Body Appreciation in Light of Psychological, Health- and Weight-Related Variables Among Female Adolescents

Self-Exposure on Instagram and BMI: Relations With Body Image Among Both Genders

Social media users can actively choose how they portray themselves and review the information they share to form and manage positive impressions on their audience. A high Body Mass Index (BMI) can lead to a bias of attention towards self-reported unattractive personal body areas. This dysfunctional body-related attention can lead to increased body dissatisfaction. Concerning social networks, people who usually post more photos on Instagram more frequently show higher body satisfaction. The main objective of this work was to analyze the relationship between BMI in young people, their own exposition on Instagram, positive body image and certain psychological variables: self-esteem, coping and well-being. The population-based sample consisted of 687 young Instagram users aged between 18 to 35 years old. The results found in this work revealed that BMI had a significant influence on the body exposure on Instagram in both genders, as well as in body image and certain psychological variables, such as coping and well-being. Moreover, we found that there is not a direct relation between BMI and the exposure of the entire body on Instagram. This relationship exists through positive body image, appearance care and management appearance behaviors. These results imply that positive body image affects body's exposure, so people with obesity or overweight tend to upload less photos with half or full body visible than people with normal weight or underweight. This is not because of their weight, but their valuation and appreciation of their bodies.

Effect of Intermittent Fasting on Body Image Satisfaction and Appreciation Among Saudi Adults

BACKGROUND

Obesity remains a public health concern, and intermittent fasting (IF) is a popular strategy for weight loss that has gained considerable scientific and popular attention. However, weight control can affect body image. Poor body image and its impact on psychological well-being are linked to obesity in many individuals. Body appreciation is a crucial characteristic of positive body image. However, there is a lack of studies assessing these relationships in Saudi adults.

AIM

 To evaluate the associations between IF diet, body image satisfaction, and body appreciation in Saudi adults.

METHOD

 A web-based cross-sectional study was done with healthy Saudi adults aged 18 to 50 years old who followed the IF diet. The questionnaire had five sections: a brief study introduction, sociodemographic variables, adherence to the diet, modified body image scale, and body appreciation scale. Ethical approval was obtained.

RESULTS

A total of 190 participants were included in this study, including 59 (31.1%) males and 131 (68.9%) females. Comparing before and after IF, the body mass index (BMI) significantly decreased after IF (p < 0.001). After IF, a significant decrease in the body image dissatisfaction score was observed (p < 0.001). A significant increase was noted in the body appreciation score (p < 0.001).  Conclusion: IF is significantly associated with better body image satisfaction and body appreciation. These results may help weight loss studies and may have public health implications.

Effects of social media on body dissatisfaction in junior high school girls in Japan

AIMS

Body dissatisfaction (BD) is a serious problem related to the incidence of eating disorders. Social media (SM) use is known to be associated with BD. With a view to preventing the incidence of eating disorders, this study aimed to investigate the association between SM and BD, particularly, the role of SM in the encouragement of thinness and its relationship with adolescent girls' BD.

METHODS

Junior high school girls aged 12-15 in Japan completed the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ), Eating Attitudes Test-26, Bulimic Investigatory Test Edinburgh, Depression Self-Rating Scale for Children, and SM usage. Participants were classified into two groups based on their BSQ cut-off score.

RESULTS

Overall, 161 students were recruited (44 participants with BD; 117 without BD). The BD group used SM more than the non-BD group (χ² (1) = 4.61, p = .032). The frequency of following SM accounts related to thinness was significantly higher in the BD group than in the non-BD group (χ² (1) = 7.76, p = .005). The association between BD and following SM accounts focused on thinness was the most important (adjusted OR = 3.82; 95 % CI: 1.05-13.89).

CONCLUSIONS

The risks of SM use increasing BD in adolescent girls should be considered to prevent mental disorders, including eating disorders.

Factor structure and psychometric properties of a Korean translation of the Body Appreciation Scale-2

The applicability of the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2) in a Korean context is still unexplored, even though awareness of the importance of a positive body image has increased in South Korea. The current study examined the factor structure and psychometric properties of a Korean translation of the BAS-2, specifically to (1) translate and culturally adapt the BAS-2 to Korea, (2) confirm its unidimensional construct, and (3) identify its associations with body image and psychological outcomes across sex with a Korean sample. Data from 839 Korean adult men (n = 415) and women (n = 424) were randomly split into two subsamples. Using the exploratory factor analysis to confirmatory factor analysis strategy, the current study showed support for one factor structure of a Korean translation of the BAS-2. Scalar measurement invariance was found between men and women. Further analyses revealed construct validity through associations with measures of muscularity and body fat dissatisfaction (for men), internalization (for women), and appearance evaluation, as well as incremental validity through hierarchical regression analyses predicting life satisfaction and self-esteem. The Korean BAS-2 presented good internal consistency and test-retest reliability. The Korean BAS-2 is a reliable and valid measure, allowing for cross-cultural comparisons of body appreciation.

Short forms of the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2SF): Item selection and psychometric evaluation

The 10-item Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2; Tylka & Wood-Barcalow, 2015) is a widely used contemporary measure of positive body image that assesses one's love for, acceptance and appreciation of, and respect for their body. Given the need for abbreviated measures to reduce participant burden and study cost, we aimed to generate a short form of the BAS-2 (BAS-2SF). Two versions of the BAS-2SF emerged: a 3-item version derived deductively from theory (items selected based on their unique contribution to the body appreciation construct), and a 2-item version generated empirically (items selected based on a genetic algorithm approach). Psychometric evidence was garnered across five studies, totaling 3114 participants. Both BAS-2SF versions correlated highly (rs = .93-.97) with the original 10-item BAS-2 and demonstrated internally consistent and stable scores. Factor analyses revealed high item-factor loadings, unidimensionality, and gender invariance of the 3-item BAS-2SF. Correlations with construct validity measures, as well as model pathways, were similar between both BAS-2SF versions and the 10-item BAS-2. BAS-2SF versions also evidenced incremental validity. Both BAS-2SF versions retain the psychometric integrity of the BAS-2 and are recommended for use; however, the 3-item BAS-2SF is an ideal option for researchers who wish to estimate a body appreciation latent factor.