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Objectification Theory and Its Relation to Disordered Eating: The Role of Feminist Attitudes and Internalization of Cultural Standards of Beauty

The current study had three main objectives: to examine the relation between
trait and state self-objectification and various eating pathology, including restricted
eating; to examine the role of general and specific feminist attitudes on body
dissatisfaction and trait disordered eating; and to merge two empirically supported
models of eating disorders. Using a quasi-experimental research design with an elaborate
cover story, one hundred and three women completed a variety of baseline measures and
were assigned to one of two state self-objectifying conditions (swimsuit vs. sweater)
where body image and body shame were measured at post. Additionally, following the
manipulation, participants caloric intake during a snack break was measured. Results
indicated that trait self objectification was associated with disordered eating
symptomatology and analyses found an effect of condition on body shame, and that this
effect was moderated by trait self-objectification. These results were not documented for
caloric intake and body dissatisfaction, likely due to time of assessment of these
variables. Also, results indicate that objectification theory and the dual pathways model
merge well and that in the dual pathway, body shame may be a component of body dissatisfaction. Finally, feminist attitudes were also associated with body dissatisfaction
but not with disordered eating symptoms. Implications for clinical work and future
research are discussed.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:tamu.edu/oai:repository.tamu.edu:1969.1/ETD-TAMU-2009-08-7129
Date2009 August 1900
CreatorsClarke, Analesa N.
ContributorsPerez, Marisol
Source SetsTexas A and M University
Languageen_US
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeBook, Thesis, Electronic Dissertation, text
Formatapplication/pdf

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