Explanations of Body Image Disturbance: A Test of Maturational Status, Negative Verbal Commentary, Social Comparison, and Sociocultural Hypotheses
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-1996
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1098-108X(199603)19:2<193::AID-EAT10>3.0.CO;2-W
Abstract
Objective: A number of hypotheses have been offered to explain the development and/or maintenance of body image disturbance. In this study, four factors which have been hypothesized to lead to body image problems were tested: maturational status (early physical development), negative verbal commentary (a history of being teased regarding physical appearance), behavioral social comparison, and awareness/internalization of sociocultural pressures. Methods: One hundred sixty‐two college females completed measures designed to index these four influences. Predictors were regressed onto multiple measures of body image and two indices of eating disturbance. Results: Even with self‐esteem and level of obesity removed as influences, social comparison and societal factors were significant predictors of body dissatisfaction and eating disturbance. Negative verbal commentary also explained a small part of the variance, however, maturational status did not contribute uniquely in any analysis. Discussion: The findings offer further support for emerging theories of body image and eating disturbance.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
International Journal of Eating Disorders, v. 19, issue 2, p. 193-202
Scholar Commons Citation
Stormer, Susan M. and Thompson, Joel Kevin, "Explanations of Body Image Disturbance: A Test of Maturational Status, Negative Verbal Commentary, Social Comparison, and Sociocultural Hypotheses" (1996). Psychology Faculty Publications. 2142.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/psy_facpub/2142
