title: Coping with "bad body image days": strategies from first-year young adult college women.
abstract: The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand how college women cope with body image concerns, a topic which has rarely been studied. Semi-structured interviews with first-year female college students (N=30) revealed common strategies used for body image coping as well as their perceived effectiveness. While exercise was most frequently cited, other coping strategies included healthy eating, appearance changing, talking to friends or family, religion/spirituality, spending time alone, getting out and doing something, and self-acceptance. One of the emerging themes was participation in a cycle of eating as a result of body image concerns, and then feeling bad about themselves for eating. Participants identified that women in this cycle either adopt a self-defeatist attitude, believing they can do nothing about their appearance, or engage in self-improvement strategies, including goal setting. Far more women reported coping strategies that reflected avoidance or appearance fixing motives rather than acceptance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public and Community Health, Utah Valley University, 800 W. University Parkway MS 171, Orem, UT 84058, USA. Sue.jackson@uvu.edu
authors.forename: TeriSue
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Smith-Jackson
authors.forename: Justine J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Reel
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thackeray
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D001362:Avoidance Learning; D001828:Body Image; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D004435:Eating; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006380:Helplessness, Learned; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D009042:Motivation; D012649:Self Concept; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D029181:Spirituality; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult