This correlational cross-sectional study investigated body image from a positive
psychology viewpoint by examining variables that were predicted to contribute to
positive body image in women and testing a model describing the relationships among
the variables. Negative body image has been correlated with many psychological
problems in the literature, but less research has examined positive body image. Some
questions addressed include: Is there a relationship between secure attachment and
positive body image? Do self-esteem and optimism act as intervening variables in the
predicted relationship between secure attachment and positive body image?
To address these questions, data from 97 women were used in a structural
equation modeling (SEM) analysis. Some of the hypotheses were supported, although
the overall model was not. Secure attachment was found to be positively correlated with
and predictive of self-esteem and optimism as hypothesized and in line with previous
findings. Also as hypothesized, self-esteem and optimism were found to be moderately
correlated. Self-esteem and optimism were not significantly related to body image in the
SEM analysis and therefore the overall proposed model was not supported. In this sample, secure attachment was found to be the greatest predictor of positive body
image. Attachment accounted for 40% of the variance in body image, 44% of the
variance in optimism, and 25% of the variance in self-esteem.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:tamu.edu/oai:repository.tamu.edu:1969.1/ETD-TAMU-2917 |
| Date | 15 May 2009 |
| Creators | Sandoval, Erin Leverenz |
| Contributors | Duffy, Michael |
| Source Sets | Texas A and M University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Book, Thesis, Electronic Dissertation, text |
| Format | electronic, application/pdf, born digital |
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