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Body image, social comparison, and eating disturbance: a covariance structure modeling investigation
J K Thompson1, M D Coovert, S M Stormer
1Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa 33620-8200, USA. jthompso@chuma1.cas.usf.edu
Objective:
To evaluate the role of appearance-based social comparison processes as a possible mediational link between developmental factors (negative social feedback, i.e., teasing about appearance; biological status, i.e., early physical maturation) and levels of body dissatisfaction, eating disturbance, and global psychological functioning.
Method:
In this study of 173 female undergraduates, covariance structure modeling (CSM) was used to examine direct and mediational relationships among these variables.
Results:
Appearance-based social comparison mediated the effect of appearance-related teasing on body image and eating disturbance; body image mediated the effect of teasing on eating disturbance; eating disturbance had a direct effect on overall psychological functioning.
Discussion:
Implications for devising and testing other theoretical models are discussed.