Relationship between Attention to Body Shape, Social Physique Anxiety, and Personal Characteristics of Brazilians: A Structural Equation Model

Wanderson Roberto da Silva (), Patrícia Angélica Teixeira, João Marôco, Eric Batista Ferreira, Micaela Aparecida Teodoro and Juliana Alvares Duarte Bonini Campos ()
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Wanderson Roberto da Silva: Graduate Program in Food, Nutrition and Food Engineering, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-903, São Paulo, Brazil
Patrícia Angélica Teixeira: Graduate Program in Food, Nutrition and Food Engineering, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-903, São Paulo, Brazil
João Marôco: William James Center for Research (WJCR), University Institute of Psychological, Social and Life Sciences (ISPA), 1149-041 Lisboa, Portugal
Eric Batista Ferreira: Graduate Program in Nutrition and Longevity, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), Alfenas 14800-903, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Micaela Aparecida Teodoro: Graduate Program in Nutrition and Longevity, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), Alfenas 14800-903, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Juliana Alvares Duarte Bonini Campos: Graduate Program in Food, Nutrition and Food Engineering, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-903, São Paulo, Brazil

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 22, 1-12

Abstract: People can develop eating disorders due to excessive body image concerns. The primary objective of this study was to examine the relationship between attention to body shape, social physique anxiety, and personal characteristics in a sample of Brazilians. The secondary objective was to evaluate the correlation of the constructs with the participants’ body composition. First, 1795 individuals (70% female; M age = 25.5 ± 6.6 years) completed the Attention to Body Shape Scale, the Social Physique Anxiety Scale, and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Then, 286 participants (58% female; M age = 25.3 ± 5.7 years) underwent a bioimpedance exam to identify body composition. Structural equation modeling was used to estimate the relationship between the variables. The greater the attention to body shape, the greater the expectations of negative physical evaluation and the less comfort with physical presentation. Younger age, female gender, consumption of supplements/substances for body change, restrictive diets, physical inactivity, poor self-assessment of food quality, and overweight/obesity were related to negative body concerns. An expectation of negative physical evaluation was positively correlated with body fat and negatively with muscle mass. Comfort with physical presentation was negatively correlated with fat and positively with muscle. These results can support preventive strategies aimed at reducing eating disorders resulting from body image concerns.

Keywords: body image; attention; shape; social; physique anxiety; personal characteristic; body composition; eating disorder; structural equation model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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