Implicit Measures of Actual Versus Ideal Body Image: Relations with Self-Reported Body Dissatisfaction and Dieting Behaviors

Abstract

Body dissatisfaction refers to a negative appreciation of one’s own body stemming from a discrepancy between how one perceives his/her body (actual body image) and how he/she wants it to be (ideal body image). To circumvent the limitations of self-report measures of body image, measures were developed that allow for a distinction between actual and ideal body image at the implicit level. The first goal of the present study was to investigate whether self-reported body dissatisfaction is related to implicit measures of actual and ideal body image as captured by the Relational Responding Task (RRT). Secondly, we examined whether these RRT measures were related to several indices of dieting behavior. Women high in body dissatisfaction (n = 30) were characterized by relatively strong implicit I-am-fat beliefs, whereas their implicit I-want-to-be-thinner beliefs were similar to individuals low in body dissatisfaction (n = 37). Implicit body image beliefs showed no added value over explicit body image beliefs in predicting body dissatisfaction and dieting behavior. These findings support the idea that the interplay between ideal and actual body image drives (self-reported) body dissatisfaction. However, strong support for the view that it would be critical to differentiate between explicit and implicit body image beliefs is missing.

The role of sexual orientation in the relationships between body perception, body weight dissatisfaction, physical comparison, and eating psychopathology in the cisgender population

“…Body image disturbance is related to the body dissatisfaction construct, even if it is less linked to the affective elements and more to the perception feature [14,15]. However, this construct seems more complicated than just the discrepancy between two body sizes [16]. Different elements could be included in the definition of body image disturbance, starting from body perception [17].…”

Is There Any Relationship Between Body Image Perception, Eating Disorders, and Muscle Dysmorphic Disorders in Male Bodybuilders?

“…Muscle dysmorphia (MD) is defined as a type of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) that is characterized by a preoccupation with a perceived defect in one’s physique that can lead to multiple problems ( Fang & Wilhelm, 2015 ; Foster, Shorter, & Griffiths, 2015 ; Glashouwer, Bennik, de Jong, & Spruyt, 2018 ; Longobardi, Prino, Fabris, & Settanni, 2017 ; Mitchell et al, 2017 ), including the abuse of drugs (particularly anabolic androgenic steroids) ( Davis & Scott-Robertson, 2000 ), prioritizing workout programs over time with family and friends ( Emini & Bond, 2014 ), hiding their body, deterioration in their career ( Celso Alves dos Santos, Patrícia Passarelli, Sergio Carlos, Stephen, & Angélica Medeiros, 2015 ), depression, and even suicide ( Angelakis, Gooding, & Panagioti, 2016 ). Although MD is classified as a BDD, the classification of MD is disputed ( Krebs, de la Cruz, & Mataix-Cols, 2017 ); some researchers have demonstrated that it could be classified as a type of eating disorder ( Murray, Rieger, Touyz, & De la Garza Garcia Lic, 2010 ; Nieuwoudt, Zhou, Coutts, & Booker, 2012 ).…”

Body dissatisfaction as a predictor of disordered eating behaviors in undergraduate women: an integrative review

“…Regarding the gender composition of the populations investigated, 57.1% (n=12) of the studies were based on samples composed of university students of both sexes, presenting the results separately and comparatively, and 42.9% (n=9) of the studies were based on samples composed only by female university populations. A large variation in sample size was observed: the smallest sample studied consisted of 67 participants (Glashouwer et al, 2018) and the largest one was composed of 28,703 participants (Vankim et al, 2016).…”

“…Development, v. 9, n. 9, e661997513, 2020 (CC BY 4.0) | ISSN 2525-3409 | DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v9i9.7513 10 Inventory (EDI-3). Glashouwer et al (2018) To Research, Society and Development, v. 9, n. 9, e661997513, 2020 (CC BY 4.0 Research, Society and Development, v. 9, n. 9, e661997513, 2020 (CC BY 4.0 de Janeiro.…”

“…Considering that excessive concern with body and dissatisfaction with body image are highly associated with risk behaviors for eating disorders, research conducted in this area investigate the individuals' perceptions about body shape and size, as well as the frequent eating behaviors, with a greater focus on women (Bosi et al, 2009;Glashouwer et al, 2018;Nergiz-Unal et al, 2014).…”