Exploring the integration of thin-ideal internalization and self-objectification in the prevention of eating disorders

• Published in: Body image 2013-01, Vol.10 (1), p.16-25
• Main Authors: Kroon Van Diest, Ashley M., Perez, Marisol
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Body dissatisfaction; Body Dysmorphic Disorders - diagnosis; Body Dysmorphic Disorders - psychology; Cognitive Dissonance; Culture; Eating disorders; Feeding and Eating Disorders - diagnosis; Feeding and Eating Disorders - prevention & control; Feeding and Eating Disorders - psychology; Female; Health Surveys; Humans; Ideal Body Weight; Internal-External Control; Longitudinal Studies; Peer Group; Prevention; Psychotherapy, Group - methods; Self Concept; Self-objectification; Stereotyping; Students - psychology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Thin-ideal internalization; Thinness - psychology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1740-1445; 1873-6807
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2012.10.004

► We model the integration of thin-ideal internalization and self-objectification. ► We assess the effectiveness of a dissonance-based eating disorder prevention program. ► The prevention program produced reductions in eating disorder symptoms. ► Effect sizes were comparable to previous prevention programs. ► Targeting thin-ideal internalization and self-objectification may increase reductions. Analyses of thin-ideal internalization and self-objectification were conducted within the context of a cognitive dissonance based eating disorder prevention program implemented in an undergraduate sorority. Participants completed self-report assessments at baseline (n=177), post-intervention (n=169), 5-month (n=159), and 1-year follow-up (n=105). Cross-sectional path analysis indicated that thin-ideal internalization and self-objectification predict each other and both predict body dissatisfaction, which in turn, predicts eating disorder symptoms. A longitudinal examination conducted using hierarchical linear modeling indicated that participants showed significant reductions in thin-ideal internalization, self-objectification, body dissatisfaction, and eating disorder symptoms after participating in the prevention program. Reductions of symptoms were maintained 1-year post-intervention, with the exception of self-objectification, which was significantly reduced up to 5-months post-intervention. Collectively, results suggest that targeting both thin-ideal internalization and self-objectification simultaneously within eating disorder prevention programs could increase the reduction of eating disorder symptoms.