Body image and eating restraint: A structural modeling analysis

Body-image disturbance and its link with eating behaviors are poorly understood and controversial phenomena. The model proposed by Cash (1996) is perhaps the most unified current attempt to analyze this link. Its central features are a separation of historical and proximal influences and the link between body image emotions and adjustive, emotion regulating actions. This model, however, and in particular the link between body dissatisfaction and eating restraint have not been empirically tested. A series of different causal models for directly observed variables (LISREL 7) have therefore been used to determine the soundness of this link in a study of 130 female undergraduates. The goodness-of-fit of the models suggests that a causal link exists. It is clear that body image therapy should be combined with current treatments for obesity and eating disorders.

[1]  James C. Anderson,et al.  STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELING IN PRACTICE: A REVIEW AND RECOMMENDED TWO-STEP APPROACH , 1988 .

[2]  W. Hoffer Development of the Body EGO , 1950 .

[3]  P. Bentler,et al.  Comparative fit indexes in structural models. , 1990, Psychological bulletin.

[4]  J. Kevin Thompson,et al.  Body Image, Eating, Disorders, and Obesity , 1996 .

[5]  J. Rosen,et al.  Improving body image in obesity. , 2001 .

[6]  Kenneth A. Bollen,et al.  Structural Equations with Latent Variables , 1989 .

[7]  E. Molinari,et al.  Factor Structure of the Italian Version of the Body Satisfaction Scale: A Multisample Analysis , 1998, Perceptual and motor skills.

[8]  T. F. Cash,et al.  Content analysis: a comparison of manual and computerized systems. , 1990, Journal of Personality Assessment.

[9]  E. Molinari,et al.  Replicated Factor Analysis of the Italian Version of the Body Image Avoidance Questionnaire , 1998, Perceptual and motor skills.

[10]  J. Rosen,et al.  Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Negative Body Image in Obese Women , 1995 .

[11]  J. Rosen,et al.  A comparison of eating disorders and body dysmorphic disorder on body image and psychological adjustment. , 1998, Journal of psychosomatic research.

[12]  P. Bentler,et al.  Significance Tests and Goodness of Fit in the Analysis of Covariance Structures , 1980 .

[13]  T. Brown,et al.  Body Image in Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa , 1987, Behavior modification.

[14]  P. Slade,et al.  Development and preliminary validation of the body satisfaction scale (BSS) , 1990 .

[15]  Thomas F. Cash,et al.  Current and vestigial effects of overweight among women: Fear of fat, attitudinal body image, and eating behaviors , 1990 .

[16]  S. Breckler Applications of covariance structure modeling in psychology: cause for concern? , 1990, Psychological bulletin.

[17]  D. Williamson,et al.  Clarifying body-image disturbance: analysis of a multidimensional model using structural modeling. , 1995, Journal of personality assessment.

[18]  J. Yager,et al.  Why and how do women recover from bulimia nervosa? The subjective appraisals of forty women recovered for a year or more. , 1993, The International journal of eating disorders.

[19]  M. A. Thompson,et al.  Development and validation of a new body-image assessment scale. , 1995, Journal of personality assessment.

[20]  J. Thompson,et al.  Psychometric qualities of the figure rating scale , 1991 .

[21]  J. Thompson,et al.  Body Image Disturbance: Assessment and Treatment , 1992, Behaviour Change.

[22]  J. Rosen Body image assessment and treatment in controlled studies of eating disorders. , 1996, The International journal of eating disorders.

[23]  J. Rosen,et al.  Development of a Body Image Avoidance Questionnaire , 1991 .

[24]  W. G. Johnson,et al.  Eating disorders: assessment and treatment. , 1985, Clinical obstetrics and gynecology.

[25]  L. Hsu,et al.  Body image disturbance: Time to abandon the concept for eating disorders? , 1991 .