The relationship between self-objectification, grooming behaviors, and body image disturbance was examined among 389 female students at the University of Central Florida. Self-objectification positively predicted body image disturbance, as well as the average amount of time and money that women reported investing into grooming behaviors (i.e. hair-styling, hair-removal, makeup application, nail adornment and other grooming behaviors). Body mass index (BMI) was also found to positively predict body image disturbance and time spent on grooming, however, no relationship was found between self-objectification and BMI. Furthermore, lower socioeconomic status (SES) was found to be associated with body-dissatisfaction and more frequent negative body image emotions in comparison to participants with higher SES. A significant negative correlation was also found between time spent on grooming and grade point average (GPA).

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Master of Science / Department of Apparel, Textiles, and Interior Design / Joy Kozar / The thin female body-type perpetuated in the media has historically caused decreased body satisfaction in adolescent and young adult females (Dittmar, 2009). Previous studies have examined the impact of these images in traditional media, but few studies have examined images seen in social media. Therefore, this study examined how social media impacts the body satisfaction of adolescent and young adult females through the variables of age, time spent on social media, social comparison behaviors, and appearance-related attitudes. The study utilized a sample of females between the ages of 14 to 25. As a component of this study, age was broken into two groups, creating a younger (14-18) and older (19-25) group. This allowed the researcher to make comparisons between the two age groups in relation to the variables being studied. An online questionnaire was utilized as part of this study and distributed to college professors, high school instructors, high school and college-age students, and via social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. A total of 357 female respondents between the ages of 14 and 25 years old participated in the study. Of the 357 participants, 140 (39.2%) were in the age category of 14-18 and 217 (60.8%) were in the age category of 19-25. Results indicated that participants who accessed their social media accounts more times per day were more likely to engage in social comparison behavior to fashion models and celebrities and peers. In addition, the more participants compared themselves with fashion models and celebrities and peers, the higher their appearance-related attitudes, which lowered their body satisfaction. Age was not a significant factor in predicting time spent on social media, participation in social comparison behavior, or appearance-related attitudes. However, among the sample, younger participants were overall more satisfied with their body than older participants. It was determined that on average, participants checked their social media accounts between 5 and 15 times a day and spent three or less hours daily on social media. These findings have important implications for the fashion and cosmetics industries and AT educators. The results indicate that social media has an impact on young women’s body satisfaction.

Thesis advisor: Stephen J. Pope / The aim of this dissertation is to expand a contemporary multidimensional discourse on the nature of eating disorders to encompass also a moral dimension. Eating disorders are complex phenomena which include biomedical, psychological, and sociocultural components. This dissertation brings the psychosocial literature on eating disorders and body dissatisfaction into dialogue with contemporary studies in Thomistic moral theology, and argues that such a multidisciplinary dialogue can illuminate new insights both for the study of eating disorders and for recent efforts to recover Thomistic moral theology in a contemporary context. Beginning empirically, the dissertation examines recent evidence showing that exposure to &ldquo;thin-ideal images&rdquo; in the mass media is positively correlated with an increase in body dissatisfaction and eating disorder symptomatology. Socioculturally, the explanation for this phenomenon is called &ldquo;thin-ideal internalization,&rdquo; and basically measures the extent to which individuals &ldquo;buy into&rdquo; the validity of images using ultra-thin female models as a paradigm of beauty. Women who have a high level of internalization desire to conform to a thin-ideal, and behave accordingly, even when they are rationally aware of the unrealistic and unhealthy nature of such an ideal. Turning to Thomas Aquinas' moral theology, the dissertation argues that thin-ideal internalization is a form of connatural knowledge, an affective form of knowing (<italic>per modum inclinationis</italic> or <italic>ex instinctu</italic>) which is at the very basis of Aquinas' moral theology, both in explaining the operation of habits and in explaining the role of grace in the moral life through charity and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. This dissertation argues that Aquinas' theory of connatural knowledge provides a relevant and constructive contribution to the study of eating disorders, especially on the relationship between body dissatisfaction and eating disorder symptamatology. Additionally, the incorporation of the psychosocial literature on eating disorders into Thomistic moral theology provide a valuable contribution to Thomistic moral theology in the effort to understand the role of the affections in moral deliberation, the development of habits, and the importance of Christian practices in the moral life. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2011. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Theology.

Body dissatisfaction (BD) is a condition derived from negative thoughts and feelings about one's body and is a core symptom of the eating disorder anorexia nervosa (AN). Beingdissatisfied with one’s body is highly present in women and to some extent men. This might be a result of a skewed ideal in combination with social influences. In recent year, research on neurobiological risk factors as well as neuroscientific and cognitive mappings of AN and BD have gained traction, particularly when it comes to studies using neuroimaging- techniques and cognitive tests. Studies have identified brain regions (insular cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, parietal cortex, amygdala, dorsolateral and orbitofrontal areas of the prefrontal cortex) associated with the processing of body shape as well as dysfunctional processing of self-image and body satisfaction. Structural imaging studies of AN patients using CT and MRI have, in many cases, found reduced cerebral volume, increased spinal fluid (CSF) and enlarged ventricles. Usually, food and water restriction has been seen as the cause, and structural deficits in AN patients have shown to improve with weight gain after long-term recovery.

This research explored trends in male body image amongst South African men aged 18 to 25 years. A questionnaire consisting of a demographic section, the Body Image Test, the Behaviours Checklist and the Eating Disorders Inventory was administered to 50 male students from the University of the Witwatersrand. Trends in body dissatisfaction, body enhancing behaviour and eating disorder symptoms were examined. Correlation analyses were used to infer relationships between these three variables. The results showed that the sample group on average view themselves as overly muscular and have a body image ideal that is less muscular than their perceived body image. This trend is contrary to trends reported in international studies and is thought to represent the cultural effects of using a South African population that is diverse in its composition as compared to an American or European samples that are more homogenous in nature. The results also showed that there were differences in body image trends between different racial groupings, although the results did indicate that across the racial groupings there was a similar societal body image ideal that represents a global trend towards a lean, muscular male body image. The results showed that the sample did not engage in body enhancing behaviours that are considered excessive or indicative of body image dissatisfaction. This was also reflected by the results on the Eating Disorders Inventory that showed considerably lower scores on the symptom scales when compared to a clinical eating disordered population and a non-clinical female comparison group. The results also showed that the sample had lower scores on the behavioural symptom scales yet higher scores on the attitudinal symptom scales. This indicates that the sample did not display any significant eating disorder behaviours yet did display personality traits that are correlated to eating disordered behaviour. There was no correlation between body dissatisfaction and body enhancing behaviour. There was a positive correlation between body dissatisfaction and the symptom scale of interpersonal distrust. A positive correlation also occurred between body enhancing behaviour and the symptom scales for perfection and drive for thinness. Limitations of the study and recommendations for future research are discussed.