Body comparisons are bidirectionally linked with body dissatisfaction but not disordered eating urges

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Body Image Research
• Eating Disorder Research

Background:

• Body comparisons (BC) are frequent and linked to body dissatisfaction (BD) and disordered eating (DE).
• Understanding the dynamic interplay between BC, BD, and DE urges is crucial for mental health interventions.
• The context of BC (e.g., social media, in-person) and demographic factors like gender may influence these relationships.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the bidirectional relationship between body comparisons (BC) and body dissatisfaction (BD) and disordered eating (DE) urges.
• To examine if the context of BC (in-person, social media, traditional media) and gender moderate the BC-BD-DE relationship.

Main Methods:

• A 7-day ecological momentary assessment (EMA) was used with 521 undergraduates (76% female).
• Participants reported frequency, direction, and context of BC, alongside BD levels and DE urges (food restriction, exercise, overeating).
• Multilevel analyses controlled for COVID-19 lockdown effects.

Main Results:

• A bidirectional relationship was found between upward BC and BD, forming a reinforcing cycle.
• Downward BC decreased BD, but individuals with high BD were less likely to engage in downward BC.
• Compensatory exercise urges predicted upward BC; other BC-DE urge links were not significant. Upward BC's effect on BD was stronger in-person than on social media. Gender did not moderate relationships.

Conclusions:

• The study highlights a cyclical and context-dependent relationship between body comparisons and body dissatisfaction.
• In-person and other real-world comparisons may have a more significant impact on body dissatisfaction than social media comparisons.
• Future interventions could adapt media literacy strategies for managing various comparison contexts.