State Body Dissatisfaction and Social Interactions

Abstract

To date, there has been limited empirical scrutiny of the correlates and consequences of day-to-day state body dissatisfaction fluctuations within naturalistic contexts. We used ecological momentary assessment (a form of naturalistic observation) to evaluate whether state body dissatisfaction was concurrently and/or prospectively associated with occurrence and quality of social interactions. Women (N ¼ 121), aged 18 to 40, completed a brief trait-based survey and then nominated a 7-day period within which to receive seven text messages daily, at random intervals, prompting them to complete measures of body dissatisfaction at that moment. If they were currently or had recently engaged in social interactions, they were also asked to fill out questions rating the quality of these interactions (operationalized in terms of enjoyment of, and control in, the interaction). Findings suggest that the relationship between state body dissatisfaction and aspects of social interactions is complex and may vary over time. Cross-sectionally, state body dissatisfaction and social interaction quality were negatively associated. Prospectively, however, body dissatisfaction predicted subsequent avoidance of social interactions. Interestingly, when women chose to avoid social interactions, their body dissatisfaction worsened, yet when they did engage in social interactions, they reported improved body satisfaction. Importantly, the links between state body dissatisfaction and social interactions may be moderated by body mass index and trait body satisfaction levels. Potential mechanisms underlying the association between state body dissatisfaction and quality and quantity of social interactions are discussed, and future research avenues are proposed to further understand their inter-relation.

Future directions for positive body image research

“…In a study involving 1,200 adolescent girls across six countries (U.S., Canada, U.K., Germany, Brazil, and Russia), 60% of girls have avoided an activity because of body image concerns (Dove, 2010). These findings are consistent with data from experiential sampling studies indicating that body dissatisfaction predicts avoidance of social interactions in young women (Mills, Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, & Holmes, 2014) and, for both men and women, body dissatisfaction was also associated with less intimacy, i.e. reporting feeling less interpersonally close to others, in everyday social interactions (Nezlek, 1999).…”

“…There is emerging research and political interest in the broader impact of body image for social, academic, and occupational engagement and success (e.g., Halliwell, Diedrichs, & Orbach, 2014). As discussed in more detail later, body image concerns are associated with social avoidance and impaired social interactions (Dove, 2010;Mills, Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, & Holmes, 2014). Negative body image is also linked to reduced levels of performance and achievement.…”

An Examination of the Connections Between Eating Disorder Symptoms, Perceived Burdensomeness, Thwarted Belongingness, and Suicide Risk Among Undergraduate Students

“…For example, research shows a high comorbidity between social anxiety disorder and bulimia nervosa (Hinrichsen, Wright, Waller, & Meyer, ) and secrecy is common among individuals with bulimic symptoms (Pettersen, Rosenvinge, & Ytterhus, ). Mills, Fuller‐Tyszkiewicz, and Holmes () demonstrated that state body dissatisfaction prospectively predicted social avoidance using an ecological momentary assessment study. Therefore, it is possible that the undergraduate students in the current studies experienced perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness that were associated with interpersonal impairments commonly linked to eating disorder symptoms.…”

Are body perceptions and perceived appearance judgments by others linked to stress and depressive symptoms?

“…However, the underlying pathways by which body esteem affects depressive symptomatology have not been identified. Body dissatisfaction has been associated with avoidance of social interactions (Mills, Fuller‐Tyszkiewicz, & Holmes, ), and women, in particular, are subject to appearance‐related feedback and sexualization, which can lead individuals to adopt an outsider's perspective on their bodies to gauge their appearance from the perspective of others (Fredrickson & Roberts, ). As such, individuals who experience body dissatisfaction or who perceive that others judge their appearance negatively may be more likely to experience stress and may also experience greater depressive symptoms.…”