Cognitive Defusion and Psychological Flexibility Predict Negative Body Image in the Chinese College Students: Evidence from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Shuanghu Fang (), Dongyan Ding, Pingping Ji, Mingjie Huang and Kesong Hu ()
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Shuanghu Fang: School of Educational Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China
Dongyan Ding: School of Educational Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China
Pingping Ji: School of Educational Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China
Mingjie Huang: School of Educational Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China
Kesong Hu: Department of Psychology, Lake Superior State University, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 24, 1-16

Abstract: Body dissatisfaction is a global phenomenon. Despite the significant cultural difference, most research on negative body image was conducted in Western countries. How do cognitive fusion and psychological flexibility relate to negative body image in the Chinese population? In the present study, this question was investigated through the intervention technique, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Here, 86 young Chinese university students with high negative physical self were invited, in which 42 students received 10 sessions of group-based ACT intervention in a clinical setting while the remained acted as the control group with no intervention. Pretests showed no statistical differences in negative body image between these two groups, while both cognitive fusion and psychological flexibility predicted negative body image. Post-pre tests showed no change in the control group, while enhanced cognitive defusion and psychological flexibility in the ACT group. Individual differences in psychological flexibility and cognitive defusion enhancement predicted improved body image. A strong association of implicit body image with Fatness and Shortness changes suggested that although with individual differences, those components could be internalized during the intervention in the College students.

Keywords: acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT); cognitive defusion; psychological flexibility; negative body image; Chinese college students (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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