Body Image: A Handbook of Theory, Research, and Clinical Practice

J. KEVIN THOMPSON, LESLIE J. HEINBERG, MADELINE ALTABE, AND STACEY TANTELEFF-DUNN: Exacting Beauty: Theory, Assessment, and Treatment of Body Image Disturbance. American Psychological Association, Washington, D.C., 1998, 396 pp., $39.95, ISBN 1-55798-541-3. The goal of this book-the third on body image that was either authored or edited by J. Kevin Thompson-is "to attempt to integrate theory, assessment, and treatment for the field of body image; to provide a guide for researchers and clinicians interested in the field of body image disturbance and to bridge research and practice." After reading this text, the clinician would hope to come away with a clear sense of the etiology of body-image disturbances and then to be able to identify the best clinical treatment that would match patient diagnostic presentation. Although the research material is well handled, the treatment aspect is somewhat incomplete. The authors present a good overall view of the origin of body image and body-image disturbance, and an excellent historical review of research in the field of eating disorders, i.e., anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, as well as bingeeating disorder and obesity. The book also addresses the complexity of defining, measuring, and creating theoretical models while exploring the social and cultural aspects of body image and the public media emphasis on thinness. And it outlines the current thinking about making a differential diagnosis of body-dysmorphic disorder, often a difficult matter. Some important work in body-dysmorphic disorder is missing, however, such as that of Eric Hollander, M.D. The book's forte is presenting the reader with a strong array of models for measurements and assessment and different testing methodologies, as well as including helpful tables, appendices, and references. The 11 chapters are divided into five parts: 1. An Overview: Prevalence, Diversity, Assessment, and Treatment; 2. Societal and Social Approaches; 3. Interpersonal Approaches; 4. Feminist Approaches; and 5. Behavioral, Cognitive, and Integrative Approaches. The term "approaches" is somewhat misleading because it infers presentation of several different treatment methodologies that the book only partially delivers. The authors conclude that the cognitive-behavioral modality of treatment, supported by "empirical findings," has been the most successful in the treatment of body image thus far, and they are not nearly as exhaustive in covering other treatment modalities, such as the feminist perspective. …

Exacting Beauty: Theory, Assessment, and Treatment of Body Image Disturbance

This paper provides an overview of research on social media and body image. Correlational studies consistently show that social media usage (particularly Facebook) is associated with body image concerns among young women and men, and longitudinal studies suggest that this association may strengthen over time. Furthermore, appearance comparisons play a role in the relationship between social media and body image. Experimental studies, however, suggest that brief exposure to one's own Facebook account does not negatively impact young women's appearance concerns. Further longitudinal and experimental research is needed to determine which aspects of social media are most detrimental to people's body image concerns. Research is also needed on more diverse samples as well as other social media platforms (e.g., Instagram).

http://www2.psy.unsw.edu.au/Users/lvartanian/Publications/Fardouly%20&%20Vartanian%20(2016).pdf

Social Media and Body Image Concerns: Current Research and Future Directions

The relationship between exposure to sexually objectifying music television, primetime television programs, fashion magazines, and social networking sites and the internalization of beauty ideals, self-objectification, and body surveillance was examined among adolescent girls (N = 558). A structural equation model showed direct relationships between sexually objectifying media and the internalization of beauty ideals, and indirect relationships between sexually objectifying media and self-objectification, and body surveillance through the internalization of beauty ideals. The direct relationships between sexually objectifying media and the internalization of beauty ideals, self-objectification, and body surveillance differed across the types of sexually objectifying media. The discussion focuses on the implications of these findings to explain self-objectification among girls.

https://lirias.kuleuven.be/bitstream/123456789/326594/2/Media+exposure+and+girls_abstract.pdf

Media exposure and girls’ internalization of beauty ideals, self-objectification and body surveillance

A meta-analytic review of the relationship between social media use and body image disturbance

https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/preview/877684/Cohen%20Newton-John%20Slater%20accepted%20at%20Body%20Image%20031017.pdf

The relationship between Facebook and Instagram appearance-focused activities and body image concerns in young women

https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/preview/871137/Cohen%20Newton-John%20Slater%20accepted%20at%20CHB.pdf

Selfie-objectification

https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/bitstream/10453/131322/3/BoPo.pdf

#bodypositivity: A content analysis of body positive accounts on Instagram

Body positive content on social media aims to challenge mainstream beauty ideals and encourage acceptance and appreciation of all body types. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of viewing body positive Instagram posts on young women's mood and body image. Participants were 195 young women (18-30 years old) who were randomly allocated to view either body positive, thin-ideal, or appearance-neutral Instagram posts. Results showed that brief exposure to body positive posts was associated with improvements in young women's positive mood, body satisfaction and body appreciation, relative to thin-ideal and appearance-neutral posts. Additionally, both thin-ideal and body positive posts were associated with increased self-objectification relative to appearance-neutral posts. Finally, participants showed favourable attitudes towards the body positive accounts with the majority being willing to follow them in the future. It was concluded that body positive content may offer a fruitful avenue for improving young women's body image, although further research is necessary to fully understand the effects on self-objectification.

/pdf/bopo-on-instagram-an-experimental-investigation-of-the-58ubfn772d.pdf

#BoPo on Instagram: An experimental investigation of the effects of viewing body positive content on young women’s mood and body image:

Appearance comparison has consistently been shown to engender body image dissatisfaction. To date, most studies have demonstrated this relationship between appearance comparison and body image dissatisfaction in the context of conventional media images depicting the thin-ideal. Social comparison theory posits that people are more likely to compare themselves to similar others. Since social media forums such as Facebook involve one’s peers, the current study aimed to determine whether the relationship between appearance comparison and body image dissatisfaction would be stronger for those exposed to social media images, compared to conventional media images. A sample of 193 female first year university students were randomly allocated to view a series of either Facebook or conventional media thin-ideal images. Participants completed questionnaires assessing pre- and post- image exposure measures of thin-ideal internalisation, appearance comparison, self-esteem, Facebook use and eating disorder risk. Type of exposure was not found to moderate the relationship between appearance comparison and changes in body image dissatisfaction. When analysed according to exposure type, appearance comparison only significantly predicted body image dissatisfaction change for those exposed to Facebook, but not conventional media. Facebook use was found to predict higher baseline body image dissatisfaction and was associated with higher eating disorder risk. The findings suggest the importance of extending the body image dissatisfaction literature by taking into account emerging social media formats. It is recommended that interventions for body image dissatisfaction and eating disorders consider appearance comparison processes elicited by thin-ideal content on social media forums, such as Facebook, in addition to conventional media.

/pdf/comparative-effects-of-facebook-and-conventional-media-on-teowf3xdj4.pdf

Rachel Cohen

Papers

The relationship between Facebook and Instagram appearance-focused activities and body image concerns in young women

Selfie-objectification

#bodypositivity: A content analysis of body positive accounts on Instagram

#BoPo on Instagram: An experimental investigation of the effects of viewing body positive content on young women’s mood and body image:

Comparative effects of Facebook and conventional media on body image dissatisfaction