The Effect of Perceived Optimism on Body Image of Indian Young Adults

Optimism is associated with positive body image as it exerts it’s influence on positive body image through an expectancy judgment about the likelihood of acquiring a feared fat self. The study aims to understand and determine how individuals’ perceived optimism affects body image among young adults. The quantitative study uses an Ex Post Facto Correlational Design conducted on Indian young adults between 18-40 years old. The Body Image Avoidance Questionnaire (BIAQ) and the Positivity Scale were administered to the 508 participants through an online survey format. The quantitative analysis involved descriptive statistics and Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient in measuring the association between perceived optimism and body image. The study findings imply sufficient evidence to conclude a linear relationship between perceived optimism and body image because the correlation coefficient is significantly different from 0. The body image avoidance is weakly but negatively correlated with perceived optimism amongst the participants. This study aids and contributes to the repertoire of body image and positive psychology research. It also helps explore individual differences in the orbits of perceived optimism and body image as lockdown procedures helped alleviate the understanding of the complete psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

P–487 Couples undergoing first level assisted reproductive techniques: An Actor-Partner interdependence model of dyadic adjustment, psychological symptoms, alexithymia and romantic attachment on body-image avoidance

Study question The study aims to assess the commonalities and interdependence of couples undergoing first-level Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART) as regards body-image avoidance referred to body-image dissatisfaction. Summary answer Partners’ functioning seem specular yet not interdependent, as not showing a couple-as-a-unit modality of functioning. Body-image avoidance is only influenced by intra-personal variables. What is known already: Stressful bodily emotions and body perception related to infertility and ART are critical aspects for people desiring having children. Infertility undermines women’s self-esteem and body-image, damaging their self-identity as women, while in males infertility associates with body dissatisfaction referring to perceived reduced physical fitness and personal failure, thus undermining their body virility. For infertile women, body-image dissatisfaction associates with reduced marital adjustment, and vice-versa; yet no study has considered how males body-image dissatisfaction associates with marital satisfaction. Nonetheless, couples should be considered as a unit, considering that infertile couples’ adjustment is influenced by their own, and their partners’, perceived stress. Study design, size, duration The study follows a cross-sectional design and is part of an ongoing transversal and longitudinal project, started in 2012, investigating the well-being of couples undergoing ART. For the present study only a minority of the existing data were considered, thus only including couples at the first level of ART with the intent of investigating couples’ commonalities and interdependence before treatments pervasiveness increases. Participants/materials, setting, methods Minimum N = 79 couples needed to be considered according to Power analysis results. N = 118 couples aged 24 to 46 years (women Mage=34.92, SD = 3.98; men Mage=37.45, SD = 5.25) were included, and declaring trying to get pregnant from 1 to 8 years (M = 3.18; SD = 1.99) and to never had children, although 22.9% of women had at least an abortion. Participants completed the Body-Image Avoidance Questionnaire, Toronto Alexithymia Scale–20, Dyadic Adjustment Scale, Symptom Checklist–90-Revised and Experiences in Close Relationships Scale-Revised. Main results and the role of chance The sample presents non-clinical levels of functioning referring to their psychological symptoms, alexithymia and body-image avoidance. Multivariate rank tests show that females report significantly higher levels of body-image avoidance (stat=–5.73; adj.p=.001), psychological symptoms (stat=–4.58; adj.p=.001) and romantic anxious attachment (stat=–3.33; adj.p=.005). These differences were confirmed also after applying multiplicity control. Moreover, bi-variate Pearson’s r correlations show an association among partners’ dyadic adjustment (r=.293; p<.001), albeit their overall level of dyadic adjustment is low. Significant correlations among partners also emerged as regards psychological symptoms (r=.258; p<.001) and alexithymia (r=.16; p=.05). The couple-effect, thus considering the couple as the unit of analysis, was modeled through an Actor-Partner Interdependence Model. For both partners, dyadic adjustment’s actor-effect associates with body-image avoidance (women: β = 0.133, p=.026; man: β = 0.133, p=.026). Furthermore, for both men and women, psychological symptoms’ actor-effect associate to body-image avoidance (women: β = 0.467, p<.00; men: β = 0.499, p=.001). Comparing the level of influence of actor and partner effects among partners, the psychological symptoms’ actor effect results significantly more influential than the partner-effect (women: Δ = 0.378, p=.015; men: Δ = 0.587, p=.001). Only for males, alexithymia’s actor effect is significant (β = 0.499; p=.001). Limitations, reasons for caution Results should be considered in light of some limitations. Specifically, the cross-sectional study design, lack of a control group with no infertility issues, the use of self-report measures, homogeneity among couples and the sample small sample size (although sample size was appropriate to retain a power of at least .8). Wider implications of the findings: Results support the differentiation of gender-specific psychosocial interventions along the ART path, preventing and mitigating the negative impact of infertility and ART on body-image dissatisfaction and avoidance and on the couples’ well-being. Trial registration number Not applicable

Couples undergoing Assisted Reproductive Techniques: An Actor-Partner Interdependence Model of dyadic adjustment, attachment, and body-image avoidance

The aim is to assess the commonalities and interdependence referred to body-image avoidance among 118 couples newly introduced to first-level assisted reproductive techniques. Results showed non-clinical functioning levels, and partners showed a correlated, yet low, dyadic adjustment. The couple-effect was modeled through an Actor Partner Interdependence Model. For both partners, dyadic adjustment’s actor-effect associates with body-image avoidance. Moreover, psychological symptoms’ actor-effect associate to body-image avoidance, resulting significantly more influential than the partner-effect. Only for males, alexithymia’s actor-effect was significant. To conclude, partners’ functioning is quite specular yet not interdependent, as they do not show a couple-as-a-unit modality of functioning. Clinical implications are discussed.

Evitación conductual de las experiencias que podrían aumentar la insatisfacción relacionada con la imagen corporal

La adolescencia, podría estar influencia por estereotipos de la figura delgada y esbelta, lo que significaría un factor de riesgo para el aparecimiento y el mantenimiento de conductas evitativas hacia el cuerpo El objetivo: fue evaluar la conducta evitativa a causa la imagen corporal en una muestra de adolescentes ecuatorianos. Metodología: estudio analítico, incluyó 348 adolescentes (12-19 años), mediante muestreo probabilístico. Se aplicó el Body Image Avoidance Questionnaire BIAQ Resultados: Las mujeres representaron el (58.33%). El sexo, edad y SCI, p> .05; (M = 13.68; SD = 1.71) (SCI) 48.57% (SD = 22.11) (clase social media). Conducta evitativa: ropa 53.74%; actividad social: 54.31%; restricción alimenticia: 54.89%; aseo y pesaje: 50.28% Discusión: La evitación conductual de las experiencias podrían aumentar la angustia o la insatisfacción relacionada con la imagen corporal. Conclusión: El BIAQ – español, evalúa la conducta evitativa en adolescentes.

BODY IMAGE AVOIDANCE QUESTIONNAIRE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS: A STUDY OF A GROUP OF MOROCCAN ADOLESCENTS

Objectives. The aim of this study is to assess physical appearance behavior avoidance among a group of Moroccan adolescents and to identify the associated factors. Material and methods. The data were gathered from a cross-sectional study conducted on 487 adolescents (223 boys and 264 girls), with the average age of 14.6 years. Gender, age, body mass index (BMI), and satisfaction of their body weight and height were considered in this study. Body satisfaction was evaluated by two questions: "Are you satisfied with your body weight?" and "are you satisfied with your body height?". The Body Image Avoidance Questionnaire (BIAQ) test was used to assess the adopted behaviors. Results. The average score on the BIAQ test was 24.4. According to the different factors of the BIAQ test, the factors "clothing", "grooming and weighing", and "eating restraint", were more noticed among adolescents. The results showed that behavioral avoidance was associated with gender, age, BMI, and body dissatisfaction. It was females, the youngest group of adolescents, overweight, and those dissatisfied with their body weight or height who had the highest scores. This reflects the fact that adolescents resort to physical appearance behavior avoidance or control including practices such as dressing, grooming, and weighing. Conclusions. It is recommended by health professionals to enhance awareness among adolescents about the risks of adopting such behaviors on their physical and mental health, to correct the narrow and unrealistic standards of physical appearance, and to encourage healthy behaviors. Keywords: body image, behavior avoidance, adolescents, Marrakesh, Morocco.

A novel ‘practical body image’ therapy for adolescent inpatients with anorexia nervosa: a randomised controlled trial

Purpose To determine the potential effectiveness of a novel 10-week manualised Practical Body Image therapy (PBI) with mirror exposure (ME), when used as an adjuvant to an intensive treatment package (TAU) in adolescent inpatients with Anorexia Nervosa (AN). To evaluate the effectiveness of ME in an adolescent population. Methods Using a randomised control design, 40 girls aged 11–17 years with AN were assigned to PBI with TAU (n = 20) and TAU alone (n = 20). Both groups completed self-report measures of body image at week 1 and week 10 of the study to measure the potential effectiveness of PBI. The PBI group completed measures at week 7 to evaluate the ME component. Results 31 participants completed the study; 16 TAU, 15 PBI. PBI participants had greater improvement in all outcomes than TAU participants. Medium effect sizes were seen for self-reported weight concern, body image avoidance in terms of clothing and body image anxiety. ME produced effect sizes in self-reported body image avoidance in terms of clothing and grooming that were greater than 0.40, n = 14. Conclusion The findings demonstrate that PBI supports an intensive inpatient treatment package and addresses elements of negative body image. PBI was beneficial for addressing body image dissatisfaction with improvements in weight concerns, body image avoidance and physical appearance trait anxiety following the ME component. The magnitude of the effect sizes is comparable to previous studies. Positive qualitative feedback indicated the intervention was acceptable to users. PBI is a promising new adjuvant treatment for AN. EMB Rating Level I: randomized controlled trial.