RELATIONSHIPS OF WEIGHT-RELATED DISSATISFACTION, BODY IMAGE FLEXIBILITY, AND COPING IN WOMEN

<p><em>Purpose:</em> The present study examined the relationships between body image flexibility, body image dissatisfaction, body image evaluation, and specific coping factors based on the WEIGHTCOPE measure. Body image flexibility was also examined as a mediator of the relationship between body image dissatisfaction and weight-related coping factors in women. <em>Methods:</em> An online link of the survey (Qualtrics Research Software Program) was distributed through social media and word of mouth to women of all body shapes and sizes (<em>N</em>= 267). The survey included the BICS as a measure of body image dissatisfaction, the MBSR (AE) as a measure of body image evaluation, the BI-AAQ as a measure of body image flexibility, and the WEIGHTCOPE as a measure of weight-related coping. <em>Findings:</em> Results supported that body image dissatisfaction had significant relationships with particular coping factors as well as body image flexibility. Once determining these relationships, the mediation analysis supported the idea that body image flexibility had a role in the relationships between body image dissatisfaction and suggested negative weight related coping responses. <em>Conclusions:</em> The findings suggest the need to integrate interventions based on body image flexibility. Mindfulness based techniques address body image flexibility and can be utilized in treating body image dissatisfaction in women to help decrease negative coping behaviors.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science - Kinesiology

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Kinesiology and Health Science

Year dc:date.available

2017

Author dc:creator

• Shah, Pooja

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Eric Jones
• Dr. Mark Faries
• Dr. Sarah Savoy

• Body Image Dissatisfaction
• Body Image Flexibility
• Coping
• Weight-Related Coping
• WEIGHTCOPE
• Community Health and Preventive Medicine
• Health Psychology
• Women's Health

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/90

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarworks.sfasu.edu:etds-1094