Week 4-Body Image and Mental Health

Question 1

What is Body Image?

Answer 1

-A subjective picture of one’s own physical appearance.

-Established both by self-observation and by noting the reactions of others.

Question 2

What are 2 constructs about body image to consider?

Answer 2

1. Body image evaluation: one’s evaluative thoughts and beliefs about their physical appearance.
2. Body image investment: behaviours aiming at managing or enhancing the way one looks.

Question 3

Why is Body Image Important? (Neumark-Sztainer et al., 2006; Swami & Furnham, 2008)

Answer 3

Related to harmful behaviour
-Binge eating
-Unhealthy weight control behaviour
-Smoking (men)

Lower uptake of healthy/preventative behaviour
-Lower levels of physical activity
-Lower fruit and vegetable intake
-Breast self-examination

Question 4

Body Image and Gender: What is it like among females?

Answer 4

-Higher tendency of body image dissatisfaction (Fallon, Harris and Johnson, 2014).

-Starts in childhood, around 6 – 7 years (Dohnt and Tiggemann, 2004, 2005).

-Linked with a desire for thinness (Swami et al., 2010).