Body dissatisfaction is a multidimensional concept tapping behavioral, cognitive, and affective domains (Rosen, 1992). In addition to being a source of psychological distress, body dissatisfaction is a precursor for eating disorders (Stice, 2002). Exposure to media images of thin women has been shown to increase body dissatisfaction among young women (Groesz, Levine, & Murnen, 2002). Furthermore, research shows that actively comparing weight and shape to a more attractive target is associated with body dissatisfaction (Leahy, Crowther, & Mickelson, 2007).
Body image cognitive distortions and socially-prescribed perfectionism may influence social comparisons to media images and peers by strengthening the relationship between social comparisons and body dissatisfaction; however, studies of body image cognitive distortions and socially-prescribed perfectionism as moderators are lacking. Although social comparisons have been studied in the laboratory, naturalistic studies using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) provide results that can be generalized to real-world phenomena.
The present study examined the effect of social comparisons in the natural environment. It was hypothesized that making social comparisons to media images and peers would result in an increase in the four dependent variables: body checking, body dissatisfaction, guilt, and negative affect. Furthermore, it was hypothesized that body image cognitive distortions and socially prescribed perfectionism would moderate the relationship between social comparisons to media images and peers and the four dependent variables.
Participants were 97 female undergraduates (mean age = 19.51, SD = 3.31; mean BMI = 24.22, SD = 5.32). Following informed consent, all participants completed a battery of questionnaires. Participants were instructed to fill out a diary questionnaire on the PDA whenever the alarm sounded. The alarm sounded at five random times each day for five days. Questionnaires imbedded in the PDA assessed whether or not participants made a social comparison to a media image or a peer and also included items assessing affect, body checking, and body image self-esteem.
Results showed that making a social comparison to a media image resulted in a statistically significant increase in body checking, guilt, and negative affect and making a social comparison to a peer resulted in a statistically significant increase in body checking and guilt. Body image cognitive distortions moderated the relationship between social comparisons to peers and body checking. As body image cognitive distortions increased, body checking increased for those making a peer comparison. These findings have important implications for the prevention of body dissatisfaction and eating disorders.