Positive body image and young women's health: Implications for sun protection, cancer screening, weight loss and alcohol consumption behaviours. (January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Andrew, Rachel; Tiggemann, Marika; Clark, Levina
• Is Part Of: Journal of health psychology. Volume 21:Number 1(2016:Jan.)
• Page Start: 28
• Page End: 39
• Publication Date: 2016-01
• Subjects: body appreciation -- cancer -- health behaviour -- sun protection -- women's health; Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; 613.019
• DOI: 10.1177/1359105314520814
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-1053

Abstract

This study examined the link between positive body image and a range of health behaviours. Participants were 256 women who completed an online questionnaire measuring body appreciation, body dissatisfaction, sun protection, cancer screening, seeking medical attention, weight-loss behaviour and alcohol and tobacco consumption. Results indicated that body appreciation was positively related to sun protection, skin screening and seeking medical attention and negatively related to weight-loss behaviour. Body appreciation explained unique variance, over and above body dissatisfaction, in sun protection, skin screening and weight-loss behaviour. These results have implications for interventions to improve adherence to health behaviours.