Exposure to body focused and non-body focused others over a week: A preliminary investigation of their unique contributions to college women's eating and body image. (March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Miller, Kathryn; Kelly, Allison; Stephen, Elizabeth
• Is Part Of: Body image. Volume 28(2019)
• Page Start: 44
• Page End: 52
• Publication Date: 2019-03
• Subjects: Body image -- Social interactions -- Intuitive eating -- Body appreciation -- Dietary restraint -- Multilevel modeling -- Daily diary methodology; Body image -- Periodicals; Body image -- Research -- Periodicals; Body Image -- Periodicals; 306.4613
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2018.12.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1740-1445

Abstract

Highlights: Mean weekly exposure to non-body focused others predicts better body image and eating. Mean weekly exposure to body focused others predicts worse body image and eating. Daily exposure to body focused others does not predict body image or eating. On days of high exposure to non-body focused others, body image and eating are better. Abstract: This study investigated how exposure to non-body focused others (i.e., those who are not preoccupied with their body weight/shape or appearance) and exposure to body focused others uniquely affect young women's eating and body image over a week, within a day, and from one day to the next. For seven consecutive days, 92 female college students completed nightly online questionnaires about their daily experiences. Between-persons, multilevel modelling revealed that higher average levels of exposure to non-body focused others over the week uniquely predicted greater intuitive eating, greater body appreciation, and less dietary restraint, whereas higher average exposure to body focused others predicted these outcomes in the opposite direction. Within-persons, exposure to body focused others did not predict eating and body image, but exposure to non-body focused others did. On days when women had more exposure to non-body focused others than their personal average level or than the previous day's level, eating and body image were better. These findings are the first to suggest that independent of exposure to body focused others, level of exposure to non-body focused others – within and across days – contribute positively to eating and body image.