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Religion, body satisfaction and dieting.
1Department of Health Education and Health Behavior, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham, #820, Little Rock, AR 72205-7199, USA. khk@uams.edu
Appetite
|March 21, 2006
Summary
Religion may offer an alternative source of self-worth, potentially improving body satisfaction and reducing dieting behaviors. However, negative religious aspects can be linked to lower body satisfaction and increased dieting.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Religious Studies
Background:
- Western societies often promote thinness, leading to body dissatisfaction and dieting.
- Religion can be a source of self-worth, potentially counteracting societal pressures on body image.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between religion, body satisfaction, and dieting behaviors.
- To explore how different aspects of religion (positive and negative) influence body image and eating habits.
Main Methods:
- Survey data collected from a community sample of 546 individuals.
- Statistical analyses examined correlations between religious factors, body satisfaction, and dieting.
- Mediation analysis explored the role of self-esteem and social support.
Main Results:
- Religion was significantly associated with greater body satisfaction and less dieting.
- Negative religious aspects, including negative religious coping and congregational social support, were linked to lower body satisfaction and increased dieting.
- Self-esteem mediated the relationship between negative religious coping and body satisfaction.
Conclusions:
- Religion can be a protective factor against body dissatisfaction and dieting, particularly when viewed positively.
- Negative religious experiences or coping mechanisms can exacerbate body image concerns and dieting behaviors.
- Interventions focusing on positive religious coping may promote better body image and healthier behaviors.