Self‐objectification and disordered eating: A meta‐analysis

Abstract

Overall, results from the first meta-analysis to examine the relationship between self-objectification and disordered eating provide support for one of the major tenets of objectification theory and suggest that self-objectification may be a meaningful target in eating disorder interventions, though further work is needed to establish temporal and causal relationships. Findings highlight current gaps in the literature (e.g., limited representation of males, and ethnic and sexual minorities) with implications for guiding future research.

Exploring the differentiated relationship between appearance and fitness‐related social anxiety and the risk of eating disorders and depression in young adults

“…A second main limitation has to do with the sample group recruited; specifically, that it consisted of non‐clinical young adult undergraduates. Consequently, these findings cannot be generalized to clinical populations or those that, being particularly sensitive to body‐image concerns may be at greater risk of ED or depression; for instance, adolescents (Erskine, Baxter, Patton et al ., ; Jones & Griffiths, ; Schaefer & Thompson, ). Finally, the cross‐sectional nature of the data prevents us from drawing any causal inferences between the variables of interest.…”

“…According to this multidimensional character, body image comprises both appearance (i.e., how the body looks) and functionality (i.e., what the body is capable of doing) domains (Gilchrist, Pila, Castonguay, Sabiston & Mack, 2018). Current evidence suggests that body image-related concerns play a relevant role in the onset and maintenance of severe psychopathological conditions such as eating disorders (ED) and depression, especially during late adolescence and early adulthood (Jones & Griffiths, 2014;Schaefer & Thompson, 2018). Given the significant health and economic burden of ED (Samnaliev, Noh, Sonneville & Austin, 2015) and depression (Vos, Abajobir, Abate et al, 2017), exploring the precise nature of the body image-related concerns involved in the emergence of these two psychopathological conditions is a matter of research interest (Lantz, Gaspar, DiTore, Piers & Schaumberg, 2018;Walker, White & Srinivasan, 2018).…”

Examining the role of social physique anxiety on the relationship between physical appearance comparisons and disordered eating symptoms among Spanish emerging adults

“…For instance, previous research conducted in Western countries (Alcaraz‐Ibáñez & Sicilia, 2020; Alcaraz‐Ibáñez, Sicilia & Paterna, 2019) has reported high percentages of risk for an eating disorder among emerging adults (i.e., those that, aged between 18 and 30 years, are transitioning from late adolescence to their late twenties; Arnett, Žukauskiene & Sugimura, 2014). A clear example of the latter is Spain, where risk figures of approximately 20% have been reported for this population Therefore, it is not surprising that a considerable amount of research has been devoted to explaining the aetiology of eating disorders in both their clinical and sub‐clinical forms (i.e., disordered eating, DE) (Farstad, McGeown & von Ranson, 2016; Lantz, Gaspar, DiTore, Piers & Schaumberg, 2018; Schaefer & Thompson, 2018).…”

Examining the relationship between fitness-related self-conscious emotions, disordered eating symptoms, and morbid exercise behavior: An exploratory study

“…This finding reinforces the complex and potentially interactive nature of the factors leading to MEB (Egorov & Szabo, 2013) and points to the convenience of examining these kinds of relationships when investigating the psychosocial mechanisms underlying MEB. It also suggests that exercise driven by expectations of maintaining a superior level of current physical fitness may lead to MEB (to a lesser extent) inasmuch as adopting such behavior would respond to the weight-control motives and appearance concerns frequently featured by those experiencing increased disordered eating symptoms (Schaefer & Thompson, 2018). Conversely, the sense of individuals' keeping their position in the social rank promoted by authentic pride (Tangney & Tracy, 2012), in this case elicited by exercise behavior aimed at improving physical fitness, may be particularly detrimental in terms of the onset of MEB in those featuring increased disordered eating symptoms.…”