Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2026

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design
Published on: May 31, 2021
Influence of peer context on the relationship between body dissatisfaction and eating pathology in women and men
K Jean Forney1, Lauren A Holland, Pamela K Keel
1Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA.
Objective:
This study examined the influence of peer context on the relationship between body dissatisfaction and eating pathology in women and men.
Method:
Secondary analyses were conducted using survey data from a large community sample of women and men (N = 2,060).
Results:
The frequency of friend comments on weight and diet moderated the relationship between body dissatisfaction and eating pathology such that more frequent comments strengthened the relationship between body dissatisfaction and eating pathology in women. This effect was not significant in analyses of men. Instead, friend comments were directly related to eating pathology in men.
Discussion:
Both women and men may benefit from peer-led interventions, with the greatest potential benefits for women with high body dissatisfaction, consistent with results from selective peer-led prevention programs in sororities.
Related Concept Videos
Anorexia Nervosa
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
Self-Discrepancy Theory
Bulimia Nervosa
Sources of Self-Esteem I: Family Experience
Self-Discrepancy and Its Effects
Influence of Parents and Peers on Identity
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth. This guiding role...

