Feeling body dissatisfied after viewing thin-ideal pictures is mediated by self-activation.
The present study sought to investigate the influence of self-activation on body and weight satisfaction in restrained and unrestrained eaters, after exposure to thin-ideal images. Restrained eaters (n=39) and unrestrained eaters (n=40) were randomly assigned to a self-activation manipulation versus a control manipulation. After the manipulation, all participants were exposed to eight thin-ideal images. Measures of state body and weight satisfaction and of social comparison tendencies were assessed throughout the experiment. Self-activated restrained eaters showed a significant decrease in body and weight satisfaction after exposure to thin-ideal images, compared to restrained eaters who were not self-activated. In unrestrained eaters, the self-activation manipulation did not have any effect on body or weight dissatisfaction. In conclusion, exposure to fashion models only had a negative influence on women's self-evaluations when two conditions were met: (1) the participant was 'self-activated' and (2) the participant classified as a restrained eater.
Smeets
Elke
E
Maastricht University, Department of Clinical Psychological Science, The Netherlands. elke.smeets@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Jansen
Anita
A
Vossen
Ellis
E
Ruf
Laura
L
Roefs
Anne
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image; D001835:Body Weight; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007100:Imitative Behavior; D033182:Intention; D007600:Judgment; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D013851:Thinness / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult