Are Changes in Body Dissatisfaction Dependent on Gaze Patterns during Embodiment of Body-Mass Modified or Normal-Weight Self- Avatars?

A1 Background (See introduction I1) Cognitive-behavioral theories suggest that body-related visual attention causally contributes to negative body image and body experience in eating disorder patients. Frequent gazes towards unattractive body regions are considered to support a biased bodily self-representation, to increase fear of gaining weight and to maintain high levels of body dissatisfaction. A2 Objectives and Research questions (See introduction I2) The study investigates the role of body-related visual attention on body-dissatisfaction during embodiment of a weight-manipulated self-avatar. By inducing a full-body illusion in mixed reality (XR), participants are embodied in a lean or overweight self-avatar and we record gaze trajectories during embodiment. We predict increases in fear of gaining weight, body dissatisfaction, and decreases in self-esteem of high body dissatisfied women associated with gaze patterns during a mirror exposure with the self-avatar. A3 Participants (See methods M4) N=25 normal-weight female participants (aged 18 – 35) with high levels of body dissatisfaction will be recruited. Participants should not be pregnant, breastfeeding, or have an eating disorder. A4 Study method (See methods M10-14) This cross-sectional study uses a repeated measures design. Order of assignment to conditions will be counterbalanced. Participants will experience a self-avatar (overweight/ normal weight) in XR. After getting used to the XR environment, gaze patterns will be measured in front of a virtual mirror. State measures of body dissatisfaction, self-esteem, and avatar embodiment are assessed before and after XR exposure. unknown other