Self-as-context moderation of relationship fusion: A comparison of intimate and familial relationship impact on weight concern

<p>This study explored how fusion in important relationships relates to weight concern and whether these effects are moderated by self-as-context perspectives and racial and ethnic background. Grounded in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and relational frame theory (RFT), eight models were constructed to evaluate influence of important others when absent or present and when moderated by self-as-context, racial and ethnic background and in multiple moderation models analyses using data from 1,323 participants. Results indicated that fusion with family was significantly associated with greater weight concern, when family was absent (ß = 0.10, p = .03) and present (ß = 0.12, p = .01). Neither diverse racial and ethnic background nor self-as- context perspectives alone predicted greater weight concern but multiple moderation analyses found a potential buffering role of self-as-context in racial and ethnic diversity in unpartnered participants. The multiple moderating effects of self-as-context perspectives and diverse racial ethnic background on the relationship between family fusion when physically absent and weight concern explained 5.2% of the variance in weight concern in unpartnered people, F(7, 637) = 4.95, p < 0.001. Additionally, self-as-context perspectives and diverse racial and ethnic background approached a significant moderation effect (p = 0.05) on the interaction between family fusion and weight concern and explained 4.2% of the variance in weight concern in unpartnered people, F(7, 637) = 3.98, p < 0.001. Findings suggest that important others’ verbal behavior may influence body-based self-appraisals even in the absence of others. The observed protective effects of self-as-context perspectives, particularly among diverse participants, and the clinical and theoretical implications are discussed.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2025

Author dc:creator

• Carrasco-Wyant, Carly

Contributors dc:contributor

• Tamara Loverich, PhD
• Rusty McIntyre, PhD
• Elizabeth Neilson, PhD

• weight concern
• self-as-context
• fusion
• ACT
• race and ethnicity
• moderation
• Clinical Psychology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.emich.edu/theses/1317

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.emich.edu:theses-2646