Body image and females' sexual behavior.
82 female college students completed a body-image scale and an inventory on sexual behavior. These female students differing in sexual activity can be distinguished on the basis of body image.
Adult↗
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Results for “Body Image”
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Distortion of body image in the obese: a sensory phenomenon.
Body weight in 42 obese and normal weight subjects was measured using a video TV monitor. Tasks included a continuous task where subjects manipulated the width of their body image on TV, and a discrete task, where they judged the accuracy of their TV image which was presented as either normal, too heavy, or too thin. Subjects rated their full body, body regions which included face, waist, and thighs, and two inanimate control objects. Results from the continuous task revealed that obese subjects overestimated body size more than normals. There was also a significant difference in the ratings of the four body regions, with all regions overestimated. Judgements were more accurate for body regions and control objects on ascending trials where the subjects had to increase the width of the image. No differences were obtained between obese and normals on judgements of the control objects. On the discrete discrimination task, a signal detection analysis revealed sensory sensitivity differences between obese and normal weight subjects. Obese subjects were poorer at detecting size distortions of the body regions. The thin/normal discrimination was more difficult than the heavy/normal discrimination. No response criterion differences were found between obese and control subjects, although subjects adopted a more strict criterion with the thin/normal discriminations. Implications of these findings for clinical intervention in eating disorders are discussed.
Adult↗
Beauty is as beauty does: body image and self-esteem of pageant contestants.
Self-esteem, dieting, and body image of 131 female beauty pageant contestants (mean age 26.0 years) from 43 states were examined by an anonymous survey. Most (89.6%) reported being a pageant finalist or winner and 55.2% had competed at the nationa/international level Over one-fourth (26%) of the women had been told or perceived they had an eating disorder which reportedly began at 16.25 years. Almost half (48.5%) reported wanting to be thinner and 57% were trying to lose weight. Higher self-esteem scores were significantly associated with increased level of competition (i.e.: from local to international pageants), but not with the number of times the women were pageant finalists or winners. Future study is warranted to determine how pageant participation influences self-esteem, body image, and the development of eating disorders.
Adolescent↗
Self-concept, body image, and use of unconventional therapies in patients with gynaecological malignancies in the state of complete remission and recurrence.
OBJECTIVE: Are there differences in self-concept and body image in patients with cancer recurrence in comparison to patients with complete remission? What impact has cancer recurrence on use, users and non-users of unconventional cancer therapies? PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and nine patients with no evidence of disease after gynaecological cancer and sixty-one patients with recurrent disease were analysed for self-concept with the Frankfurter Selbstkonzeptskalen and body image with the Frankfurter Körperkonzeptskalen. Use and motivation for unconventional therapies was assessed with a questionnaire. RESULTS: With respect to frequency of use and expected benefits of unconventional therapies no differences were observed between the groups. However, cancer recurrence was found to induce considerable changes of self-concept and body image, some indicating even positive changes due to cancer recurrence. CONCLUSION: It may be beneficial to consider body therapy and psychotherapy as a mean to improve body image and self-esteem in cases with cancer recurrence.
Adult↗
Impaired body image of young female survivors of childhood leukemia.
The purpose of this study was to assess the body image of young female survivors of leukemia. Young female survivors of leukemia (n = 42) were compared with healthy age-matched control subjects (n = 69). The study included a semistructured face-to-face interview and a psychological test. The data were separated into three distinct evaluations of each subject's body image: 1) the subject's self-assessment, 2) evaluation by a psychiatrist, and 3) the Rorschach test. The body images of the survivors were inferior to those of the control subjects in all three evaluations (P < 0.001). The preceding leukemia was assessed still as extremely threatening in 26% of the survivors.
Acute Disease↗
Nutritional status, perceived body image and eating behaviours in adults with cystic fibrosis.
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Achieving and maintaining an ideal nutritional status is the primary aim of the nutritional management of cystic fibrosis (CF). It is unclear how nutritional interventions impact on patients' perceptions and behaviours concerning body image and eating. This work aimed to provide a psychosocial profile and compare CF patients receiving (a) enteral tube feeding, (b) nutritional supplements, (c) no nutritional interventions, and (d) healthy controls. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire design was employed. Age, gender, lung function, and body mass index were recorded. Subjects completed measures of eating attitudes, perceived and desired body shape, body image, self-esteem and quality of life (QoL). RESULTS: A minority of CF patients reported disordered eating. Those receiving nutritional interventions engaged in less dieting behaviour. All CF groups, especially intervention groups, received more pressure from others to eat. For females, control groups desired to be slimmer whereas intervention groups desired to be heavier. Healthy males were content with their body whereas CF males wished to be heavier. Patients receiving enteral tube feeding were less satisfied with their body image, reported lower self-esteem and poorer QoL. CONCLUSION: Body image and eating behaviours are important considerations of nutritional interventions for maintaining QoL.
Adult↗
The relationship between body image, self-image and physical activity.
An individual's body image--how contented he is with his body--has a certain connection with the self-image, how the individual experiences and evaluates himself. A positive self-image is considered to be a sign of good mental health. Correlation studies, investigations of the effect of physical training programmes, and comparisons between physically active and passive groups suggest that physical activity can give the individual a more positive attitude to his own body and his own self-image, although not all investigations have given uniform results.
Body Image↗
Construction and validation of a body image rating scale: a preliminary study.
PURPOSE: To construct and validate a preliminary version of a scale for use in routine screening of body image disturbances in nursing practice. METHODS: A five-stage procedure consisting of item construction, analysis of content validity, analysis of reliability, analysis of construct validity, and analysis of the discriminant validity of the scale. FINDINGS: At the end of the current stage of development, the preliminary version of the scale consisted of 23 items, demonstrating stability, adequate internal consistency, and discriminant validity between subjects in the upper and lower groups of scores. CONCLUSIONS: Although the psychometric properties of the scale have been delineated, the scale needs further psychometric evaluation and testing in different settings/samples so its clinical validity and reliability can be confirmed. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The preliminary version of the body image rating scale has the potential to provide the nurse with reliable and valid information about a person's mental image of his/her own body. Using it can help nurses to identify possible body image disturbances and to plan individual nursing interventions.
Adult↗
The assessment of body image in cancer patients.
It is well recognised that cancer treatment can have a negative impact on body image, and this has proved to be an important outcome variable in treatment comparisons, such as surgery for breast cancer. However, there has been a good deal of variation in the way in which dissatisfaction with body image has been assessed, making comparison of results difficult. Some scales or subscales appear promising but lack the rigorous testing required to confirm their accuracy and reliability. This paper reviews the techniques and questionnaires that have been used for the evaluation of body image and highlights their strengths and weaknesses with respect to their use with cancer patients. At the present time, no single scale stands out as the ideal measure, but a pool of items can be generated from recent research, which merit future evaluation.
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Comorbidity of body dysmorphic disorder and eating disorders: severity of psychopathology and body image disturbance.
OBJECTIVE: The current study examined comorbidity and clinical correlates of eating disorders in a large sample of individuals with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). METHOD: Two hundred individuals with DSM-IV (4th ed. of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association; 1994) BDD completed reliable interviewer-administered and self-report measures, including diagnostic assessments and measures of body image, symptom severity, delusionality, psychosocial functioning, quality of life (QOL), and history of psychiatric treatment. RESULTS: A total of 32.5% of BDD subjects had a comorbid lifetime eating disorder: 9.0% had anorexia nervosa, 6.5% had bulimia nervosa, and 17.5% had an eating disorder not otherwise specified. Comparisons of subjects with a comorbid lifetime eating disorder (n = 65) and subjects without an eating disorder (n = 135) indicated that the comorbid group was more likely to be female, less likely to be African American, had more comorbidity, and had significantly greater body image disturbance and dissatisfaction. There were no significant group differences in BDD symptom severity, degree of delusionality, or suicidal ideation or attempts. Functioning and QOL were notably poor in both groups, with no significant between-group differences. However, a higher proportion of the comorbid eating disorder group had been hospitalized for psychiatric problems. This group had also received a greater number of psychotherapy sessions and psychotropic medications. CONCLUSION: Eating disorders appear relatively common in individuals with BDD. BDD subjects with a comorbid eating disorder differed on several demographic variables, had greater comorbidity and body image disturbance, and had received more mental health treatment than subjects without a comorbid eating disorder. These findings have important implications for the assessment and treatment of these comorbid body image disorders.
Adolescent↗
The influence of sphincter control and genital sensation on body image and gender identity in women.
The development of one aspect of feeling female is hypothesized to account for certain phenomena in the treatment of young women patients. Fear of loss of genital pleasure experienced as contractions of the anal and genital-urinary sphincters is seen as the central issue in conflicts manifested in genital, oral, and anal modalities. It is suggested that the female's awareness of her genital arises from the generalization of sphincter sensation in the little girl, which is then represented in the body image. The body image is postulated as a link between genital pleasure and the valuing of femininity.
Adult↗
Clinical follow-up after bilateral risk reducing ('prophylactic') mastectomy: mental health and body image outcomes.
BACKGROUND: In Manchester, approximately 120 women at > or = 1:4 lifetime risk of breast cancer have considered preventative surgery since 1992. Women treated within the Manchester protocol receive two genetic counselling sessions, a psychological assessment and a surgical consultation pre-operatively and annual follow-up post-operatively. The vast majority of women have breast reconstruction. METHODS: Since 1996, mental health and body image have been assessed in women attending annual follow-up using self-report questionnaires: the 28-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and 10-item Body Image Scale (BIS). Women with high scores are assessed by clinical interview together with a proportion who have no significant problems. RESULTS: Between 1995 and 1999, 76 women completed surgery. Ten were awaiting post-operative review and 60 (91%) attended for follow-up of whom 45 (75%) were interviewed. Questionnaire data were available for 52 (79%) women, mean age 40.8 years (range 27-58). Six women were gene mutation carriers and of these three had had breast cancer. One additional patient was affected but had not been genetically tested. Eight (17%) of 47 women with assessments in the first post-operative year scored in the 'caseness' range on the GHQ: the mean GHQ score was 3.8 (S.D. 6.7), range 0-25. Results were comparable with those for women attending the Family History Clinic for risk assessment. The mean score on the BIS was 5.1 (S.D. 5.5), range 0-25, comparable with scores for women undergoing conservative surgery for breast cancer. Twenty-one percent of women reported no negative change in body image following surgery (i.e. zero questionnaire summary scores) and the majority of changes reported were of minor degree (item scores 0 or 1). The most frequently reported changes were in sexual attractiveness (55%), feeling less physically attractive (53%) and self-consciousness about appearance (53%): a third of women felt less feminine to a minimal degree. These results appeared stable over time. A minority of women had more serious psychological or body image concerns, usually in relation to surgical complications: they received further psychiatric intervention. CONCLUSIONS: For the majority of women there is no evidence of significant mental health or body image problems in the first 3 years following Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy (BPM), but women who have complications warrant additional psychological help. Careful pre-operative preparation and long-term monitoring are advocated in this new field of cancer prevention.
Adult↗
Relationship between body-image and self-consciousness.
The purpose of this study was to assess whether there is a relation between body-image and self-consciousness and if there are any sex differences on measures of these two concepts. A total of 267 undergraduates, 56 men and 211 women whose ages ranged from 19 to 25 years, were tested. Analysis indicated a significant negative correlation between body-image and self-consciousness and between body-image and social anxiety. Private and public self-consciousness correlated positively with each other as well as with social anxiety. Men and women differed significantly on social anxiety only.
Adult↗
Treatment outcome, body image, and sexual functioning after orchiectomy and radiotherapy for Stage I-II testicular seminoma.
PURPOSE: Orchiectomy followed by infradiaphragmatic irradiation is the standard treatment for Stage I-II testicular seminoma in The Netherlands. Because body image and sexual functioning can be affected by treatment, a retrospective study was carried out to assess treatment outcome, body image, and changes in sexuality after orchiectomy and radiotherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The medical charts of 166 patients with Stage I-II testicular seminoma were reviewed. A questionnaire on body image and current sexual functioning regarding the frequency and quality of erections, sexual activity, significance of sex, and changes in sexuality was sent to 157 patients (at a mean of 51 months after treatment). RESULTS: Seventy-eight percent (n = 123, mean age 42 years) completed the questionnaire. During irradiation, almost half of patients experienced nausea and 19% nausea and vomiting. Only 3 patients had disease relapse. After treatment, about 20% reported less interest and pleasure in sex and less sexual activity. Interest in sex, erectile difficulties, and satisfaction with sexual life did not differ from age-matched healthy controls. At the time of the survey, 17% of patients had erectile difficulties, a figure that was significantly higher than before treatment, but which correlated also with age. Twenty percent expressed concerns about fertility, and 52% found their body had changed after treatment. Cancer treatment had negatively influenced sexual life in 32% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Orchiectomy with radiotherapy is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for Stage I-II testicular seminoma. Treatment-induced changes in body image and concerns about fertility were detected, but the sexual problems encountered did not seem to differ from those of healthy controls, although baseline data are lacking.
Adolescent↗
Body image treatment within an inpatient program for anorexia nervosa: the role of mirror exposure in the desensitization process.
OBJECTIVE: This pilot study examined the role of mirror confrontation in the desensitization process of a body image treatment within an inpatient program for anorexia nervosa. METHOD: A within-subjects design was used. It compared the impact of two modes of group body image treatment on body dissatisfaction, anxiety, and avoidance behaviors. Both treatments followed a set format of exposure exercises and homework, but the modified treatment also included mirror confrontation as an exposure exercise. RESULTS: Standard treatment did not produce any significant changes. Modified treatment produced a significant and sustained improvement in body dissatisfaction and a significant reduction in body anxiety and avoidance behaviors. DISCUSSION: Mirror confrontation is a more effective form of exposure because of the strong emotional response it elicits. Patients' pronounced emotional response to this exercise allowed easier identification of the affective and behavioral components of body dissatisfaction and more cogent links into a developmental body image timeline.
Adult↗
Association between puberty and disordered eating, body image, and other psychological variables.
OBJECTIVE: To examine associations between puberty and disordered eating, body image, and other psychological variables. METHOD: Females were grouped into three categories of age at puberty onset (Study 1; N = 267) as well as three categories of self-perception of prepubertal weight (Study 2; N = 222). Participants in both studies were matched on current body mass index (BMI) across categories. RESULTS: Females who perceived themselves to be overweight prior to puberty scored significantly higher on measures of disordered eating, body dissatisfaction, asceticism, drive for thinness, impulse regulation, interoceptive awareness, and perfectionism. They also perceived their current body figure to be larger when compared with those who believed they were average or underweight prior to puberty. Age at puberty onset was not significantly associated with disordered eating, body dissatisfaction, depression, or self-esteem. However, females who entered puberty at an earlier age scored higher on measures of asceticism, drive for thinness, impulse regulation, and social insecurity. They also chose a more slender ideal body figure than those who entered at an older age. DISCUSSION: Females who believe they are overweight prior to puberty may be at risk for the development of disordered eating, body image dissatisfaction, and related problems. Age at puberty onset is not a consistent risk factor of pathological eating.
Adult↗
The influence of societal factors on female body image.
This study was designed to identify factors associated with the perceptual and attitudinal components of female body image. The influence of society and factors thought to mediate the relationship between body image and society (field dependence, locus of control, and self-esteem) were investigated. Age and body mass index (BMI) were also included as independent variables. A total of 101 female university students in Australia ranging in age from 18 to 55 years (M = 24.11) participated in the study. A video camera apparatus (VCA) was used to assess perceptual distortion of body size. The VCA, the Body Esteem Scale, and the Appearance Evaluation subscale of the Multidimensional Body Self Relations Questionnaire were used to assess body satisfaction. On average, women underestimated their body sizes by 4%, and they typically wanted to be smaller than their actual body sizes. About two fifths of the women expressed moderate to strong negative feelings about both individual body parts and their bodies as a whole. Multiple regression analyses revealed that perceptual distortion of body size could not be predicted from the independent variables. Body satisfaction was best explained by societal factors, self-esteem, and BMI.
Adolescent↗
Bulimia nervosa symptomatology and body image disturbance associated with distance running and weight loss.
To investigate the hypothesis that problems characteristic of eating disorders may often be associated with distance running, 20 women who had lost weight through distance running were compared with a control group who did not exercise and had not lost weight and a comparison group of bulimia nervosa patients. Dependent variables were measures of depression, bulimia nervosa symptomatology, and body image disturbance. No differences were found between the runner group and the normal controls. Bulimics differed from runners and controls on most measures. Thus, the results did not support the proposition that weight loss through running leads to problems related to eating and body image. The failure to find disturbances in body image in runners suggests that body image disturbances are not a direct result of weight loss, as suggested by some theorists.
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