The Effect of Peer Stress on Body Dissatisfaction in Female and Male Young Adults

Abstract

Few studies have examined the relationship between interpersonal stress and body image in young adults. The present experimental study tests the effect of peer stress on general and weight-specific state body dissatisfaction, and the moderating role of gender and appearance importance. N = 111 university students aged between 18 and 25 years were randomly assigned to three conditions in which peer stress was elicited through vicarious rejection scenarios based on appearance or personality, or a no rejection control. Results supported a significant but complex peer stress effect on state body dissatisfaction, moderated by gender and appearance importance. Specifically, males in a personality-based peer stress condition reported greater general body dissatisfaction compared to males in appearance-based and no rejection conditions. Further, participants exposed to appearance-based peer stressincluding those placing low value on appearance-reported greater weight dissatisfaction compared to the no rejection control and personality rejection conditions. Females and participants reporting high appearance importance were shown to report greater body dissatisfaction in general. The results hold implications for prevention and early intervention programs in young adults, and suggest stress management training could target the peer domain in this population.

Efficacy of the Mental Health App “Intellect” to Improve Body Image and Self-compassion in Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial With a 4-Week Follow-up

“…Female participants tend to experience greater sensitivity and stress because of interpersonal rejection [ 81 , 82 ]. Coupled with female participants’ tendency to associate body image with the perception of peer acceptance and the lack of effective coping strategies, female participants may have found it challenging to manage peer pressures [ 83 , 84 ]. Thus, equipping female participants with stress and communication management skills may be a more targeted approach for enhancing female participants’ capacity to reduce peer pressures [ 84 ].…”

“…Coupled with female participants’ tendency to associate body image with the perception of peer acceptance and the lack of effective coping strategies, female participants may have found it challenging to manage peer pressures [ 83 , 84 ]. Thus, equipping female participants with stress and communication management skills may be a more targeted approach for enhancing female participants’ capacity to reduce peer pressures [ 84 ]. The lack of significant findings for peer pressure in female participants at follow-up may also be because of a floor effect, as participants in both intervention and active waitlist control groups had low ratings on the measure at baseline, thus limiting intervention effects at follow-up.…”

“…The lack of significant findings for peer pressure in female participants at follow-up may also be because of a floor effect, as participants in both intervention and active waitlist control groups had low ratings on the measure at baseline, thus limiting intervention effects at follow-up. As for male participants, studies found that greater body dissatisfaction was related to peer stressors focused on personality characteristics or achievements [ 81 , 84 ]. Thus, targeting body image and its risk factors may be less effective in reducing peer pressures for male participants.…”