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An examination of the direct and indirect effect of self-objectification and disordered eating

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 August 2021

S. Giles ,
J. Rabinowicz ,
C. Raux ,
M. Fuller-Tyszkiewicz  and
I. Krug
S. Giles*
Affiliation:
Melbourne School Of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
J. Rabinowicz
Affiliation:
Psychology, Institute of Social Neurosciences Psychology College, Ivanhoe, Australia
C. Raux
Affiliation:
Psychology, Institute of Social Neurosciences Psychology College, Ivanhoe, Australia
M. Fuller-Tyszkiewicz
Affiliation:
Centre For Social And Early Emotional Development, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia
I. Krug
Affiliation:
Melbourne School Of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

Objectification theory argues that self-objectification confers risk for disordered eating (DE) both directly, and indirectly through a cascade of negative psychological consequences (e.g. low mood and self-conscious body monitoring). Robust cross-sectional evidence supports these relationships. However, these cross-sectional studies do not provide evidence for the complex intraindividual psychological processes outlined in objectification theory which purportedly contribute to DE.

Objectives

Using an ecological momentary assessment design, the current study investigated the direct within-person effect between state self-objectification and DE and examined the indirect within-person effect of negative mood and body comparisons, on the relationship between state self-objectification and DE.

Methods

Two-hundred female participants (M=20.43 years, SD=4.60) downloaded a smartphone app which assessed momentary experiences of self-objectification, mood, body comparisons, and DE six times per day at random intervals for seven days.

Results

Indicated that self-objectification significantly predicted DE behaviours [95% CI 0.01, 0.03] and body comparisons [95% CI 0.32, 0.41]. However, the indirect effect of body comparisons on the relationship between state self-objectification and DE was not significant [95% CI -0.01, 0.00]. In the second mediation model, self-objectification significantly predicted DE behaviours [95% CI 0.01, 0.03], but did not significantly predict mood [95% CI -0.06, 0.03]. Similarly, the indirect effect of mood on the relationship between state self-objectification and DE was not significant [95% CI -0.00, 0.00].

Conclusions

These results enhance our understanding of objectification theory and suggest that self-objectification confers risk to DE directly. However, our findings do not support the indirect effect of self-objectification on DE through low mood or body comparisons.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Keywords

eating disordersSelf-objectificationdisordered eatingecological momentary assessment
Type
Abstract
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 64 , Special Issue S1: Abstracts of the 29th European Congress of Psychiatry , April 2021 , pp. S705
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association
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