Body image, social comparison, and eating disturbance: A covariance structure modeling investigation

✍ Scribed by Thompson, J. Kevin ;Coovert, Michael D. ;Stormer., Susan M.

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 1999
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 174 KB
• Volume: 26
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0276-3478
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1098-108x(199907)26:1<43::aid-eat6>3.0.co;2-r

✦ Synopsis

Objective: To evaluate the role of appearance-based social comparison processes as a possible mediational link between developmental factors (negative social feedback, i.e., teasing about appearance; biological status, i.e.,early physical maturation) and levels of body dissatisfaction, eating disturbance, and global psychological functioning. Method: In this study of 173 female undergraduates, covariance structure modeling (CSM) was used to examine direct and mediational relationships among these variables. Results: Appearancebased social comparison mediated the effect of appearance-related teasing on body image and eating disturbance; body image mediated the effect of teasing on eating disturbance; eating disturbance had a direct effect on overall psychological functioning. Discussion: Implications for devising and testing other theoretical models are discussed.