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Beyond the Mirror: Psychological Correlates of Body Image Dissatisfaction
Soni Jaiswal1, Sabeen H Rizvi1, Kaiser Ahmad Dar2
1Dept. of Psychology, Gargi College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, Delhi, India.
Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine
|April 23, 2026
Summary
Body image dissatisfaction significantly impacts psychological well-being and quality of life, primarily through psychological distress. This study found distress equally affects men and women in urban India, suggesting culturally adapted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Sociology
Background:
- Body image dissatisfaction (BID) negatively affects psychological well-being (PWB) and quality of life (QoL).
- Mechanisms linking BID to PWB and QoL are understudied in non-Western contexts.
- Understanding these links is crucial for mental health in diverse populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if psychological distress mediates the relationship between BID, PWB, and QoL in young Indian adults.
- To examine potential gender differences in these mediating pathways.
- To contribute culturally relevant insights to the body image literature.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study with 225 university students (125 female, 100 male) in urban India.
- Validated self-report measures for BID, psychological distress, QoL, and PWB.
- Structural equation modeling (SEM) with bootstrapping to analyze direct and indirect effects.
Main Results:
- SEM analysis showed excellent model fit, confirming full mediation of BID's effects on QoL and PWB through psychological distress.
- Specific BID dimensions indirectly impacted QoL and PWB via distress.
- No significant gender differences were found in psychological distress, indicating equitable burden.
Conclusions:
- Psychological distress is the primary mechanism through which BID compromises QoL and PWB.
- Interventions targeting distress reduction are recommended for improving mental health outcomes.
- Findings highlight the role of sociocultural factors in attenuating gender differences observed in Western samples, necessitating culturally adapted mental health strategies.
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