title: A serial mediation model testing early adversity, self-concept clarity, and thin-ideal internalization as predictors of body dissatisfaction.
abstract: This study examined the associations among early family adversity (e.g., family violence, neglect), self-concept clarity (i.e., having a clear and coherent sense of one's own personal identity), thin-ideal internalization, and body dissatisfaction. Female university students in Australia (n=323) and adult female community members in the United States (n=371) completed self-report measures of the relevant constructs. In both samples, serial mediation analysis revealed that early family adversity was negatively associated with self-concept clarity, self-concept clarity was negatively associated with thin-ideal internalization, and thin-ideal internalization was positively associated with body dissatisfaction. These findings suggest that early adverse experiences might impair individuals' self-concept clarity, and that low self-concept clarity might increase the risk of internalization of the thin ideal (as a means of defining the self) and consequently body dissatisfaction. These findings also suggest possible avenues for prevention and intervention efforts.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia. Electronic address: lvartanian@psy.unsw.edu.au.
authors.forename: Lenny R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Vartanian
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia. Electronic address: franzisca.froreich@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Franzisca V
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Froreich
authors.affiliation: Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. Electronic address: jms1187@psu.edu.
authors.forename: Joshua M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Smyth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D049628:Body Size; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Body dissatisfaction; Early family adversity; Self-concept clarity; Thin-ideal internalization