IntroductionPhysical appearance is a major component of human sexuality. Body image is associated with females' sexual functioning; and poor body image is strongly related to sexual functioning problems (SFP). SFP are becoming more pervasive throughout Western culture. Objectification Theory (OT) provides a framework for understanding how sociocultural pressure is translated into psychological risk factors that promote body concerns and SFP. Previous research indicated that the core constructs of OT (body monitoring, body shame and appearance anxiety) predicted higher self-consciousness, which according to a recent review of 57 empirical studies, interferes with sexual responses and experiences during sexual activity.ObjectivesThe central purpose of the current study was to build upon the extant literature by incorporating internalization of the norms for body shape and weight portrayed by the media and self-consciousness during sexual activity into the OT model. Thus, we aimed to examine a more comprehensive model of women's SFP (i.e., lacking interest in sex, inability to achieve orgasm, trouble achieving or maintaining an adequate lubrication) grounded in OT.MethodsData were analysed from 391 sexually active Italian college women (Mage = 20.9) using latent variable structural equation modeling approach. Results. Internalization of media ideals led to body surveillance, which was related to body shame and appearance anxiety. The latter were related to self-consciousness during sexual activity, which in turn strongly women's SFP.ConclusionsThe study points to the role of body-image attitudes in sexual functioning and suggests that OT provides a useful framework to identify predictors of women's SFP.

IntroductionProspective studies have supported the validity of Vochs and colleagues’ three-factor interactive etiologic model of bulimic symptomatology (BS) among female undergraduates.ObjectivesGiven the comparable rate of binge eating between young adult men and women, we sought to examine for the first time the validity and sensitivity of the interactive model of BS in men.AimsWe examined whether the interaction between Perfectionism x Male Body Dissatisfaction x Low Self-Esteem predicted increases in BS over 1-year (Study 1) and over 6-weeks (Study 2). Two different samples of college men were used. Time-1 BS scores as well as Time-1 and Time-2 Body Mass Index, Depression and Social Desirability scores were controlled for.MethodsData from college men (Study 1: N = 308, Mage = 21.04; Study 2: N = 344; Mage = 20.87) were analysed using hierarchical multiple regression/correlation procedure on participants’ Time-2 BS scores.ResultsBoth studies revealed that an increase of BS in men was predicted by the Perfectionism x Male Body Dissatisfaction x Low Self-Esteem interaction. BS increased in men who initially had high levels of BS and perfectionism, low levels of selfesteem, and were dissatisfied with their body. However, men with initially low or average levels of BS did not have an increase in BS even if they were perfectionistic, body dissatisfied and had low self-esteem.ConclusionsThe results support the interactive model's ability to predict increases of BS; however, the support is in regard to the maintenance of BS, not the onset of BS.

IntroductionStudies conducted with American and Australian samples of pre-adolescents and adolescent girls support the tenets of Stice and colleagues’ dual-pathway (DP) model. The DP model is a cohesive framework for understanding how sociocultural pressures are translated into behavioural and negative affect risk factors potentially promoting binge eating. Males are likely to exhibit sub-threshold binge eating disorder and are roughly equal to females in regard to the number of cases of any binge eating. To date, only preliminary support has been provided for the validity of the DP model's core predictions with adolescent males.ObjectivesThe current prospective study examined the suitability of the DM model in other western cultures (such as an Italian one) where adolescent boys are characterised by high levels of eating and body-related disturbances in response to sociocultural pressure.Method221 Italian adolescent boys (Mage = 14.9) were examined at Baseline and after 1-year through semi-structured clinical interviews and self-reported measures. Data were analysed via a latent variable longitudinal structural equation modeling approach.ResultsPerceived pressure and internalization of societal ideals regarding male body shape led to body dissatisfaction, which in turn led to dietary restriction. Both body dissatisfaction and dietary restriction predicted negative affect, which in turn predicted binge eating. However, data did not support the relationship between body mass index and body dissatisfaction or between dietary restriction and binge eating.ConclusionsThe prospective validity of the DP model was partially supported in adolescent boys: body dissatisfaction predicted binge eating only via negative affect.

IntroductionThe original cognitive-behavioural model of bulimia nervosa (CBT-BN) proposes that specific dysfunctional cognitions and behavioural factors maintain BN, and has provided the basis for the widely used cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) of BN. However, Fairburn et al. (2003) noted that among treatment completers with BN, only 40% achieved full remission of the bulimic symptomatology. The enhanced CBT-BN model (CBT-E) proposed by the authors describes how four additional factors (i.e., clinical perfectionism, low self esteem, mood intolerance and interpersonal difficulties) interact with the core psychopathology of BN (i.e., over-evaluation of eating, weight, and shape and their control) to maintain the disorder.AimsThe goal of this study was to examine (a) the validity of the CBT-E model and (b) whether each of the four hypothesized maintenance factors intensifies the core psychopathology-bulimic symptomatology relationship in a clinical sample.MethodsData were analysed from 362 adults seeking treatment for BN (n = 167) or atypical BN (n =195) at four Italian specialized care centres, using latent variable structural equation modeling approach.ResultsBoth the measurement and the structural model were good fits for the data. All four hypothesized factors exacerbated the core psychopathology-bulimic symptomatology relationship. Core psychopathology explained approximately 47.7% of the variance of bulimic symptomatology. The inclusion of the direct effects and interaction terms increased the explained variance of bulimic symptomatology to 64%.ConclusionsOverall, results supported the validity of the CBT-E model and highlighted the importance of assessment and treatment of the four maintenance processes included in the CBT-E model.