Clarkson University, USA.
Body Image. 2022 Jun;41:225-238. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.02.013. Epub 2022 Mar 16.
Although women now have access to messaging about body acceptance, the risks and benefits of such messaging are not well-researched. Using a self-determination theory framework, we contrasted need-supportive versus need-undermining messages about body acceptance. One message supported the basic psychological need for autonomy (i.e., personal agency to accept one's body); one targeted the basic need for body acceptance from others; and one used pressure to elicit body positivity - a need-undermining strategy. We contrasted these messages with one another and with a typical message of thinness idealization. In Experiments 1-4, we found that pressuring pro-body messages were more harmful to body image than messages that used autonomy support and acceptance from others. That is, they produced more pressure, less agency, and lower acceptance. Moreover, Experiments 2-4 showed that need-supportive messages increased state self-esteem from baseline, whereas pressuring body positivity did not. In Experiment 3 message-related self-perceptions mediated the effect of need-supportive messages on state self-esteem. In Experiment 4, need-supportive body acceptance messages reduced body shame and body surveillance, whereas pressure to be body positive did not - and this effect was mediated by body satisfaction induced by the message. We highlight the important difference between need-supportive and need-undermining body positivity.
尽管女性现在可以获得关于身体接纳的信息，但这种信息的风险和益处并没有得到很好的研究。我们使用自我决定理论框架，对比了支持和削弱身体接纳的信息。一条信息支持了对身体接纳的基本心理需求（即个人接受自己身体的自主权）；另一条信息针对的是他人对身体接纳的基本需求；还有一条信息则利用压力来引发身体积极性——这是一种削弱需求的策略。我们将这些信息与典型的瘦身理想化信息进行了对比。在实验 1-4 中，我们发现，与使用自主性支持和他人接受的信息相比，压力身体积极性的信息对身体形象的危害更大。也就是说，它们会产生更多的压力、更少的自主性和更低的接受度。此外，实验 2-4 表明，支持性信息会从基线开始增加状态自尊，而压力身体积极性则不会。在实验 3 中，与信息相关的自我认知中介了支持性信息对状态自尊的影响。在实验 4 中，支持性的身体接纳信息减少了身体羞耻感和身体监控感，而要求积极的身体形象感则没有——这一效果是由信息引起的身体满意度介导的。我们强调了支持性和削弱性身体积极性之间的重要区别。
