Body-image dissatisfaction is a problem that affects a substantial minority ofwomen and cuts across various diagnostic groups. College women with a significant level ofbody-image dissatisfaction were randomly assigned to either a cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) program (n = 15) or to a waiting-list control group (n = 16). The CBT program consisted of six structured, individual sessions that applied cognitive-behavioral procedures to the problem of negative body image. At pretest, posttest, and 7-week foUow-up, multiple aspects of body image and other areas of psychosocial functioning were assessed. Relative to the control condition, the CBT program successfully improved affective body image, weakened maladaptive body-image cognitions, and enhanced social self-esteem and feelings about physical fitness and sexuality. Treatment effects were largely maintained at followup. After posttest, the control group received a 3-week treatment with immediate effects that generally replicated those obtained in the 6-wer program.

Several studies confirm the operation of contextual contrast effects on judgments of the physical attractiveness of others. The present experiment was conducted to determine whether contrast effects also occur on self-evaluations of physical attractiveness. Fifty-one female college students rated their own attractiveness and body-parts satisfaction following exposure to same-sexed stimulus persons who either were not physically attractive, were physically attractive, or were designated as attractive professional models. The predicted contrast effect was supported for self-perceived attractiveness but not for body satisfaction. Consistent with social comparison theory, subjects gave lower self-ratings in the attractive versus the not attractive and the professionally attractive stimulus context. Correlational analyses also indicated that self-rated attractiveness was related to several personality variables.

No abstract

No abstract