| dc.description.abstract | One sociocultural factor that has been implicated as a risk factor in the development of eating disorders is a tendency to compare one’s appearance to others’ (appearance-related comparisons). The aims of the current study were to propose a detailed model of the relationship between appearance comparisons and disordered eating behaviors based on a review of previous literature and to experimentally test an intervention generated from this model. Previous research reports inconsistent findings regarding the potential differential impact of comparisons to universalistic (i.e., distant sources of influences) and particularistic (i.e., close sources of influence) targets. The intervention aimed to alter appearance comparisons to either media targets or peer targets to determine if there is a differential impact of a peer-target intervention and a media-targeted intervention on body dissatisfaction, frequency of comparisons, and the relevance of the comparison target. The intervention was designed to help participants view themselves as dissimilar to their comparison targets, lowering their likelihood of making appearance comparisons and increasing appearance esteem and body image. Participants, undergraduate females, were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: peer-targeted intervention, media-targeted intervention, or a control group. Results revealed that both the media-targeted and peer-targeted interventions reduced the relevance of the comparison target, increased appearance esteem, and increased state body image. However, neither of the interventions reduced the frequency of appearance comparisons to peer or media targets in the week following the intervention. Theoretically, the current paper extends the literature by providing a comprehensive model of factors that link appearance comparisons to disordered eating behaviors. Clinically, the study provides a promising intervention for reducing the negative impact of appearance comparisons on body image, and potentially, eating behaviors. | en_US |
