The cost of the perfect body: influence mechanism of internalization of media appearance ideals on eating disorder tendencies in adolescents

Abstract Background Some studies have examined the relationship between internalization of media appearance ideals and eating disorders. However, few have discussed the relationship between eating disorder tendencies. To fill this research gap, this study was to explore the influencing mechanisms of...

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Main Authors: Xiaoyan Bi, Qian Liang, Guangyan Jiang, Min Deng, Hongbo Cui, Yankun Ma
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-03-01
Series:BMC Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-01619-7
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author Xiaoyan Bi
Qian Liang
Guangyan Jiang
Min Deng
Hongbo Cui
Yankun Ma
author_facet Xiaoyan Bi
Qian Liang
Guangyan Jiang
Min Deng
Hongbo Cui
Yankun Ma
author_sort Xiaoyan Bi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Some studies have examined the relationship between internalization of media appearance ideals and eating disorders. However, few have discussed the relationship between eating disorder tendencies. To fill this research gap, this study was to explore the influencing mechanisms of internalization of media appearance ideals on adolescents’ eating disorder tendencies in Chinese cultural context. Method The Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire, Eating Attitude Test-26, Physical Self-Description Questionnaire, Body Image Depression Questionnaire and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support were employed in this study to investigate 1523 adolescents. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 and AMOS 24.0. Result The results showed that: (1) internalization of media appearance ideals had a significant positive predictive effect on adolescents’ eating disorder tendencies; (2) internalization of media appearance ideals significantly influenced adolescents’ eating disorder tendencies through the mediating role of body esteem and body image disturbance respectively, and also influenced eating disorder tendencies through the chain mediating of both; and (3) social support played a moderating role between body image disturbance and eating disorder tendency. Conclusion Our findings suggest distinct pathways through which internalization of media appearance ideals may influence adolescents’ eating disorder tendencies. It is suggested that reducing body image disturbance and enhancing social support can help reducing eating disorder tendency.
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spelling doaj.art-9b42b3dec40047d8803d44ff92c0709a2024-03-17T12:42:36ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832024-03-0112111110.1186/s40359-024-01619-7The cost of the perfect body: influence mechanism of internalization of media appearance ideals on eating disorder tendencies in adolescentsXiaoyan Bi0Qian Liang1Guangyan Jiang2Min Deng3Hongbo Cui4Yankun Ma5School of Education, Guangzhou UniversitySchool of Education, Guangzhou UniversityGuizhou University of Finance and Economics, College of Public ManagementSchool of Humanities and Management, Kunming Medical UniversitySchool of Education, Guangzhou UniversitySchool of Education, Guangzhou UniversityAbstract Background Some studies have examined the relationship between internalization of media appearance ideals and eating disorders. However, few have discussed the relationship between eating disorder tendencies. To fill this research gap, this study was to explore the influencing mechanisms of internalization of media appearance ideals on adolescents’ eating disorder tendencies in Chinese cultural context. Method The Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire, Eating Attitude Test-26, Physical Self-Description Questionnaire, Body Image Depression Questionnaire and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support were employed in this study to investigate 1523 adolescents. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 and AMOS 24.0. Result The results showed that: (1) internalization of media appearance ideals had a significant positive predictive effect on adolescents’ eating disorder tendencies; (2) internalization of media appearance ideals significantly influenced adolescents’ eating disorder tendencies through the mediating role of body esteem and body image disturbance respectively, and also influenced eating disorder tendencies through the chain mediating of both; and (3) social support played a moderating role between body image disturbance and eating disorder tendency. Conclusion Our findings suggest distinct pathways through which internalization of media appearance ideals may influence adolescents’ eating disorder tendencies. It is suggested that reducing body image disturbance and enhancing social support can help reducing eating disorder tendency.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-01619-7Internalization of media appearance idealsEating disorder tendencBody esteemBody image disturbanceSocial support
spellingShingle Xiaoyan Bi
Qian Liang
Guangyan Jiang
Min Deng
Hongbo Cui
Yankun Ma
The cost of the perfect body: influence mechanism of internalization of media appearance ideals on eating disorder tendencies in adolescents
BMC Psychology
Internalization of media appearance ideals
Eating disorder tendenc
Body esteem
Body image disturbance
Social support
title The cost of the perfect body: influence mechanism of internalization of media appearance ideals on eating disorder tendencies in adolescents
title_full The cost of the perfect body: influence mechanism of internalization of media appearance ideals on eating disorder tendencies in adolescents
title_fullStr The cost of the perfect body: influence mechanism of internalization of media appearance ideals on eating disorder tendencies in adolescents
title_full_unstemmed The cost of the perfect body: influence mechanism of internalization of media appearance ideals on eating disorder tendencies in adolescents
title_short The cost of the perfect body: influence mechanism of internalization of media appearance ideals on eating disorder tendencies in adolescents
title_sort cost of the perfect body influence mechanism of internalization of media appearance ideals on eating disorder tendencies in adolescents
topic Internalization of media appearance ideals
Eating disorder tendenc
Body esteem
Body image disturbance
Social support
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-01619-7
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