Negative attitude towards the appearance: Connection with eating behavior and social anxiety

Abstract

IntroductionA negative attitude towards the body supposed to lead to eating disorders and to increase the level of social anxiety.ObjectivesThe research aim is to study the characteristics of eating behavior and social anxiety in women who have negative attitude towards their body.MethodsThe following methods have been used: Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ); Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26); Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation (BFNE); Iowa–Netherlands Comparison Orientation Measure (INCOM), Social avoidance and distress scale (SADS). The sample consists of 98 women in the age from 18 to 60 years belonged to three age groups: Group 1: N=41, mean age 21.0+3.1; Group 2: N=29, mean age 29,5+4,9; Group 3: N=28, mean age 47,5+12,5.ResultsWe have found out a statistically significant correlation between the negative attitude towards the body and the social anxiety. The more a woman dislike her appearance the higher is the level of social anxiety and the higher is the risk of eating disorders. It should be mentioned that all the negative tendencies are more prounouced in the youngest age group.ConclusionsThe research results can be implemented when designing prevention programs. Such programs are extremely important for young women in the age from 18 to 24 years as they have the highest risk of forming an eatind disorder as well as the social anxiety disorder.

Appearance anxiety and social anxiety: A mediated model of self-compassion

“…The items of the scale include positive subscale items (e.g., Understanding of aspects I do not like) and negative subscale items (e.g., Other people happier than I am). The scale is divided into six dimensions: Self-Kindness Items ( 2 , 6 ), Self-Judgment Items ( 11 , 12 ), Common Humanity Items ( 5 , 10 ), Isolation Items ( 4 , 8 ), Mindfulness Items ( 3 , 7 ), Over-identified Items ( 1 , 9 ). Higher scores indicate a higher degree of self-compassion.…”

“…Among the range of psychiatric disorders, social anxiety is widely regarded within the literature as most related to appearance anxiety. For example, studies have found that dissatisfaction with appearance can significantly affect social interactions ( 8 ) and increase the risk of social anxiety ( 9 ) or other psychiatric problems ( 10 ). Appearance anxiety is not limited to dissatisfaction with weight and appearance, but also negative perceptions of height can lead to social anxiety ( 11 ).…”

The Effect of Appearance Anxiety on Social Anxiety among College Students: Sequential Mediating Effects of Self-Efficacy and Self-Esteem

“…Individuals who are dissatisfied with their appearance may be more introverted, pessimistic, insecure, and uncomfortable in social situations [ 11 , 12 , 13 ]. More direct evidence shows that dissatisfaction with appearance can significantly affect social interactions [ 14 ] and increase social anxiety [ 15 ]. Despite scholars discussing the association between appearance anxiety and social anxiety among college students, the underlying mechanism that connects the two remains unclear.…”