Sociocultural pressure: a model of body dissatisfaction for young women

Abstract: The aim of the study was to verify the influence of pressure from sociocultural agents on dissatisfaction with face and body in young women mediated by the internalization of the lean and muscular body and to identify the contribution of individual characteristics to this model. A total of 612 university female students participated of study. The students completed the Portuguese versions of the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-4 and of the Body Area Scale-Revised and a sociodemographic questionnaire. A hypothetical model was constructed using structural equation modeling to test the relationship between the variables. The model fit and the significance of the hypothetical paths were verified. The results provide evidence that the greater the pressure of sociocultural agents and the internalization of the lean body, the more women were dissatisfied with body and face appearance. The media contributed to a greater internalization of the muscular body, which reduced the body dissatisfaction. The practice of physical activity and a higher economic level contributed to a greater internalization of the muscular body, which reduced body dissatisfaction. A higher economic level also influenced the internalization of the lean body and increased the dissatisfaction with face and body. A higher body mass index contributed to a greater pressure from sociocultural agents, greater internalization of the lean body, and greater dissatisfaction with body and face. The relationships identified in the model can contribute to the development of strategies aimed at reducing body dissatisfaction and eating disorders in the population, such as body acceptance.

摘要：本研究旨在验证社会文化影响动因（sociocultural agents）对青年女性面部与身体外观不满的影响，该影响以苗条体型与肌肉体型的内化为中介变量，并探究个体特征对该模型的贡献度。本研究共招募612名女大学生参与研究，所有被试均填写了葡萄牙语版的《社会文化外貌态度问卷-4（Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-4）》、《身体部位量表修订版（Body Area Scale-Revised）》以及社会人口学问卷。本研究采用结构方程模型（structural equation modeling）构建假设模型以检验各变量间的关联，并验证了模型拟合度与假设路径的显著性。研究结果显示：社会文化影响动因施加的压力越大且苗条体型内化程度越高，青年女性的面部与身体外观不满程度则越高；媒体接触可提升肌肉体型的内化程度，进而降低身体外观不满水平；体育锻炼习惯与较高的经济水平可提升肌肉体型的内化程度，从而缓解身体外观不满；较高的经济水平同时会提升苗条体型的内化程度，并加剧面部与身体外观不满；较高的体重指数（body mass index，BMI）会增加社会文化影响动因施加的压力、提升苗条体型的内化程度，并加剧面部与身体外观不满。本模型所揭示的变量关联，可为制定针对人群的身体外观不满与进食障碍干预策略（如身体接纳方案）提供理论支撑。