Relations of changes in self-regulatory efficacy and physical self-concept with improvements in body satisfaction in obese women initiating exercise with cognitive-behavioral support.
Effects of exercise on body image are not well understood. Obese women seeking weight loss were randomly assigned to groups of exercise supported by a cognitive-behavioral protocol (n=68) or typical introductory methods (n=66), and assessed on body satisfaction (Body Areas Satisfaction Scale; BASS), self-regulatory efficacy (Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale; ESE), physical self-concept (Physical Self-Concept; PSC), weight, and body composition, over 6 months. Improvements on all measures were greatest in the cognitive-behavioral support condition. Improvement in BASS scores was better predicted by changes in the two psychological measures (PSC, ESE; R²(adj)=.30 and .32, respectively) than changes in the two physiological measures (weight and body composition; R²(adj)=.07 and .00, respectively). When all four predictors were entered into a multiple regression equation, only changes in ESE and PSE demonstrated significant unique contributions to the overall explained variance in BASS change. Theory and treatment implications were discussed.
Annesi
James J
JJ
YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta, GA 30303, United States. jamesa@ymcaatlanta.org
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001823:Body Composition; D001828:Body Image; D001835:Body Weight; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012927:Social Control, Informal; D015431:Weight Loss; D055815:Young Adult