Both the transdiagnostic risk associated with depression and the eating disorder-specific risk associated with expectancies for reinforcement from thinness have been identified as risk factors for the development of weight restricting behaviors. The purpose of this study was to examine if these risk factors transact to further predict risk in youth. Depression, thinness expectancies, and weight restriction were assessed in 1,907 adolescents three times during the transitional period between middle school and high school. We compared three different possible transactional processes. Mediation tests demonstrated that depression in 8th grade predicted an increase in the number of weight restricting behaviors endorsed in 10th grade through its predictive influence on thinness expectancies in 9th grade. However, our results were not consistent with a mediational process in which thinness expectancies predicted depression to further predict weight restriction. The two risk factors interacted to predict subsequent weight restriction, such that at higher levels of depression, the association between thinness expectancies and weight restriction was stronger. It appears that transdiagnostic and disorder-specific risk factors transact to increase risk. These findings contribute to the understanding of the developmental risk process for weight restricting behavior in youth.

Eating disorder expectancy theory proposes a causal role for expectancies for reinforcement from thinness. The authors conducted an experimental test of that hypothesis. Undergraduate college women (N = 154) were randomized to either a psychoeducational control of proven effectiveness or an experimental manipulation of thinness and restricting expectancies. Participants in each condition attended three experimental sessions and one, follow-up session, each one week apart. For both groups, body dissatisfaction, disordered eating, purging frequency, and binge eating frequency declined over the course of the study. In addition, the thinness expectancy manipulation produced greater declines in thinness expectancies, body dissatisfaction, and purging behavior than the psychoeducational manipulation. These results provide further support for the role of expectancies in the etiology of eating disordered behaviors.

Published Article / A descriptive observational study was conducted among undergraduate medical students to determine whether the knowledge of Anatomy influenced their body image perceptions. The perception of some students regarding their body image and appearance was different after the course, and also their view of other peoples' bodies. The findings of the study support the literature that males are more concerned with muscularity and developing muscles, whereas females are more preoccupied with thinness. The study showed that a course in Anatomy might have an influence on students' perceptions of their own and other peoples' physical appearance.

The purpose of this study was to explore protective factors that help women resist societal pressures for thinness. The present study used a qualitative life history methodology to examine the experiences of women who identified themselves as resilient to pressures to be thin and as liking their bodies regardless of size. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 women, ages 18 to 25, representing diverse social and ethno-cultural backgrounds and body physiques. In the interviews, the participants were inquired about their experiences related to anything they felt was helpful for them in developing a positive body image from childhood, adolescence, and to present day. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed for themes using constructivist grounded theory methodology. Data analysis was informed by the feminist theoretical approach, with attention paid to social and contextual factors. Three core categories emerged from the analysis, which included protective factors associated with participants’ experiences of identity, ways of inhabiting their bodies, and the nature of social influences in their lives. This research highlighted the women’s active role in maintaining a resilient stance in the face of pressures for thinness as well as the importance of social factors that assist them in this process.

The purpose of this study was to explore protective factors that help women resist societal pressures for thinness. The present study used a qualitative life history methodology to examine the experiences of women who identified themselves as resilient to pressures to be thin and as liking their bodies regardless of size. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 women, ages 18 to 25, representing diverse social and ethno-cultural backgrounds and body physiques. In the interviews, the participants were inquired about their experiences related to anything they felt was helpful for them in developing a positive body image from childhood, adolescence, and to present day. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed for themes using constructivist grounded theory methodology. Data analysis was informed by the feminist theoretical approach, with attention paid to social and contextual factors. Three core categories emerged from the analysis, which included protective factors associated with participants’ experiences of identity, ways of inhabiting their bodies, and the nature of social influences in their lives. This research highlighted the women’s active role in maintaining a resilient stance in the face of pressures for thinness as well as the importance of social factors that assist them in this process.

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Introduktion Majoriteten av alla ungdomar använder sociala medier för att kommunicera med sina vänner genom bilder, chatt och forum eller för informationsinhämtning. På dessa mötesplatser finns reklam och innehåll som är könsstereotypa. Många ungdomar känner press att leva upp till stereotyperna vilket gör att man lägger upp förskönande bilder för att efterlikna idealen. Syftet med denna litteraturöversikt var att beskriva hur självbilden hos ungdomar i åldrarna 13-25 kan påverkas av innehållet i sociala medier. Metod Vetenskapliga artiklar hittades i databaserna CINAHL och PubMed. Genom en litteraturöversikt tematiserades de använda artiklarna och utifrån dem framkom fem teman. Resultat De fem teman som hittades var Grupptryckets, Den sociala jämförelsens, Smalhetsidealets, Träningsbudskapets och Kostbudskapets inverkan på självbilden. Grupptryck kunde leda till missnöje kring den egna kroppen vilket var vanligare hos tjejer än killar. För tjejer var smalhetsidealet mest dominerande medan det för killar var styrketräning. Att inte leva upp till idealen kunde även leda till depressiva symptom och ätstörningar. Diskussion Att konsumera idealbilder av män och kvinnor kan ge upphov till en orealistisk press på sig själv men det kan också fungera som motivation. / Introduction The majority of young people use social media to communicate with their friends through photos, chats and forums or to find information. Advertisement and content in social media often portrays gender stereotypes. Many young people feel pressured to live up to the stereotypes and uploads beautified images to mimic ideals. The aim of the study was to describe how the content in social media could influence the self-image of adolescents aged 13-25. Method Scientific articles were found in the databases CINAHL and PubMed. The articles were thematized and five themes emerged through a literature review. Results The five themes that emerged were the effect Peer pressure, Social comparison, Drive for thinness, Training and Food related content had on the self-image among adolescents. Peer pressure could lead to body dissatisfaction. The drive for thinness dominated among girls while the most dominating ideal for boys were a muscular body. Failure to live up to the ideals could lead to depressive symptoms and eating disorders. Discussion Consuming ideal images of men and women could lead to an unrealistic pressure on themselves but it could also serve as motivation.

This study intends to gain understanding of how mothers in the two first years postpartum feel about and relate themselves to the ideal of thinness. The empirical material is based on new mothers’ perceptions and experiences. The data is collected through a qualitative method based on interviews.   The study is interpreted by a social constructive perspective and the theoretical framework has been objectification theory and Connell’s theory of gender. Some of the theoretical concepts we have used to understand the mothers’ experiences are “norms”, “normative femininity” and “social stigma”. We also have used the thematic concept “the social body”, which is an understanding of the body as a carrier of social meaning   The results of the study show that new mothers have a problematic relation to their own bodies. This problematic approach to the body arises from the constant presence of the ideal of thinness and comments from the surroundings, as the norms of interpersonal relationships are modified during pregnancy and the postpartum period. The bodies of the new mothers become objectified by the comments from the surroundings and their bodies are therefore under social control.   The ideal of thinness has a big impact on the new mothers’ body perception. We have therefore identified four strategies that the mothers use to manage the ideal: 1. With the help of clothes the new mothers precede the social pressure that the ideal of thinness generates by concealing their bodies that they experience does not comply with the ideal; 2. The new mothers adapt their bodies to the ideal by physical exercise; 3. The new mothers adapt their bodies to the ideal by diet; 4. The new mothers use cognitive strategies to feel more at ease with their postpartum bodies, by thinking kind thoughts about themselves and their own bodies.

[pt] O objetivo deste trabalho é investigar o valor que a estética feminina assume nos processos de recrutamento e seleção nas empresas varejistas de moda na contemporaneidade. Para isso, entrevistaremos vendedoras e profissionais de Recursos Humanos de lojas de roupas e acessórios femininos na Zona Sul do Rio de Janeiro. Ressaltaremos o impacto que a indústria da moda tem sobre o ideal do corpo feminino perfeito e, em seguida, examinaremos a relação direta entre a adequação de certas candidatas a este biótipo culturalmente imposto e sua aceitação ou não no mercado de trabalho. No processo, analisaremos a importância atribuída à juventude e, em especial, à magreza, curiosamente incompatível com a realidade da maioria das mulheres brasileiras. Por último, perceberemos o quanto a experiência de trabalho na indústria da moda faz com que as profissionais transformem-na em objetivo central de suas vidas, reforçando os mesmos valores responsáveis por sua própria exclusão social. / [en] The purpose of this study is to investigate the value that female aesthetics assume in the recruitment and selection processes of contemporary fashion retailers. To achieve this, we will interview saleswomen and Human Resources professionals of major clothing and accessory stores from southern Rio de Janeiro. We will highlight the impact that the fashion industry has over the ideal of the perfect feminine body. Subsequently, we will examine the direct relationship between the suitability of certain job candidates to this culturally imposed biotype and their overall acceptance or non-acceptance in the workforce. During this process, we will analyze the importance attributed to youth and, specially, to thinness, curiously incompatible with the reality of the majority of Brazilian women. Finally, we will acknowledge how the work experience in the fashion industry causes the professionals involved to transform fashion in the main aspect of their lives, reinforcing the same values responsible for their own social exclusion.