title: A Person-by-Situation Account of Why Some People More Frequently Engage in Upward Appearance Comparison Behaviors in Everyday Life.
abstract: Although the influence of stable, trait-like factors (such as trait body dissatisfaction and appearance internalization) on instances of appearance comparison has been well documented, the additive and interactive influence of contextual factors (such as one's current body satisfaction) on comparison behaviors is unknown. Therefore, the present study tested a Person×Situation model in which both state and trait body image variables interacted to predict engagement in various forms of comparison (upward, downward, and lateral). Participants included 161 women who completed a baseline measure of trait body dissatisfaction and internalization, and then completed, via an iPhone app, an ecological momentary assessment phase in which they reported momentary experiences of mood and comparison behaviors at up to 6 random times per day for 7days. Multilevel analyses revealed that upward comparisons (comparisons against more attractive people) were more likely for individuals with heightened trait and/or state negative body image, but these predictive effects of state and trait on appearance comparisons appear largely independent of each other. Furthermore, neither state nor trait body image variables were related to the other forms of comparison, and time lag at the state-level between predictor and outcome did not seem to influence the strength of these associations. Present findings are consistent with the notion that how an individual feels in the moment about their appearance may influence engagement in deleterious appearance behaviors. However, further testing is needed to confirm these causal hypotheses.
authors.affiliation: Deakin University.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.affiliation: Deakin University. Electronic address: matthewf@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fuller-Tyszkiewicz
authors.affiliation: University of Canberra.
authors.forename: Vivienne
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: University of Melbourne.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Krug
authors.affiliation: Deakin University.
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Richardson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D057566:Self Report; D012925:Social Conformity; D012938:Social Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: appearance comparisons; body image disturbance; ecological momentary assessment; internalization; thin ideal