Laker, V. and Waller, G. orcid.org/0000-0001-7794-9546 (2022) Experimental analysis of the impact of body comparison on non-clinical women. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 76. 101725. ISSN 0005-7916
Abstract
Background and objectives
Two experimental studies examined the impact that body comparison has on women's body satisfaction and self-esteem. The two studies differed in the use of a human comparator or an avatar (non-human) comparator. The independent variables were the type of body comparison (upward, downward and neutral) and the perceived personality of the comparator.
Methods
Each study used a within-participant design. Participants compared themselves to images of women or avatars (previously rated as ‘attractive’, ‘neutral’ or ‘unattractive’), with an accompanying ‘positive’ or negative’ personality descriptor. Participants rated their body satisfaction and self-esteem after each image.
Results
Upward comparison resulted in negative effects for the participant compared to downward and neutral conditions, but downward comparison's impact was only found for human images. The described personality of the image had a more complex impact when using human images, but was still relevant for avatars.
Limitations
The sample for this study was lacking in diversity. Compliance within the experimental tasks was not strictly monitored. The use of a within-subject design might have allowed some participants to deduce the nature of the study.
Conclusions
These findings provide causal evidence for the theorised effects of body comparison on body satisfaction self-esteem. Upward comparison has especially problematic outcomes, even causing negative effects when comparing to a non-human avatar. Downward comparison had positive effects, but only for human images. Furthermore, personality played some moderating role in these outcomes. Social comparison theory needs to be reviewed in light of these findings, and practical implications are discussed.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. This is an author produced version of a paper subsequently published in Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. Article available under the terms of the CC-BY-NC-ND licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). |
Keywords: | Body comparison; Body image; Eating disorders; Safety behaviors; Self-esteem |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Science (Sheffield) > Department of Psychology (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 18 Feb 2022 14:23 |
Last Modified: | 01 Aug 2023 00:13 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier BV |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.jbtep.2022.101725 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:183799 |
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