Testing body-related components of objectification theory: A meta-analysis of the relations between body shame, self-objectification, and body dissatisfaction

• Published in: Body image 2024-09, Vol.50, p.101738, Article 101738
• Main Authors: Saunders, Jessica F., Nutter, Sarah, Waugh, Rachel, Hayden, K. Alix
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescents; Adult; Body dissatisfaction; Body Dissatisfaction - psychology; Body image; Body Image - psychology; Body shame; Children; Female; Humans; LGBTQ; Male; Psychological Theory; Self Concept; Self-objectification; Sexual and Gender Minorities - psychology; Sexual and Gender Minorities - statistics & numerical data; Shame
• ISSN: 1740-1445; 1873-6807; 1873-6807
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2024.101738

Objectification theory has been instrumental in better understanding risk for eating disorders, depression, and sexual dysfunction, with self-objectification and body shame as serial mediators leading to these outcomes. Although originally proposed to explain these mental health outcomes in heterosexual women, researchers have extended objectification theory to individuals of various ages, racial identities, and sexual and gender identities. We conducted a systematic literature review of empirical peer-reviewed published research examining the relationship between the constructs of self-objectification, body dissatisfaction, and body shame in adult, youth, and LGBTQ+ samples. Our search yielded 5200 results, of which 318 met inclusion criteria. Of the papers included in this review, 26 reported correlations with sexual and gender diverse samples, 43 reported correlations with youth samples, and 249 reported correlations with samples of general adults (non-sexual or gender minorities). The meta-analyses yielded significant, moderate, positive correlations between body dissatisfaction and self-objectification, and between body shame and self-objectification, for each of the sub-samples. The majority of samples were predominantly White and cisgender female, suggesting the need for additional research examining these constructs among racial and gender minority populations. Overall, the results of this review highlight the unique contributions of body shame and body dissatisfaction to self-objectifying behaviors, and identify the moderating role of race and gender in these interrelations. •Systematic review and meta-analysis examining self-objectification and body-related correlates.•Majority of papers feature White, female, college-aged samples.•Age, race, and gender moderate several relationships.•Need for increased representation of racial and gender minorities in objectification research.