Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 8, 2025
07:40
Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design
Published on: May 31, 2021
3.5K
Associations between body dissatisfaction and relationship functioning among same-sex female couples: An
Cassidy M Sandoval1, Kelly A Romano1, Kristin E Heron1
1Department of Psychology.
Summary
Women's body dissatisfaction negatively impacts their relationship satisfaction and intimacy. This effect is similar for their partner's relationship satisfaction, highlighting body image concerns in same-sex female relationships.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Relationship Science
- Body Image Research
Background:
- Limited research exists on body dissatisfaction in sexual minority couples.
- Previous studies primarily focused on heterosexual relationships.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the dyadic associations between body dissatisfaction and relationship functioning in same-sex female couples.
- To utilize actor-partner interdependence models (APIMs) to understand these associations.
Main Methods:
- 163 same-sex female couples (326 women) aged 18-35 participated.
- Participants completed measures of body dissatisfaction and relationship factors.
- Actor-partner interdependence models (APIMs) were employed.
Main Results:
- Higher personal body dissatisfaction was linked to lower personal relationship satisfaction, closeness, sexual satisfaction, and intimacy.
- While direct partner effects were not significant, dyadic analysis revealed similar magnitudes for own and partner relationship satisfaction.
- Women's body dissatisfaction negatively correlated with their own relationship functioning.
Conclusions:
- Body dissatisfaction significantly impacts women's relationship experiences in same-sex female couples.
- Findings align with research on heterosexual couples, emphasizing the role of body image.
- Further research is needed on cross-partner effects in these relationships.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Relationship Growth
14
Interpersonal relationships progress through stages, beginning with awareness and moving toward mutuality, where emotional connections deepen. While many relationships remain at moderate levels of mutuality, deeper connections form through self-disclosure, trust, and interdependence.Self-DisclosureSelf-disclosure involves revealing personal information, starting with surface-level details and gradually progressing to more intimate content. As trust grows, individuals feel more comfortable...
14
02:12Relationship Formation
41.8K
What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
41.8K
02:45Self-Discrepancy Theory
18.5K
One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.
18.5K
01:29Self-Discrepancy and Its Effects
31
Self-discrepancy theory explains how people compare their actual self to their ideal and ought selves and how mismatches between these self-guides can lead to emotional distress. Developed by E. Tory Higgins, the theory distinguishes among three components of self-concept: the actual self, the ideal self, and the ought self. These refer respectively to how individuals perceive themselves, how they aspire to be, and how they believe they are obligated to be. Emotional well-being, self-esteem,...
31
01:30Social Relationships and Well-Being
44
The significance of social relationships in psychological well-being is a well-established area of inquiry within social psychology. Research consistently demonstrates that the presence of meaningful, supportive relationships enhances emotional health, while the absence or deterioration of such connections can contribute to psychological distress. Relationships serve as a foundation for emotional support, identity, and social belonging, all of which are critical to an individual’s overall...
44
01:23Factors Influencing Attraction III: Similarity
22
The similarity hypothesis suggests that individuals are more likely to form relationships with others who share similar attitudes, beliefs, values, and interests. This concept has been widely studied in social psychology, demonstrating that perceived similarity fosters interpersonal attraction. In an experiment supporting this hypothesis, participants were presented with fabricated information indicating that strangers held attitudes similar to their own. The results showed that participants...
22