sports training.

RESULTS

The search yielded 3025 studies that were screened for relevance and eligibility, resulting in 25 eligible studies, which were found to be of moderate-to-high quality following a quality and risk-of-bias assessment. Thematic synthesis of qualitative and quantitative data from the selected studies, constituting 16,557 adults and 3715 adolescents, identified the impact of menstrual symptoms on the physical and psychological capability to participate in RPA, social opportunity barriers to RPA (e.g., social pressure due to the sociocultural taboo against menstruation), as well reflective (knowledge) and automatic (habit) motivation on RPA behaviours.

CONCLUSION

The variability in menstrual symptoms and corresponding experiences suggested the need for an individualized approach to RPA promotion. Furthermore, this review highlighted the need to address the sociocultural taboo against menstruation, as well as improve the provision of knowledge and resources related to the menstrual cycle and RPA, in order to promote and facilitate RPA for cyclically menstruating individuals throughout the menstrual cycle.

The female athletic ideal - Friend or foe? Fit, thin, and athletic body ideals and their associations with women's body image

The internalization of body ideals is a critical predictor of body image and health behaviors. Thin and athletic ideal internalization in women need to be elucidated. The aims of the current study included: (i) describing the endorsement of thin and athletic body ideals among women and (ii) examining group differences in negative and positive self-conscious emotions and body image. Participants (N = 392 women; Mage = 25.6, SD = 5.3 years) were assigned to Fit Ideal (n = 110), Thin Ideal (n = 83), Athletic Ideal (n = 55), and Low Internalization (n = 144) groups based on scores for thin and athletic internalization. Three multivariate analyses of variance were conducted to examine Body Ideal group differences on negative appearance and fitness self-conscious emotions, and positive self-conscious emotions and body image. The Athletic Ideal and Low Internalization groups generally scored lower on negative self-conscious emotions and higher on positive self-conscious emotions and body image in comparison to the Fit and Thin Ideal groups (Cohen's d =.35 to 1.15). Results suggest that differing levels of thin and athletic internalization may intersect uniquely with women's body-related self-conscious emotions and positive body image and thus may have distinct effects on women's health and behavior.

Adaptation and validation of the Body Image Life Disengagement Questionnaire (BILD-Q) for use in english among adolescents in urban India

Body image concerns are a global issue among adolescents, including in India. These concerns can prevent adolescents from engaging in everyday life activities, impeding social and academic development. However, at present, there are no psychometrically valid measures to assess such impact in the Indian context. This study culturally adapted and validated the Body Image Life Disengagement Questionnaire (BILD-Q) for use in English among adolescents in urban India. A total of 1427 adolescents completed an adapted version of the BILD-Q along with additional measures pertaining to body image. Exploratory factor analysis identified one dimension of body image life disengagement, which provided the best fit. The 9-item one-factor model was further supported by confirmatory factor analysis. The scale demonstrated good internal consistency and test re-test reliability. Further analysis demonstrated that the scale can be used to compare scores between boys and girls without measurement bias. This study presents a culturally adapted version of the BILD-Q, which can be used as a valid and reliable measure to assess the impact of body image concerns on life disengagement among English-speaking adolescents in urban India.

Body-related self-conscious emotions, self-compassion, and dietary restraint in Canadian undergraduate university students: A multilevel mediation and moderation analysis

OBJECTIVE

Self-compassion has an inverse association with dietary restraint however, the mechanisms linking self-compassion and dietary restraint are not clear. This study aimed to determine to what extent self-compassion was inversely concurrently related to dietary restraint, indirectly through body-related self-conscious emotions, and to what extent trait self-compassion moderated the concurrent within-person association between body-related self-conscious emotions and dietary restraint.

METHOD

Data was collected from 224 Canadian university students who reported on trait self-compassion at baseline and body-related shame, guilt, envy, and embarrassment, and dietary restraint biweekly between November 2020 and August 2021.

RESULTS

Results from a 2-1-1 multilevel mediation model showed that trait self-compassion was indirectly concurrently related to dietary restraint through body-related shame, guilt, envy, and embarrassment. Results from the moderation model showed that there was a significant positive concurrent within-person association between body-related shame, envy, and embarrassment, but not guilt, with dietary restraint. These relationships were not moderated by trait self-compassion.

DISCUSSION

This study adds to our understanding of the concurrent association between body-related self-conscious emotions and dietary restraint, and the mechanisms through which self-compassion is related to dietary restraint. Given body-related self-conscious emotions were related to dietary restraint at both the within-person and between-person level, both compassion-focused interventions that aim to improve general levels of body-related self-conscious emotions and interventions that aim to overcome spikes in these emotions compared with one's usual level are warranted.

PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

Negative body-related self-conscious emotions were related to higher levels of dietary restraint both across individuals and within individuals over time; and may play a mechanistic role in linking self-compassion with dietary restraint. Interventions aimed at reducing negative body-related self-conscious emotions are warranted in the prevention of eating disorder psychopathology.

Longitudinal Associations Between Body-Related Self-Conscious Emotions and Weight Control Status During Adolescence

PURPOSE

Half of adolescents are trying to change their weight and body-related self-conscious emotions may influence these intentions. We estimated associations between body-related shame, guilt, embarrassment, envy, authentic pride, and hubristic pride and weight control status (trying to maintain, lose, or gain weight) throughout adolescence in girls and boys.

METHODS

Six annual cycles of self-administered questionnaires were collected from age 12-17 in the Monitoring Activities of Teenagers to Comprehend their Habits (MATCH) study (n = 776). Average associations over all cycles were estimated with generalized estimating equations to describe the relationship between emotions (predictors) and weight control status (outcome). To explore the impact of changes in emotions on weight control status, fixed effects logistic regressions were used. Separate models were conducted for each emotion and for boys and girls.

RESULTS

On average, boys and girls with higher scores for negative emotions (shame, guilt, embarrassment and, exclusively among girls, envy) had higher odds of trying to lose weight. Higher scores for positive emotions (authentic and hubristic pride) were associated with lower odds of trying to lose weight among girls. Higher scores for authentic pride were associated with trying to gain weight among boys. Girls with increases in any of the negative emotions presented higher odds of trying to lose weight. Girls with increases in hubristic pride had increased odds of trying to maintain weight.

DISCUSSION

Body-related self-conscious emotions may be promising healthy-weight intervention targets as they represent important predictors of weight control status, particularly in girls.

Predictors of Food and Physical Activity Tracking Among Young Adults

BACKGROUND

Monitoring food intake and physical activity (PA) using tracking applications may support behavior change. However, few longitudinal studies identify the characteristics of young adults who track their behavior, findings that could be useful in designing tracking-related interventions. Our objective was to identify predictors of past-year food and PA tracking among young adults.

METHODS

Data were available for 676 young adults participating in the ongoing longitudinal Nicotine Dependence in Teens Study. Potential predictors were measured in 2017-2020 at age 31, and past-year food and PA tracking were measured in 2021-2022 at age 34. Each potential predictor was studied in a separate multivariable logistic regression model controlling for age, sex, and educational attainment.

RESULTS

One third (37%) of participants reported past-year PA tracking; 14% reported past-year food, and 10% reported both. Nine and 11 of 41 potential predictors were associated with food and PA tracking, respectively. Compensatory behaviors after overeating, trying to lose weight, self-report overweight, reporting a wide variety of exercise behaviors, and pressure to lose weight predicted both food and PA tracking.

CONCLUSION

Food and PA tracking are relatively common among young adults. If the associations observed herein between compensatory behavior after overeating and tracking (among other observed associations) are replicated and found to be causal, caution may need to be exercised in making "blanket" recommendations to track food intake and/or PA to all young adults seeking behavior change.

Association between childhood trauma and affective lability among adolescents: A moderated mediation model

BACKGROUND

Affective lability is an important feature of psychopathology. However, there is limited relevant research involving adolescents. To fill this research gap, the present study assessed the relationship between childhood trauma and affective lability among adolescents using a moderated mediation model.

METHODS

A total of 3738 students were recruited from four high schools in Shenzhen, China, between September and December 2019. The participants completed self-reported questionnaires measuring childhood trauma, affective lability, body image dissatisfaction, and the experience of being bullied. Linear regression and moderated mediation analyses were used in this study.

RESULTS

Linear regression analysis showed that emotional abuse and body image dissatisfaction positively predicted affective lability in boys and girls (all p < 0.001). Body image dissatisfaction mediated the relationship between emotional abuse and affective lability. In the moderated mediation model, being bullied moderated the direct path from emotional abuse to affective lability (p = 0.0236, p = 0.0188), and gender did not have a significant moderating effect on any direct or indirect path (all p > 0.05).

LIMITATIONS

A causal relationship could not be ascertained due to the cross-sectional design, and the results cannot be generalized to other populations.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings support that childhood trauma has an impact on affective lability in adolescents. Specifically, body image dissatisfaction and being bullied affect the relationship between emotional abuse and affective lability.

How can we help you? A global investigation into girls' body image experiences in sport and intervention preferences

Existing interventions that target the intersection of girls' body image and sports participation are marginally effective, which is, in part, due to methodological limitations pertaining to intervention development (i.e., not theoretically or stakeholder informed). In this research, girls were consulted on their positive and negative body image experiences in sport and their preferences for fostering and remedying these experiences, respectively, in a new intervention. One-hundred and two girls (11-17-years; n = 91) and youth advisory board members (18-35-years; n = 15) from 13 countries participated in semi-structured focus groups and/or surveys. Template analysis of focus group and survey data resulted in 10 first-level themes and three integrative themes, which highlighted factors that both hinder and help girls' body image while playing sport, as well as girls' intervention preferences and cross-national considerations that will eventually impact the adaptation, localisation, and scaling of the intervention. Overall, girls favoured a girl and woman-only, multimodal intervention that upskilled them in appreciating their bodies, while challenging others' harmful behaviours. Stakeholder insights are crucial in creating acceptable, effective, and scalable interventions. Insights from this consultation phase will inform the development of a new scalable, evidence- and stakeholder-informed intervention that aims to foster girls' positive body image and sports enjoyment.

Body Image Perception and the Effect of Different Educational Programs on Embarrassment in Patients Undergoing Colonoscopy

PURPOSE

Colonoscopy is recognized as a safe and effective tool for detecting colorectal cancer. However, patients may experience discomfort and embarrassment arising from their body image, with the prejudice that health care professionals will have negative thoughts about their bodies. This study was carried out to determine the effect of the perception of body image and education given with different educational programs on the feeling of embarrassment in patients who were scheduled to undergo colonoscopy.

DESIGN

Quasi-experimental study with pre-test, post-test.

METHODS

The population of this quasi -experimental study with pre-test, post-test, and experimental groups consisted of 184 patients who underwent colonoscopy for the first time at the endoscopy department of a university hospital.

FINDINGS

No statistically significant difference in the mean Colonoscopy Embarrassment Scale (CES) pre-test scores was found between the groups (P > .05). The mean CES post-test scores of the video group were lower than those of the other groups, with a statistically significant difference (P < .05). Comparing the intragroup CES pre-test and post-test mean scores, the mean CES post-test scores were found to be lower in all three groups, with a statistically significant difference between the groups (P < .05). Although a statistically weak negative correlation was found between the body image mean scores and the pre-test CES mean scores of the booklet and video groups, no correlation was observed in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

The body image perception was found to affect the sense of embarrassment in patients undergoing colonoscopy, and the mean embarrassment scores decreased with planned training programs.

"Can you see me?" Videoconferencing and eating disorder risk during COVID-19: Anxiety, impairment, and mediators

OBJECTIVE

The use of videoconferencing has increased during the pandemic, creating prolonged exposure to self-image. This research aimed to investigate whether eating disorder (ED) risk was associated with videoconferencing performance for work or study and to explore whether the use of safety behaviors and self-focused attention mediated the relationship between ED risk and perceived control over performance anxiety, impaired engagement, or avoidance of videoconferencing for work or study.

METHOD

In 2020, an online survey was distributed within Australia to those aged over 18 years via academic and social networks, measuring: use of videoconferencing for work/study, demographics, ED risk, safety behaviors for appearance concerns, self-focused attention, perceived control over performance anxiety, perceived engagement impairment, and avoidance of videoconferencing. A total of 640 participants (77.3% female, M_age  = 26.2 years) returned complete data and were included in analyses.

RESULTS

245 participants (38.7%) were considered at-risk for EDs (SCOFF > 2). Those at-risk reported significantly more safety behaviors, self-focused attention, impaired engagement, and avoidance, plus lower perceived control over performance anxiety than those not at-risk. Multiple mediation models found the effects of ED risk on control over performance anxiety, impaired engagement, and avoidance were partially mediated by safety behaviors and self-focused attention.

DISCUSSION

Our cross-sectional findings suggest videoconferencing for work/study-related purposes is associated with performance anxiety, impaired engagement, and avoidance among individuals at-risk for EDs. Poorer videoconferencing outcomes appear more strongly related to social anxiety variables than ED status. Clinicians and educators may need to provide extra support for those using videoconferencing.

PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE

Because videoconferencing often involves seeing your own image (via self-view) we wondered whether the appearance concerns experienced by those with eating disorders (EDs) might interfere with the ability to focus on or to contribute to work/study videoconferencing meetings. We found that although those with EDs experience more impairments in their videoconferencing engagement/contribution, these were linked just as strongly to social anxiety as they were to appearance concerns.

Body image self-conscious emotions get worse throughout adolescence and relate to physical activity behavior in girls and boys

Body image is a commonly-reported factor perpetuating declines in physical activity levels during adolescence. However, the evidence is predominantly qualitative, cross-sectional, and focused on girls. Furthermore, the affective dimension of body image has been overlooked compared to the perceptual (e.g., misrepresentations of body size) and cognitive (e.g., dissatisfaction) dimensions. Affective body image includes a range of self-conscious emotions including guilt, shame, envy, embarrassment, and authentic and hubristic pride. This study examined (i) body-related self-conscious emotions over time, and (ii) associations between body-related emotions and physical activity over five years during early-to-mid adolescence. Potential gender differences were also explored. Self-report data for this study were collected once a year over 5 years as part of the MATCH study. The main analyses involved mixed-effects modeling. Participants (n = 776, 55.8% girls) initially aged 12.6 (SD = 0.6) years who provided data on at least one occasion were included in the analysis. Girls reported higher body-related guilt, shame, envy, and embarrassment than boys, and boys reported higher hubristic pride than girls. Over five years from early to mid-adolescence, body-related shame, guilt, envy, and embarrassment significantly increased for boys and girls, authentic pride did not change, and hubristic pride increased for girls only. Controlling for gender and puberty status, body-related guilt, shame, and embarrassment were negatively, and body-related authentic and hubristic pride were positively, associated with physical activity over time. Body-related envy was not significantly related to physical activity. These findings suggest that adolescents express greater negative body-related self-conscious emotions over time. Since these were negatively related to physical activity, interventions focused on reducing negative body-related emotions and enhancing positive body-related emotions may be valuable in adolescence to help curb declining physical activity.

"I wouldn't have joined if it wasn't online": understanding older people's engagement with teleyoga classes for fall prevention

BACKGROUND

Yoga-based exercise is a promising strategy for promoting healthy ageing, with the potential to reduce falls and increase physical, cognitive and psychological wellbeing. Teleyoga (real-time yoga provided via interactive videoconferencing) can deliver yoga programs at scale, potentially reducing costs, increasing convenience, and reaching people who cannot attend studio-based classes. But better understanding of how older people perceive and engage with teleyoga is needed to optimise its design, implementation and promotion.

METHODS

This study built on a previous realist process evaluation of the SAGE yoga trial which is testing the effect of a yoga-based exercise program on falls among 700 community-dwelling people aged 60 + years. In this second phase of evaluation we conducted focus groups with participants who had completed the SAGE program online and with the yoga instructors who were delivering it. We also conducted interviews with participants who had withdrawn from the trial. Six program theories developed in the earlier evaluation provided a framework for data analysis, supplemented by inductive coding and an analytical workshop.

RESULTS

Participants described physical and psychological benefits from the SAGE teleyoga program. While noting that teleyoga cannot facilitate hands-on correction or the same quality of observation or interaction as studio classes, participants were highly appreciative of their yoga instructors' strategies for optimising visibility, instruction, social connection and therapeutic alliance, and for adapting to constrained home environments. Some participants argued that teleyoga was superior to studio classes due to its accessibility and convenience, its lower exposure to potential embarrassment about physical appearance or capabilities, and a reduced sense of peer competition and distraction. Our program theories applied across studio and online modes of delivery.

CONCLUSION

Teleyoga increases accessibility for people in diverse locations and circumstances; it provides a psychologically safer space which combats self-consciousness and unwanted competitiveness; it may enhance embodiment and mindfulness for some; and it has the potential to be offered relatively cheaply at scale which could support free or reduced price classes for people on low incomes and pensions, thereby encouraging a wider population to engage in yoga for healthy ageing and fall prevention.

General and body-related self-conscious emotions predict facets of restrictive eating in undergraduate women

It is well understood that mood intolerance is a predictor of eating disorder (ED) symptoms. However, it is unclear whether intolerance of specific emotional experiences predicts ED symptoms. The current study used an ecological momentary assessment design to assess associations between the intensity and intolerance of general and body-related self-conscious emotions and facets of restrictive eating. Participants were 151 female undergraduate students (M_age = 18.99, SD = 1.30 years) who completed six surveys per day for 10 consecutive days. Participants reported on the intensity and intolerance of general and body-related shame, guilt, envy, and embarrassment and cognitive restraint (thoughts about restrictive eating) and behavioral restriction (act of restrictive eating) facets of restrictive eating. Data were analyzed using multilevel modeling. Based on the between-person findings, participants higher on intensity and intolerance of general and body-related self-conscious emotions experienced higher levels of cognitive restraint and behavioral restriction relative to individuals with lower levels of the emotion intensity and intolerance predictors on average. Based on the within-person findings, experiencing a higher intolerance of body-related self-conscious emotions compared to one's average was particularly important when examining behavioral restriction. Experiencing a higher intolerance of body-related envy was able to predict increased behavioral restriction at the time of the next report. These findings may inform tailored treatment targets for mood intolerance and restrictive eating.

Self-reported body weight and weight-related stigmatization experiences among young adult women-two contexts, but similar attitudes related to body image, mental self-schemas, self-esteem, and stereotypes of people with obesity

BACKGROUND

Weight stigma is a serious challenge because of its negative impact on human health and harmful psychological and behavioral consequences. The aim of the study was to explore and compare the relationships between self-reported body weight and weight-related stigmatization experiences and body image, mental self-image, self-esteem, and stereotypes concerning people with obesity among young adult Polish women (N = 374; aged between 18 and 35).

METHODS

The study was conducted online on a Polish sample recruited through a social network site, a website, and snowball sampling. Body mass index (BMI) was used to assign the respondents to groups with normal or excess weight. We tested whether women enrolled in the study experienced weight-related stigmatization using two questions based on the concepts of spoiled identity and related to the obesity stigma. The Contour Drawing Rating Scale was used to study different aspects of the body image and discrepancies between them. The Self-Discrepancy Questionnaire was used to study the self-schemas associated with mental qualities. The Polish version of the Rosenberg's Self Esteem Scale was applied to determine self-esteem level. Stereotypes concerning people with obesity were studied using the semantic differential method.

RESULTS

Although excess weight was associated with weight-related stigmatization experiences, many women reported confronting such stigmatization even though their body weight was normal according to the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Women with excess weight and women with weight-related stigmatization experiences were characterized by larger discrepancies between the actual body image and the ideal, reflected, and ought body image, lower self-esteem, and more negative beliefs about their mental actual and reflected self compared to women with normal weight and without weight-related stigmatization experiences. The study participants from all groups tended to believe their actual body image to be ampler than the ideal and the ought body images. They also believed that other people perceived their mental qualities more positively than they did. The study groups were also characterized by negative stereotypes of people with obesity, although these stereotypes were more vital in women with excess weight and women who experienced weight-related stigmatization.

CONCLUSION

The study shows the similarity between psychological functioning of women with self-reported excess weight and those who experience weight-related stigma. The results also provide guidelines for practical actions aimed at reducing negative mental outcomes associated with not conforming to body weight standards.

Body-related self-conscious emotions and reasons for exercise: A latent class analysis

Body-related self-conscious emotions are important predictors of exercise motivation, yet the association between body-related self-conscious emotions and reasons for exercise has not been explored. Researchers have typically examined body-related emotions (e.g., shame, guilt, pride, embarrassment, envy) in isolation, but they may interact in unique ways to predict reasons for exercise. The present study examined how patterns of body-related emotions were associated with exercise reasons. In an online survey, participants (N = 520; M_age = 35.43 ± 10.09; 57.5 % men) reported their experience of body-related self-conscious emotions and exercise reasons over the past week. Latent class analysis revealed a three-class model of emotions, resulting in a High Emotionality class (i.e., experiencing positive and negative emotions), a Negative Emotions class, and a Pride class. Individuals who experienced negative emotions about their bodies engaged in exercise for appearance reasons, while individuals who felt proud about their bodies and did not report the negatively valenced emotions reported exercising for health reasons. These findings underscore the importance of investigating how multiple body-related self-conscious emotions influence reasons for exercising. Understanding how patterns of body-related self-conscious emotions are experienced could inform future research on factors that may precede exercise motivation and increase exercise behavior.

Internalized weight stigma and the relationship between weight perception and negative body-related self-conscious emotions

Individuals who perceive themselves as "overweight" experience higher negative body-related self-conscious emotions than those who do not. Theoretical and empirical evidence suggests internalized weight stigma may be an important mediator of the relationship between weight perception and self-conscious emotions. Overcoming common measurement limitations and sampling limitations, the present study investigated whether gender moderates the associations among weight perceptions, internalized weight stigma, and negative body-related self-conscious emotions in 104 young adults (64 % women). Individuals who perceived themselves as too heavy (52 %) experienced higher body-related shame and guilt compared to those who perceived themselves as about right. Internalized weight stigma mediated these associations in women but not men, such that perceiving oneself as too heavy was associated with higher internalized weight stigma, which was associated with higher body-related shame and guilt in women. Results underscore the importance of internalized weight stigma as a potential target for intervention among women of diverse weight statuses who are prone to experiencing body-related shame and guilt.

Teens' perspectives on yoga as a treatment for stress and depression

OBJECTIVE

To understand adolescents' experiences and attitudes toward yoga, with a particular focus on acceptability and feasibility of a yoga intervention for depressed adolescents.

DESIGN

Qualitative analysis of data from three focus groups and eight individual interviews, for a total of 22 teen participants.

SETTING

Outpatient setting in a psychiatric hospital in the U.S.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Teens were asked about their own and their peers' attitudes toward, and experiences with, hatha yoga; reactions to a study-created yoga video; and opinions on class logistics.

RESULTS

Teens had both positive and negative attitudes toward, and experiences with, hatha yoga. They commented on "who does yoga;" many responses suggested a limited group (e.g., moms; people with money and time). Participants agreed that yoga could be potentially beneficial for depressed or stressed teens. Self-consciousness while being in a yoga class was a major concern. Overall, teens reacted favorably to the study-created yoga video. Teens had varied opinions about class logistics including class duration and size. Teens cited barriers to class, such as transportation, as well as barriers to home yoga practice.

CONCLUSIONS

Key points for developing a yoga class that might be appealing to depressed or stressed teens include: creating a class with variety that teens will find interesting; taking concrete steps to decrease teen self-consciousness; incorporating messages relevant for teens and consistent with yoga philosophy; and actively countering stereotypes about who practices yoga. Limitations of this study include the lack of data from male teens.