Links Between Exposure to Sexualized Instagram Images and Body Image Concerns in Girls and Boys

The current study examined the links between viewing female and male sexualized Instagram images (SII) and body image concerns within the three-step process of self-objectification among adolescents aged 13–18 years from Germany ( N = 300, 61% female). Participants completed measures of SII use, thin- and muscular-ideal internalization, valuing appearance over competence, and body surveillance. Structural equation modeling revealed that SII use was associated with body image concerns for boys and girls via different routes. Specifically, female SII use was indirectly associated with higher body surveillance via thin-ideal internalization and subsequent valuing appearance over competence for girls. For both girls and boys, male SII use was indirectly linked to higher body surveillance via muscular-ideal internalization. Implications for the three-step model of self-objectification by sexualized social media are discussed.

Psychometric Evaluation of the Thin-Ideal Internalization Scale (TIIS) for Brazilian Young Women

Internalization is an important dimension of body image, which can be assessed using the Thin-Ideal Internalization Scale (TIIS). This study aims to carry out the cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric assessment of the TIIS for young Brazilian women. A total of 448 young university women participated in the research (M age = 21.4 years; SD = 2.91). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, association with body dissatisfaction (Body Shape Questionnaire-8) and eating attitudes (Eating Attitudes Test-26), and assessment of reliability (internal consistency and test-retest) were performed. The instrument had its semantic, idiomatic, cultural and conceptual equivalences ensured. The factor analysis demonstrated the presence of three factors and satisfactory adjustment indexes. In addition, the scale showed adequate values for convergent validity and reliability. The final version of the TIIS (18 items) obtained adequate psychometric properties for the evaluation of the body-ideal internalization among Brazilian young women. We suggest new studies to prove the factor structure for other populations.

Psychometric Properties of the Contextual Body Image Questionnaire for Athletes: A Replication and Extension Study in Female Collegiate Athletes

Background: Although the link between body dissatisfaction and eating disorder (ED) pathology is well-established in general female samples, less is known about correlates of contextual body image (CBI) among female athletes. CBI refers to female athletes experiencing body image concerns in two distinct contexts: sport and daily life (de Bruin et al., 2011). The Contextual Body Image Questionnaire for Athletes (CBIQA) measures four factors of body image (Appearance, Thin-Fat Self-Evaluation, Thin-Fat Others’ Evaluation, and Muscularity) in both contexts. This study sought to A) investigate the psychometric properties of the CBIQA, B) examine the prospective relation of CBI with ED pathology and negative affect among female collegiate athletes, and C) the degree to which CBI prospectively predicts ED pathology and negative affect in female collegiate athletes. Method: Using self-report data collected from a multi-site parent trial, we first examined the psychometric properties of the CBIQA by conducting a confirmatory factor analysis. We assessed construct validity via cross-sectional bivariate correlation analyses with thin-ideal internalization, negative affect, and ED pathology. Lastly, using data collected at Time 1 and 6 months later (Time 2), we investigated the degree to which CBI prospectively predicted ED pathology and negative affect.Results: Results from the CFA largely confirmed de Bruin et al.’s (2011) original factor analysis. Two CBIQA factors (Thin-Fat Self and Appearance) in both contexts correlated with ED pathology and negative affect. Thin-Fat Others also correlated with ED pathology in both domains and negative affect in the sport domain. The Muscularity domain was predominantly orthogonal with other measures. CBIQA factors were uncorrelated with thin-ideal internalization. Finally, when controlling for BMI and Time 1 scores, daily life and sport appearance concerns predicted ED pathology, whereas perceived evaluation of thin-fat by others in the sport context predicted negative affect 6 months later. Conclusions: Results support the psychometric validity of the CBIQA and suggest that this measure appears to capture variance discrete from thin-ideal internalization. The Muscularity factor largely was not related to other outcomes. Further, specific elements of perceived self- and other-evaluation in both contexts is relevant to risk for ED pathology and negative affect. Future research could examine the impact of dual body image between seasons and after transitioning out of sport.Clinical trials registration: NCT01735994

Psychometric Properties of the Contextual Body Image Questionnaire for Athletes: A Replication and Extension Study in Female Collegiate Athletes

Background: Although the link between body dissatisfaction and eating disorder (ED) pathology is well-stablished in general female samples, less is known about correlates of contextual body image (CBI) among female athletes. CBI refers to female athletes experiencing body image concerns in two distinct contexts: sport and daily life (de Bruin et al., 2011). The Contextual Body Image Questionnaire for Athletes (CBIQA) measures four factors of body image (Appearance, Thin-Fat Self-Evaluation, Thin-Fat Others’ Evaluation, and Muscularity) in both contexts. This study sought to A) investigate the psychometric properties of the CBIQA, B) examine the prospective relation of CBI with ED pathology and negative affect among female collegiate athletes, and C) the degree to which CBI prospectively predicts ED pathology and negative affect in female collegiate athletes. Method: Using self-report data collected from a multi-site parent trial, we first examined the psychometric properties of the CBIQA by conducting a confirmatory factor analysis. We assessed construct validity via cross-sectional bivariate correlation analyses with thin-ideal internalization, negative affect, and ED pathology. Lastly, using data collected at Time 1 and 6 months later (Time 2), we investigated the degree to which CBI prospectively predicted ED pathology and negative affect.Results: Results from the CFA largely confirmed de Bruin et al.’s (2011) original factor analysis. Two CBIQA factors (Thin-Fat Self and Appearance) in both contexts correlated with ED pathology and negative affect. Thin-Fat Others also correlated with ED pathology in both domains and negative affect in the sport domain. The Muscularity domain was predominantly orthogonal with other measures. CBIQA factors were uncorrelated with thin-ideal internalization. Finally, when controlling for BMI and Time 1 scores, daily life and sport appearance concerns predicted ED pathology, whereas perceived evaluation of thin-fat by others in the sport context predicted negative affect 6 months later. Conclusions: Results support the psychometric validity of the CBIQA and suggest that this measure appears to capture variance discrete from thin-ideal internalization. The Muscularity factor largely was not related to other outcomes. Further, specific elements of perceived self- and other-evaluation in both contexts is relevant to risk for ED pathology and negative affect. Future research could examine the impact of dual body image between seasons and after transitioning out of sport.Clinical trials registration: NCT01735994