A social rank approach to disordered eating: Exploring relationships between shame, fears of compassion, striving, and body shame

2019 ◽  
Vol 93 (3) ◽  
pp. 490-502
Author(s):  
Catarina Borralho Mendes ◽  
Cláudia Ferreira
Keyword(s):  
Disordered Eating ◽  
Social Rank ◽  
Body Shame ◽  
Fears Of Compassion

A Systematic Literature Review Exploring Objectification and Motherhood

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 521-538
Author(s):  
Olivia Donati Beech ◽  
Leah Kaufmann ◽  
Joel Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Disordered Eating ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Objectification Theory ◽  
Body Shame ◽  
Postpartum Women ◽  
Fear Of Childbirth ◽  
Healthy Relationships ◽  
Generational Effects ◽  
Self Objectification

Objectification theory provides a theoretical framework for understanding how socialization and experiences of objectification can lead women to place excessive value on their appearance—a process known as self-objectification. Despite the number of women that are mothers, the application of objectification theory to motherhood has been relatively limited. This review synthesizes the available research exploring objectification during motherhood. We conducted a systematic search for published and unpublished articles that quantitatively examined the objectification of, or self-objectification during, motherhood across five databases in March 2019. The search yielded 23 studies across 20 articles, which in combination revealed strong evidence of societal objectification of mothers and self-objectification by mothers. Effects were found for pregnant and postpartum women, in both community and university samples of mothers. Outcomes included more body shame, concerns about the negative impact of breastfeeding, barriers to breastfeeding, fear of childbirth, disordered eating, and greater appearance concerns in mothers, and sexualized behaviors and body surveillance for their children. Some evidence indicated that self-objectifying may be protective for mothers in certain situations, but it was mostly associated with harmful consequences. Finally, some evidence suggested that there may be age and generational effects of objectification, which may impact all women, including mothers. We hope these findings highlight the benefits for women to engage in healthy relationships with their bodies and to consider the functionality of their body as it changes in preparation for entering motherhood.

Influence of fears of compassion on body image shame and disordered eating

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernardo Santos Dias ◽  
Cláudia Ferreira ◽  
Inês A. Trindade
Keyword(s):  
Body Image ◽  
Disordered Eating ◽  
Fears Of Compassion

scholarly journals Stressed, Depressed, and Rank Obsessed

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey J Kim
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Social Rank ◽  
Low Rank ◽  
Big 5 ◽  
Depressive Symptomology ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Fears Of Compassion ◽  
Future Work ◽  
Compassion Scale

As social creatures we monitor our relative rank and/or status with others via social comparisons. Whilst research has identified perceptions of inferiority or ‘low rank’ relative to others is a robust predictor of depressive, anxious, and stress symptomology, to date individual differences have been ignored. Here we provide empirical evidence for how divergence across personality traits interact with social rank variables to buffer or predispose toward depressive symptomology. Across three independent samples (N = 595) we replicated a social rank model of mental health, and with our third sample (N = 200) we sought to investigate attenuating roles for neuroticism vs compassion with multiple moderated regression models. Neuroticism predicted greater levels of rank-associated depression, and compassion failed to function as a protective factor for rank-associated depression. However, a closer inspection of the original Big-5 factor-structure positions this scale as a measure of ‘interpersonal submissiveness’ or ‘conflict appeasement’ rather than genuine compassion. Whilst it is necessary to delineate the conditions where compassion is appropriate and able to lead to positive mental-health outcomes, we argue this cannot be addressed with the Big-5 measure of trait compassion. We call for future work to consider valid and reliable measures for compassion, such as the self-compassion scale, submissive compassion scale, and fears of compassion scale, to more fully address how compassion may protect against both rank-based comparisons and severity of depression.

Testing objectification theory with Chinese undergraduate women and men

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 629-639 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Zheng ◽  
Qingqing Sun
Keyword(s):  
Disordered Eating ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Depressed Mood ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Objectification Theory ◽  
Body Shame ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Body Surveillance ◽  
Undergraduate Women ◽  
Appearance Anxiety

We tested the applicability of objectification theory to the prediction of disordered eating and depressed mood among Chinese undergraduate students. Participants (N = 430) completed measures of body surveillance, body shame, appearance anxiety, level of internal awareness, flow, disordered eating, and depressed mood. Results of structural equation modeling revealed the model of objectification theory provided a poor fit to the data for both genders, but 2 exploratory models with good fit were generated after subsequent modification to the model. For women, body shame and appearance anxiety mediated the relationships among body surveillance, disordered eating, and depressed mood. Furthermore, body surveillance indirectly influenced women's level of internal awareness and flow via body shame and appearance anxiety, which led to disordered eating and depressed mood. This pattern of relationships was similar for men, except for flow, which was not related to the outcome variables. We concluded that objectification theory is applicable to women and men in China.

scholarly journals Book Review of Frisbie's A Therapist’s Guide to Treating Eating Disorders in a Social Media Age.

2021 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 410-412
Author(s):  
Hillary Sharpe
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Eating Disorders ◽  
Identity Development ◽  
Disordered Eating ◽  
Body Shame ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Social Landscape ◽  
Clinical Problems

Eating disorders and other “sub-clinical” problems such as disordered eating and body shame/dissatisfaction grow more prevalent in our society. This is particularly true since the advent of COVID-19 changed our social landscape, leading to increases in isolation and anxiety and in the use of technology to work, to connect, and to live. Social media in this age present both barriers and possibilities for mental health and identity development, particularly for individuals who suffer from eating disorders and related problems. In her seminal first book, Shauna Frisbie deftly weaves through each of these topics, creating a tapestry for both novice and expert clinicians to view and understand how social media consumption can be assessed, dismantled, and harnessed to help clients who struggle with disordered eating. Guided by the central topics of selfhood and identity development and by the techniques of phototherapy, Dr. Frisbie creates a compelling story that draws on both research and case studies from her practice.

scholarly journals Self-Compassion, Social Rank, and Psychological Distress in Varyingly Competitive Athletes

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtney C. Walton ◽  
John Baranoff ◽  
Paul Gilbert ◽  
James Kirby
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Social Rank ◽  
Multiple Linear Regression Model ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Validated Questionnaires ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Competitive Athletes ◽  
Fears Of Compassion ◽  
Compassion Scale

AbstractBackground: Self-Compassion may be seen as a concept contrary to the aims of athletes engaged in competitive sport. This may be accentuated at more elite levels, where athletes may view concepts like self-criticism and self-judgement as more important for improvement. Objectives: The current study aimed to better understand how athletes of different competitive levels (from social to international) relate to concepts of self-compassion. Further, we aimed to explore how factors relating to social rank and self-compassion contribute to athlete mental health.Design: Cross-sectional online survey.Method: An online survey was distributed, including the following validated questionnaires: Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales, the Self-Compassion Scale, Fears of Compassion Scales, Social Comparison Scale, Forms of Self-Criticising/Attacking & Self-Reassuring Scale, and the Striving to Avoid Inferiority Scale. Results: Two hundred and fifty-three participants responded to the survey, including 115 recreational and 79 competitive athletes. There were no differences between groups on any measure of compassion or social rank. In a multiple linear regression model, lower self-compassion, higher fears of compassion (for self), and higher feelings of inadequacy predicted more pronounced psychological distress in athletes.Conclusions: Contrary to expectation, the results suggest that even highly elite athletes may be open to using self-compassion. Given that self-compassion and sense of social rank contributed to psychological distress in athletes, the results suggest that compassion-based approaches to treating psychological distress in this population may be valid.

An Inhospitable World: Exploring a Model of Objectification Theory With Trans Women

2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison Comiskey ◽  
Mike C. Parent ◽  
Elliot A. Tebbe
Keyword(s):  
Body Image ◽  
Disordered Eating ◽  
The United States ◽  
Objectification Theory ◽  
Theory Model ◽  
Body Shame ◽  
Body Surveillance ◽  
Cultural Standards ◽  
Trans Women ◽  
Silicone Injections

In this study, we investigated key tenets of objectification theory, a prominent model of body image disturbance, as it relates to trans women’s disordered eating and intention to obtain silicone injections—a specific health risk for this population. We also incorporated appearance congruence, or the degree to which an individual personally feels that their gender expression matches their gender identity, into the objectification theory model. Results of a structural equation model using data from a sample of 173 trans women from the United States indicated that the basic objectification theory model held among this sample and that appearance congruence was associated negatively with body surveillance. However, appearance congruence did not have significant direct or indirect links (via body surveillance and body shame) with disordered eating or intention to obtain silicone injections. Thus, disordered eating and intention to obtain silicone injections are potential negative outcomes of the process of objectification among trans women, and appearance congruence does not appear to be uniquely linked to health risks associated with internalization of cultural standards of attractiveness, body surveillance, and body shame. Our findings support the application of the tenets of objectification theory with trans women as they apply to disordered eating and intention to obtain silicone injections and also indicate the need to identify other positive influences on trans women’s body image to counteract internalization of cultural standards of attractiveness.

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