title: "I just feel so guilty": The role of introjected regulation in linking appearance goals for exercise with women's body image.
abstract: Appearance goals for exercise are consistently associated with negative body image, but research has yet to consider the processes that link these two variables. Self-determination theory offers one such process: introjected (guilt-based) regulation of exercise behavior. Study 1 investigated these relationships within a cross-sectional sample of female UK students (n=215, 17-30 years). Appearance goals were indirectly, negatively associated with body image due to links with introjected regulation. Study 2 experimentally tested this pathway, manipulating guilt relating to exercise and appearance goals independently and assessing post-test guilt and body anxiety (n=165, 18-27 years). The guilt manipulation significantly increased post-test feelings of guilt, and these increases were associated with increased post-test body anxiety, but only for participants in the guilt condition. The implications of these findings for self-determination theory and the importance of guilt for the body image literature are discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9QH, United Kingdom. Electronic address: m.hurst@sussex.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hurst
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9QH, United Kingdom. Electronic address: h.e.dittmar@sussex.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Helga
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dittmar
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9QH, United Kingdom. Electronic address: r.a.banerjee@sussex.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9QH, United Kingdom. Electronic address: r.bond@sussex.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Rod
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bond
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006167:Guilt; D006801:Humans; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Body anxiety; Body appreciation; Exercise goals; Exercise regulation; Guilt; Self-determination theory