The Influence of Self-Efficacy and Locus of Control on Body Image: A Path-Analysis in Aspiring Fashion Models, Athletes and Students

Donatella Di Corrado, Marinella Coco, Maria Guarnera, Nelson Mauro Maldonato, Alessandro Quartiroli and Paola Magnano
Additional contact information
Donatella Di Corrado: Department of Sport Sciences, Kore University, Cittadella Universitaria, 94100 Enna, Italy
Marinella Coco: Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Maria Guarnera: Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, Kore University, 94100 Enna, Italy
Nelson Mauro Maldonato: Department of Neuroscience and Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy
Alessandro Quartiroli: Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI 54601, USA
Paola Magnano: Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, Kore University, 94100 Enna, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 11, 1-12

Abstract: It is widely documented that negative body image is a significant public health concern due to its association with symptoms of disordered eating and worse psychological well-being. The purpose of the study was to develop a path model of intrapersonal dimensions (self-efficacy and internal locus of control) as antecedents of perceived stress toward females’ body dissatisfaction and eating attitude disorders. A total of 300 females, including 100 aspiring fashion models, 100 athletes and 100 students (controls), between 15 and 24 years of age (M = 19.6, SD = 1.85) participated in the study. Measures included level of psychological stress, self-efficacy and locus of control dimensions, body dissatisfaction and eating attitude disorder indices. A path analysis confirmed our research hypothesis. Comparing the three subsamples, we found better fit indexes in the two subgroups with elevated investment on their body image with respect the control group. More specifically, the model in the group of aspiring fashion models showed the best fit index. These results indicated that aspiring fashion models have a strong desire to maintain their low body mass or to become thinner. For this reason, a suitable involvement of expert health workers in the nutritional and psychological field could be extremely essential in the fashion world to maintain a healthier well-being.

Keywords: body image; eating disorders; stressors; athletes; fashion models (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/11/6128/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/11/6128/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:11:p:6128-:d:569880

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().