The role of body objectification in disordered eating and depressed mood.
OBJECTIVE
The study aimed to extend tests of objectification theory into the realm of depression. The theory's applicability to men was also investigated.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study.


METHODS
A sample of 115 men and 171 women completed questionnaire measures of self-objectification, depressed mood, disordered eating, as well as the proposed mediating variables of body shame, appearance anxiety, flow and awareness of internal states.


RESULTS
For women, it was found that depressed mood and disordered eating were both predicted by self-objectification and its corollary of habitual self-surveillance. Path analysis gave strong support to the mediational relationships of the theoretical model. With one major exception (the role of self-objectification), the pattern of relationships was similar for men.


CONCLUSIONS
Objectification theory provides a useful framework for identifying predictors of depressed mood.
Tiggemann
Marika
M
School of Psychology, Flinders University of South Australia, Australia. Marika.Tiggemann@flinders.edu.au
Kuring
Julia K
JK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001364:Awareness; D001828:Body Image; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012752:Shame; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires