Objectified body consciousness in relation to recovery from an eating disorder

Abstract

In Western society, the feminine body has been positioned as an object to be looked at and sexually gazed upon; thus, females often learn to view themselves as objects to be observed (i.e., objectified body consciousness (OBC)). This study examined the relation between OBC and eating disorder recovery by comparing its components across non-eating disorder controls, fully recovered, partially recovered, and active eating disorder cases. Results revealed that non-eating disorder controls and fully recovered individuals had similarly low levels of two components of OBC, body surveillance and body shame. Partially recovered individuals looked more similar to those with an active eating disorder on these constructs. The third component of OBC, control beliefs, and a conceptually similar construct, weight/shape self-efficacy, did not differ across groups. Results provide support for the importance of measuring aspects of self-objectification, particularly body surveillance and body shame, across the course of an eating disorder.

Self-Defining Memories of Body Image Shame and Binge Eating in Men and Women: Body Image Shame and Self-Criticism in Adulthood as Mediating Mechanisms

“…These findings extend prior studies conducted with men which identified that the potential pathogenic effect of negative body image-related experiences depends on the extent to which these experiences relate to the sense of one's value within the social group (Adams et al, 2005;Calogero, 2009;Dakanalis et al, 2012;Dakanalis & Riva, 2013;Fitzsimmons-Craft, 2011;Grogan & Richards, 2002;McCabe & Ricciardelli, 2003;McCreary & Sasse, 2002). These findings also add to recent evidence that highlighted the roles that body image dissatisfaction and shame play in binge eating symptoms in men (Dakanalis et al, 2016).…”

“…In fact, whereas conceptions of traditional masculinity convey the notion that men's worth is related to their abilities to be powerful, socially dominant, and physically effective (Kilmartin, 2007), women constantly face messages that their worth depends on how their physical appearance is perceived by others (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997), which negatively affects their selfevaluation, body image, and eating behaviour (Fitzsimmons-Craft et al, 2011;Dakanalis et al, 2015;Dakanalis, Clerici, et al, 2014; being seen by others as flawed, unattractive or inferior, as well as to the internal shaming process that includes severe self-criticism (Goss & Allan, 2009;Goss & Gilbert, 2002;. Binge eating symptoms may be adopted in this context as a means to cope with such negative evaluations and emotions Duarte et al, 2015a).…”

“…In particular for women, physical appearance has been a fundamental dimension for self-evaluation and for determining whether one is accepted and valued by others (Burkle, Ryckman, Gold, thornton, & Audesse, 1999;Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997;Gatward, 2007;Gilbert, 2002;Gilbert, Price, & Allan, 1995). There is growing evidence demonstrating that body image-related shame plays a significant role in the development and persistence of binge eating symptomatology among women composing clinical (Dakanalis et al, 2015;Duarte et al, 2015a;Fitzsimmons-Craft et al, 2011) and nonclinical samples (Dakanalis, Clerici, et al, 2014;Duarte & Pinto-Gouveia, 2016). …”

“…There is evidence that, for both men and women, the internalization of the ideal body image-that is, drive for thinness in women and drive for muscularity in men in current Western society (Yean et al, 2013)-and the values associated with it (e.g., confidence and power; Grogan & Richards, 2002;McCabe & Ricciardelli, 2003) is linked to body dissatisfaction, poorer self-esteem, and disordered eating symptomatology (Dakanalis & Riva, 2013;Fitzsimmons-Craft, Bardone-Cone, & Kelly, 2011;McCreary & Sasse, 2002).…”

Identifying Antecedents of Risky Appearance Management Behaviors

“…They ''internalize cultural body standards so that the standards appear to originate from the self and believe that achieving these standards is possible even in the face of considerable evidence to the contrary'' (p. 183). OBC has been used to explain gender differences in body esteem (McKinley, 1998), to understand psychological well-being between mothers and daughters (McKinley, 1999), and to document behavioral differences in eating disorder recovery (Fitzsimmons-Craft, Bardone-Cone, & Kelly, 2011). OBC has been used to explain gender differences in body esteem (McKinley, 1998), to understand psychological well-being between mothers and daughters (McKinley, 1999), and to document behavioral differences in eating disorder recovery (Fitzsimmons-Craft, Bardone-Cone, & Kelly, 2011).…”