Search

A systematic review and meta-analysis of brain hyperscanning research suggests that interbrain synchrony (IBS) can be used as an objective measure of teamwork. The study found that factors like familiarity and stress levels among team members facilitate IBS. It also showed that IBS is correlated with teamwork behaviors and affective states, and predicts team performance to some extent. While there are limitations to the technology used, the researchers concluded that brain hyperscanning is a promising tool for studying teamwork. Additionally, a collection of articles explores topics related to physical activity and exercise, including factors influencing physical activity in adults with overweight or obesity, the impact of mindfulness-based activities during high-intensity interval training, negative messages directed at athletes on social media, the effects of fitness center closures on physical activity in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the impact of fitfluencer captions on body image and exercise intentions in adolescents. These articles provide valuable insights and emphasize the need for further research and support in promoting physical activity and well-being. [Extracted from the article]

Objectives Design Methods Results Conclusions Body dissatisfaction is a public health concern, prevalent among women. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of a 2‐week online functionality‐focused intervention combined with psychoeducation on improving body image among young women at both high and low risk of Body Image Disorders (BIDs).A randomized controlled trial was conducted among young women at high risk and low risk of developing BIDs.In total, 231 young women (n = 64 at high risk of BIDs) were randomized into: experimental (n = 113) and waitlist (n = 118) groups. The experimental group underwent the intervention at baseline (T0) for 15 days (T1), while the waitlist group started the intervention at T1 for 15 days (T2). Participants completed questionnaires about body and functionality appreciation, eating disorders (EDs) risk and extreme body dissatisfaction at baseline, 15 days from baseline and 30 days from baseline.Mixed linear models revealed enhancements in body and functionality appreciation post‐intervention for women at both high risk and low risk of BIDs. Reductions in EDs risk and body dissatisfaction were observed in participants at high risk.The intervention proves to be useful in promoting a positive body image (i.e. body and functionality appreciation) in women at both high and low risk of BIDs, while the results concerning the risk of developing EDs and extreme body dissatisfaction are more nuanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to assess body image dissatisfaction in Omani university students across gender and age and explore the potential impact of social media use on body image dissatisfaction. This cross-sectional online survey was responded by 482 Omani university students. The survey included socio-demographic data, a Social Media Activity Questionnaire, and a Body Dissatisfaction Scale. The participants were approached through promotion of the study on locally famous social media accounts. Results: The prevalence of body image dissatisfaction was higher in females compared to males (37.7% and 24%, respectively). Additionally, 53.6% of participants with a high body mass index reported high levels of body image dissatisfaction, while underweight participants reported the lowest body image dissatisfaction (21.3%). High social media use showed a significant correlation with body image dissatisfaction (p < 0.001); however, age did not exhibit a significant association with body image dissatisfaction. Concerns related to being overweight and not having clear skin were the most common body features associated with body image issues. Conclusion: Higher levels of body image dissatisfaction were found with high social media use. The study also identified a higher prevalence of body image dissatisfaction in females compared to males, with no significant differences across age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite widespread misperceptions of body size and shape, the specific visual features influencing such judgments remain unclear. This study assessed the contribution of internal body features (e.g., colour, shading) to the accuracy of female body size judgements and whether that contribution varies with body size. Using a bodyline task, 100 female participants evaluated images of female bodies, either depicted as real bodies including internal features (feature stimuli) or images of bodies as silhouettes only (silhouette stimuli). The results showed greater overall errors in body size estimation for silhouettes compared to full feature images. However, the direction of error differed for large and small bodies: small silhouettes were judged larger than their full-feature counterparts, while large silhouettes were judged smaller. These findings emphasize the importance of internal body features in shaping perceptions of female body size and highlight the complexity of judgement accuracy across different body sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pregnancy is a time of great change for women, both mentally and physically. For any pregnant woman, this time of change can be difficult as the woman needs to constantly adapt to the rapidly changing body. This change could be especially challenging for a woman who has previously struggled with symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), which cause individuals to perceive part(s) of their body as particularly ugly or deformed, creating distress that affects several areas of functioning. These distorted perceptions have been associated with low self-reported functioning in physical and psychological areas. The present study assessed the effects of BDD symptoms on the physical and psychological functioning of pregnant women at different points throughout their pregnancy. Methods: During July 2021 through April 2022, one hundred and fifty-eight women were recruited from various mothers' Facebook groups, women's centers across a city in Southern Texas, and through Prolific. The sample consisted of women in their first, second and third trimesters, as well as women three months postpartum. Information about the presence of BDD symptoms, quality of life, and body image was collected. Results: We found that women in their second trimester possess the highest quality of life compared to women in their first trimester, third trimester or postpartum. Women with high BDD symptoms have lower quality of life and lower body image compared to women with low BDD, especially for those in their first or third trimesters. Conclusions: These findings illustrate the necessity of targeted interventions and support for pregnant women, especially those with BDD symptoms, in order to promote their well-being throughout pregnancy and postpartum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poor body image and eating attitudes predict poor physical health in college women. Because college women may model their mothers' body image and eating attitudes, mothers' body image and eating attitudes may be associated with college women's body image, eating attitudes, and ultimately college women's physical health. This study hopes to address gaps in research linking daughters' perceptions of their mothers' body image and eating attitudes to daughters' own body image and eating attitudes, and ultimately to daughters' health. Participants were undergraduate women (n = 159) who had lived with their mother growing up. Participants reported on perceptions of their mothers' body shame and eating attitudes, their own body shame and eating attitudes, and their own general health and physical functioning. Participants' perceptions of their mother's body shame and eating attitudes did not directly predict participants' physical health, but this relationship was mediated by participants' body shame and eating attitudes. These results support the idea that college women may model their body image after their mothers, and that this in turn may be associated with their physical health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study explores the experience of body-image changes throughout the trajectory of breast cancer. Methods: We conducted qualitative in-depth interviews with 53 women (n = 53) representing diverse age groups, with a mean age of 48.61 years (SD = 13.12), from various regions across the Czech Republic. The interviews were audio/video recorded and divided into two phases. The initial phase consisted of a narrative part, followed by a semi-structured interview. Thematic analysis was employed to identify and explore the topics that held significant importance to the participants. Results: This research investigated how body image and emotional responses evolve in women with breast cancer during various stages of the illness. Throughout the breast cancer journey, women undergo diverse body image changes, with some of them being described as particularly traumatic, such as hair loss and preventive operations. The effects of breast cancer extend beyond physical scars, influencing femininity and womanhood in the long run. The experience of womanhood is marked by visible and non-visible effects that persist for years after treatment. Conclusion: Study has provided valuable insights into the emotional journey that women experience during breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. The illness trajectory framework has proven to be a valuable tool for understanding the complexities of body image concerns and the emotional implications faced by breast cancer patients. By acknowledging the significance of body image issues and providing targeted interventions, healthcare providers can improve the psychosocial well-being and overall quality of life for breast cancer survivors. Further research in this area is needed to develop and refine supportive interventions that address the unique challenges women face during their breast cancer journey. Ultimately, by fostering a sensitive and comprehensive approach to care, we can empower women to navigate their breast cancer journey with greater resilience and confidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pregnancy can be experienced as a significant transition for many women with associated body dissatisfaction, depression, pregnancy-related anxiety, and disordered eating attitudes. Problematic Social Media Use (PSMU) creates abundant opportunities for women to compare themselves with others and expose themselves to sociocultural influences which may increase body dissatisfaction and psychological distress. This study examined whether the relationship between PSMU and psychological distress (defined as depression, pregnancy-related anxiety and disordered eating attitudes) was mediated by negative social comparisons and body dissatisfaction. A sample of 225 pregnant Australian women (M age = 31.91 years, SD age = 4.39) recruited online, completed self-report measures related to the variables of interest. Results: PSMU was associated with higher levels of depression, pregnancy-related anxiety, and disordered eating attitudes. Negative social comparisons and body dissatisfaction partially mediated the relationship between PSMU and pregnancy-related anxiety and depression, and fully mediated the relationship between PSMU and disordered eating attitudes. Cross-sectional nature of the study limited our ability to determine the direction of the relationships. Moreover, the recruitment method via social media led to high rates of non-completion. The findings of this study suggest that problematic social media usage during pregnancy may increase depression, pregnancy-related anxiety and disordered eating attitudes. This study identified potential pathways that may explain this relationship, (via social comparisons and body dissatisfaction). This study highlights the potentially negative impact of social media use amongst expectant mothers and the importance of screening for body dissatisfaction in routine antenatal care. • Problematic social media use linked to negative psychological outcomes in pregnancy. • Social comparisons a potential mechanism linking social media to negative outcomes. • Body dissatisfaction a potential mechanism linking social media to negative outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hirsutism, characterized by excessive androgen-dependent hair growth in women, often associated with conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), presents significant challenges to body perception and psychological well-being. This study aimed to investigate the impact of excessive body hair growth on women's body image, self-esteem, and social interactions. Through qualitative interviews with affected women, it was revealed that hirsutism engenders profound dissatisfaction with body image, leading to feelings of inadequacy and a sense of being socially unacceptable. Participants expressed that emotional instability exacerbates these psychological effects, affecting both mental health and physical well-being. Moreover, the stigma associated with visible symptoms of hirsutism restricted social interactions, contributing to feelings of isolation and reduced quality of life. The findings underscore the multifaceted impact of hirsutism on women's lives, highlighting its detrimental effects on body perception, self-esteem, and social functioning. Addressing these psychological and social dimensions is crucial for researchers and clinicians in comprehensive management approaches for hirsutism, alongside medical interventions aimed at hormone regulation and hair removal to enhance the overall well-being of affected individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study took the Indian population as the sample for studying the differences in consumers and nonconsumers of Korean content and males and females in their body image. Body image has commonly been linked to Korean content as much emphasis is given to visuals in Korean media leading to potential harm to body image perception among viewers. A sample of 200 was taken which was divided into males and females and consumers and non-consumers of Korean content. To study the body image, MBSRQ-AS was used. The scores of each dimension of the test were analysed using two-way ANOVA and the Mann-Whitney U test. The results showed that gender and Korean content consumption did not impact the appearance related dimensions, However, those who were viewing Korean content showed significantly less body area satisfaction, high overweight preoccupation, and self-classified weight. In conclusion, Korean content consumption is impacting weight-related aspects of body image. This research will be helpful for counsellors to understand potential precipitating factors for disorders like body dysmorphia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure therapy has been examined as a treatment for eating disorders, but research has yet to determine how to adapt these approaches for those in larger bodies who experience weight stigma. This case study reports on the use of values-based exposure interventions to reduce body dissatisfaction and body-related concerns in a woman with binge eating disorder in a larger body. We used a values-based approach to mirror and body image exposure that focused on fear tolerance and valued actions, as opposed to belief disconfirmation or habituation-based approaches to exposure, which may invalidate weight stigmatizing experiences. The client was a white cisgender woman in her late 20's with binge eating disorder and major depressive disorder enrolled in trial of Transdiagnostic Network-Informed Personalized Treatment for eating disorders. Symptoms were assessed at pre-, mid-, post-treatment and one-month follow-up. The client was highly satisfied with treatment and experienced clinically significant reductions in eating disorder symptoms and shape and weight concerns. Decreases in body dissatisfaction, feeling fat, and overvaluation of weight and shape were large. Clinical impairment decreased, and quality of life increased. A detailed description of the approach to body image exposure for those in larger bodies is provided. Using a values-based approach to body image exposures may help account for weight stigma experienced by those in larger bodies while decreasing avoidance of personally meaningful experiences, body dissatisfaction, and eating disorder symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Body dissatisfaction (BD) has been consistently linked to adverse consequences on mental health and overall well-being, and is recognized as a significant contributing factor in the initiation and persistence of eating disorders (EDs). Empirical evidence has demonstrated that an elevated body mass index (BMI) and media influence and pressure about a thin ideal heighten the risk of subsequent BD. Moreover, suggestibility, a propensity to accept and act upon messages without critical evaluation, has been shown to be positively associated with greater susceptibility to the influence of sociocultural messages that endorse the thin ideal. This study aimed to assess whether suggestibility moderates the association between BMI and BD in women. Methods: A total of 117 women completed assessments using the Eating Disorder Inventory-3 (EDI-3) BD subscale and the Suggestibility Inventory, which encompasses a general suggestibility index and a subscale that evaluates susceptibility to influence by others. We conducted moderation analyses employing the PROCESS macro, with BMI as the central predictor, BD as the outcome variable, and suggestibility and its subscale as moderators. Results: The findings revealed statistically significant positive moderating interactions for both the general suggestibility index and susceptibility to influence by others. Specifically, women who exhibited high levels of suggestibility and susceptibility to influence by others demonstrated a more pronounced increase in BD as their BMI increased. Conclusions: These outcomes are in line with the sociocultural model of EDs, suggesting that greater susceptibility to external influences amplifies the impact of societal pressures to conform to thin ideals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Videos glamourising disordered eating practices and body image concerns readily circulate on TikTok. Minimal empirical research has investigated the impact of TikTok content on body image and eating behaviour. The present study aimed to fill this gap in current research by examining the influence of pro-anorexia TikTok content on young women's body image and degree of internalisation of beauty standards, whilst also exploring the impact of daily time spent on TikTok and the development of disordered eating behaviours. An experimental and cross-sectional design was used to explore body image and internalisation of beauty standards in relation to pro-anorexia TikTok content. Time spent on TikTok was examined in relation to the risk of developing orthorexia nervosa. A sample of 273 female-identifying persons aged 18–28 years were exposed to either pro-anorexia or neutral TikTok content. Pre- and post-test measures of body image and internalisation of beauty standards were obtained. Participants were divided into four groups based on average daily time spent on TikTok. Women exposed to pro-anorexia content displayed the greatest decrease in body image satisfaction and an increase in internalisation of societal beauty standards. Women exposed to neutral content also reported a decrease in body image satisfaction. Participants categorised as high and extreme daily TikTok users reported greater average disordered eating behaviour on the EAT-26 than participants with low and moderate use, however this finding was not statistically significant in relation to orthorexic behaviours. This research has implications for the mental health of young female TikTok users, with exposure to pro-anorexia content having immediate consequences for internalisation and body image dissatisfaction, potentially increasing one's risk of developing disordered eating beliefs and behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research has evidenced the importance of height dissatisfaction in male body image, however the impact of height on body image in women remains relatively unexplored. Our study aimed to investigate the association between height, heightdissatisfaction, body dissatisfaction, and eating disorder symptoms in a sample of 139 women from the USA. Participants were recruited using Amazon's MTurk and reported their actual and ideal height, as well as completing measures of height dissatisfaction, and drive for thinness, drive for muscularity, and eating disorder symptoms. A paired sample t-test was utilised to examine differences in participants' actual and ideal height. Additionally, linear hierarchical multiple regression was used to assess whether height, eating disorder symptoms, drive for thinness, and drive for muscularity uniquely predicted height dissatisfaction, and significant interactions were explored using a simple slope analysis complemented with a Johnson-Neyman analysis. Results showed that 48.92% of women reported identical actual and ideal height, 33.09% of women wanted to be taller, and 13.67% wanted to be shorter than their actual height. Additionally, shorter women tended to report greater height dissatisfaction, and higher levels of drive for thinness and drive for muscularity were associated with increased height dissatisfaction. However, eating disorder symptoms did not uniquely account for significant variance in height dissatisfaction once accounting for drive for thinness and muscularity. Our exploratory analysis also revealed that for taller than average women, height dissatisfaction was more strongly predicted by drive for muscularity, thus implicating the significance of height and muscle dissatisfaction for taller women. Overall, our study demonstrated that height and height dissatisfaction are important components to the theoretical construct of women's body image, and therefore should be integrated into theoretical models of female body dissatisfaction and considered in assessment, formulation, and treatment of body image-related disorders. Further research with larger and more diverse samples, including clinical populations, is warranted to validate and extend our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Body dissatisfaction during pregnancy can significantly impact maternal and child health. Therefore, this longitudinal study investigated changes in body dissatisfaction using two figure rating scales developed from photographic digital data of Japanese pregnant women during the sixth and tenth months of pregnancy. Study participants were recruited at their sixth month prenatal visit at a primary maternity clinic in Japan from October 2014 to March 2015. Body dissatisfaction was estimated based on the perceived and ideal body sizes of 135 pregnant women, expressed as body mass index. Data were collected using selfadministered questionnaires. The study found that body dissatisfaction in the tenth month was significantly higher than that in the sixth month. Among the participants, 75 (55.6%) and 79 (58.5%) experienced body dissatisfaction, desiring to be thinner (where perceived body size exceeded ideal body size) during the sixth and tenth months of pregnancy, respectively. Pregnant women who had body dissatisfaction and a desire to be thinner in the sixth month tended to experience an increase in body dissatisfaction by the tenth month compared to those without body dissatisfaction in the sixth month. During the sixth and tenth months, women with body dissatisfaction showed significantly larger perceived body sizes than those without body dissatisfaction. These results indicated that the use of a figure rating scale at the sixth month of pregnancy may help identify women with body dissatisfaction; moreover, perceived body size might be a key factor in preventing an increase in body dissatisfaction from the second to third trimesters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sexual function is one of the most critical challenges in human society, especially among women. The problems associated with sexual function are significantly ambiguous in a society like Iran. This study investigated the mediating role of sexual anxiety in relationship between sexual schemas and body image with female sexual function. Method: The research method was correlational and specifically path analysis. The statistical population included women aged 25–45 in Rasht, Iran, 2021. 365 women were selected using Cochran's formula and the convenience sampling method. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Sexual Self-Schema Scale for Women (SSSS), Body Image Scale (BIS), and Multidimensional Sexual Self-Concept Questionnaire (MSQ) were used for data collection. For data analysis, SPSS-26 and LISREL 10.2 software were used. Results: Descriptive data analysis showed that mean and standard deviation were for further passionate-romantic schema 22.96 and 4.83, open-direct schema 27.64 and 5.09, embarrassed-conservative 20.93 and 4.61, body image 128.96 and 27.35, sexual anxiety 13.13 and 3.91 and sexual function 49.83 and 8.67. According to the results of path analysis, passionate-romantic (β = 0.51), explicit-comfortable (β = 0.27), shy-conservative (β = -0.59), and body image (β = -0.62) schemas showed a significant relationship with sexual function. Sexual function anxiety as a mediating variable also had a significant role (β = -0.41) in female sexual function. Conclusion: Sexual function anxiety, negative body image, and negative sexual schema negatively affect women's sexual function, and positive sexual schemas and body image positively affect sexual function anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Exercise is an important intervention used to improve body image. The present non-randomized controlled trial aimed to examine the effects of Nirvana Fitness (NF) and functional training (FT) on body appreciation and its correlates in young women. Methods: Twenty-two students participated in FT, 21 in NF, and 47 in the control (CN) group. The mean age of the study participants was 22.79 ± 6.14 years. The FT and NF groups participated in sessions 2 days per week for 8 weeks, and the CN group did not participate in any sessions. All the participants were evaluated at pre- and post-intervention, filling in the Body Appreciation Scale 2 (BAS-2), Mind-Body Connection from the Physical Activity Body Experiences Questionnaire (PABEQ), Body Surveillance from the Objectified Body Consciousness Scale (OBCS), the Functionality Appreciation Scale (FAS), intrinsic exercise motivation from Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire 2 (BREQ-2), and perceived physical fitness. Results: Significant improvements were found in terms of all outcome measures in the FT group, and improvements of body and mind connection and body surveillance in the NF group, while no improvements were observed in the CN group. FT's effect on body appreciation appeared to operate through the improvement of the mind-body connection in the FT and NF groups and via decreased body surveillance in the FT group. Conclusion: These findings support the developmental theory of embodiment and provide initial evidence that professionally delivered FT and NF might be used as effective strategies for the promotion of positive body image in young women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saudi women have currently enjoyed many privileges, especially considering the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which stipulated the empowerment of Saudi women and the full opportunity for them to participate in all fields in a way that serves sustainable development within society. Given the importance of Saudi women and the presence of many goods and services that primarily target them, many famous websites within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia rely on the image of women to promote these goods and services. Hence, the problem of this study was determined in a main question, which is: What is the role of language and image connotation in advertising discourse on websites in promoting goods associated with the image of Saudi women? The semiotic study was adopted as one of the most important mechanisms for analyzing the advertising discourse of the image of women, relying on two basic semantic patterns, which are the linguistic pattern and the visual iconic pattern. This current study relied, in its theoretical framework, on Roland Barthes’s approach to reading the image, as it is based on two important linguistic and semiotic elements, through which the image moves from the world of investigation to the world of imagination, which is open to several readings and interpretations, namely designation and inclusion, and the current study is one of the qualitative research that seeks an accurate and in-depth description of the image and uses the survey method and the tool of semiotic discourse analysis. The study relied on the survey method, both descriptive and analytical. The researcher also used the method of systematic comparison and semiotic analysis to analyze the advertising image with all its contents. The study was conducted on a deliberate sample of the five most famous cartoon websites in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which are (Shein, Amazon, Extra, Noon, Namshi) with an advertising image for each of these advertising sites, which represent different activities of women’s interests. The total sample amounted to five image advertisements. The study reached a set of results, the most important of which are: 1 -The advertisements sampled for the study did not reflect the true position occupied by women in society, nor did they focus on the professional, family, and social roles assigned to them. They paid all their attention to show women in the image of women and the body as if they were an integral part of the goods and products on which the advertisement focused. 2 -The study showed that all the advertisements under study depended on the image of women as the most important main tool that advertising discourse employed in building the visual image of the recipient, due to the communicative and semantic possibilities that this image provided by focusing on the iconic, linguistic, and implicit pattern and the meanings and connotations it carried, such as the situations that appeared. The woman in the advertisement, her body shape, and other connotations carried by the advertisements as a sample of the study. 3- The website advertisements under study used a set of rhetorical and visual methods to influence, persuade, and entertain by focusing on plastic signs, iconic signs, and linguistic signs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Experiences of menopause and quality of life during menopause can vary extensively among women. While menopause has been associated with negative impacts on eating and body image, it is unclear to what extent quality of life differs by eating disorder risk status. The aim of this study was to explore how menopause symptoms and quality of life differ between those women at high‐ or low‐risk of an eating disorder and the potential protective role of body appreciation. Method: This cross‐sectional survey study explored differences in menopausal quality of life, body appreciation, and body dissatisfaction among women classified as high‐ or low‐risk of an eating disorder as part of a wider survey on aging, health, and psychological complaints during midlife. Participants were 255 females aged between 40 and 60 years. Participants were classified as high‐risk and low‐risk of an eating disorder based on Eating Attitudes Test‐26 (EAT‐26) scores. Differences between groups on the Menopause‐Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL), Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ‐16), and Body Appreciation Scale–2 were analyzed. The predictive relationship between menopausal quality of life and body appreciation was also explored. Results: Participants in the high‐risk group (n = 111) reported significantly poorer menopausal quality of life compared to the low‐risk group (n = 144), scoring significantly higher on the sexual, physical, and psychosocial subscales of the MENQOL. The high‐risk group also had significantly greater body dissatisfaction and less body appreciation than the low‐risk group. Overall, menopausal quality of life was a significant predictor of body appreciation. Discussion: Women with greater eating disorder risk may be faring less well with menopause. Treating and preventing menopause‐related eating disorders will benefit from interventions aimed at not only reducing body dissatisfaction, but actively bolstering body appreciation and supporting the sexual, physical, and psychosocial aspects of the menopausal transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Industria Textila is the property of Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Textile si Pielarie and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Engineering is critical for socio-economic development, however only a few women participate in engineering education and careers. This study aimed to identify the types of negative information propagated by the social networks of engineering students that could create barriers to students, and particularly women's retention in engineering education and careers, and assess whether they influence men and women differently. The study was exploratory hence six focus group discussions were conducted with undergraduate engineering students in their second, third, and fourth years of study in a Ghanaian university. An interview guide was used to, among others, examine the perceptions and misconceptions of students' social networks about engineering and the negative information that circulates within the networks. Demotivating information from students' social networks were mainly misconceptions such as (1) engineering is too difficult and strenuous for women, and only meant for strong and well-built people, (2) engineering negatively affects women's beauty and body image, (3) engineering makes women unfashionable and unattractive, and (4) engineering is a threat to marital and family lives. Both female and male students were negatively affected by misinformation about engineering being difficult and having limited job prospects as well as societal preferences for other programmes such as medicine. The misinformation could serve as a barrier, especially for students lacking 'faith and the spirit of perseverance' to pursue and graduate from engineering programmes. While efforts are being made to bridge the gender gap in engineering education and careers, there are misconceptions and misinformation that can hinder progress toward achieving the desired gender parity. Educational policies must integrate gender-responsive strategies including addressing the socio-cultural and stereotypical factors and public misconceptions. There is a need to provide strategic counselling services to engineering students to be able to cope with the effects of negative information from their social networks especially during the early years of their studies in the universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Humanities & Educational Sciences Journal is the property of Humanities & Educational Sciences Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Pregnant women undergo many physiological and psychological changes which can lead to body image disturbances and disordered eating. This study aimed to develop and validate a new scale measuring body image disturbances and disordered eating. The Maternal Body Image and Eating Behaviors Scale (MBIEB-S) was developed based on a multidimensional body image framework, qualitative insights into maternal body image and disordered eating, and limitations of existing instruments. In an online survey, 350 primiparous pregnant women completed the 72-item MBIEB-S. An exploratory factorial analysis yielded a six-factor model (50 items): Body Dissatisfaction, Overeating, Healthy Eating, Eating Restriction, Physical Exercise, and Avoidance. The scale has good convergent validity with related constructs (concerns about weight, shape and eating, eating restriction, and antenatal depression) and shows good criterion validity with relevant constructs (history of eating disorders and antenatal depression). The MBIEB-S measures key dimensions related to body image and eating behaviors during pregnancy, some of which may adversely affect both maternal and fetal health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/BackgroundDesign/MethodResultsConclusionSocial pressure to ‘bounce back’ and unrealistic body expectations place postpartum women at risk of body image dissatisfaction, depressive symptomology, and disordered eating. Prior research suggests that intuitive eating may reduce these risks. This study replicated a previous 2016 study between intuitive eating, postpartum depression, disordered eating, and body image satisfaction.Women over 18 who had given birth in the last four years were recruited through social media to complete an online survey. The final sample comprised 163 women aged between 21 and 42 years (M = 33.61, SD = 4.59) who were between one and 208 weeks postpartum (M = 78.27, SD = 53.40).Correlation analyses revealed significant negative associations between intuitive eating and body dissatisfaction, disordered eating, depression, and BMI. A hierarchical multiple linear regression demonstrated that body image dissatisfaction significantly predicted 29% of the variance in intuitive eating scores after controlling for BMI, disordered eating, and postpartum depression F(4, 133) = 68.71, p < .001. Body image dissatisfaction fully mediated the relationships between intuitive eating and disordered eating (c’ = -0.01, p = .359), and depression (c’ = 0.01, p = .427). There was a significant reduction in body dissatisfaction scores in the present sample compared to the 2016 cohort t(292.87) = 3.38, p < .001.These findings highlight the central role of body image and intuitive eating in postpartum wellbeing and emphasise the need for tailored interventions promoting realistic postpartum body expectations and adaptive eating behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Negative body image in female adolescents is a sign of the times, but it is also a current global issue due to its implications for the onset of health-compromising behaviours and the increasing power of appearance-based social media. The aim of this study is to investigate the protective role of a life-skills based intervention during PE classes in adolescent girls against increasing body dissatisfaction resulting from body composition changes and to assess the impact of intervention on the skill of setting goals. Method: The study involved 81 female students aged 12–14 years and used a pre-test/post-test control group design. Students participating in a 15-lesson programme (experimental group) were compared to those who had regular PE lessons (control group). Students completed self-reported measures of the analysed life skills. Anthropometric and body composition measurements were also taken. Results: Despite more rapid biological changes during the programme (significantly higher waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, BMI at post-test compared to the control group, not observed at baseline) the experimental group stayed at the same level of body dissatisfaction as at baseline ("mild concern"). In goal setting, lack of participation in the programme produced a negative change in the performance-avoid goal orientation (PAGO) dimension (p=0.005) in the control group. Conclusions: The study suggests that a preventive intervention targeting life skills can be successfully implemented in PE settings and have a probable mitigating effect on body image dissatisfaction, even in situations when subjects experience intensive biological changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This body image study tests the viability of transferring a complex psychophysical paradigm from a controlled in-person laboratory task to an online environment. 172 female participants made online judgements about their own body size when viewing images of computer-generated female bodies presented in either in front-view or at 45-degrees in a method of adjustment (MOA) paradigm. The results of these judgements were then compared to the results of two laboratory-based studies (with 96 and 40 female participants respectively) to establish three key findings. Firstly, the results show that the accuracy of online and in-lab estimates of body size are comparable, secondly that the same patterns of visual biases in judgements are shown both in-lab and online, and thirdly online data shows the same view-orientation advantage in accuracy in body size judgements as the laboratory studies. Thus, this study suggests that that online sampling potentially represents a rapid and accurate way of collecting reliable complex behavioural and perceptual data from a more diverse range of participants than is normally sampled in laboratory-based studies. It also offers the potential for designing stratified sampling strategies to construct a truly representative sample of a target population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The present study examined the relative roles of approach and avoidance motivation in eating pathology using a multi-method approach combining self-report and physiological measures. The potential effect of internalized ideals and fears was also investigated. Methods: Fifty-seven undergraduate women completed a picture-viewing task in which they viewed images of women's bodies (thin and non-thin) and affective images. Self-report ratings of valence and arousal were measured along with physiological indicators of approach (postauricular reflex) and avoidance (startle blink reflex) motivation. Results: Greater eating pathology was associated with more negative valence ratings of both thin and non-thin images. There was a significant interaction between valence ratings of non-thin bodies and fear of the unattractive self in relation to eating pathology, such that eating pathology was highest in those who rated non-thin images as more unpleasant and internalized fears of being/becoming unattractive. Thin-ideal internalization did not significantly interact with ratings of thin images to predict eating pathology. There were no significant findings when examining physiological data. Conclusions: Results from self-report measures suggest that eating pathology is associated with avoidant reactions to both thin and non-thin bodies and highlight the importance of internalized appearance-related fears. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Alterations of the sensory-motor body schema question the origins of such distortions. For example, in anorexia nervosa where patients think they are broader than they really are (body image) but act as if it was really the case (body schema). To date, the results of studies about what hinders the updating of the body schema so much (weight, body image) have been contradictory. Methods: We therefore conducted two studies that aimed to assess the impact of weight and body image problems on body schema in 92 young women without anorexia nervosa. For this purpose, we used a new body schema assessment tool (SKIN) that is sensitive enough to detect fine alterations of body schema in seven different body parts. Results: In Study 1, the thinness or overweight of the young women had a major impact on their tactile perception, especially because the assessed body part was a sensitive area for body dissatisfaction in young women (e.g., belly, thigh). In Study 2, the level of body dissatisfaction of the participants in its attitudinal and perceptual dimension also had a negative impact on their body schema, again in interaction with weight and body part. Conclusions: These results imply that body dissatisfaction and thinness are predictors of massive body schema distortions. An oversized body schema could maintain various weight-control behaviors, thus risking the development, maintenance, or relapse of an eating disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much of the existing knowledge regarding the impact of beauty ideals and body positive social media content on women's body image is based on the Western cultural context. This limits our understanding of the issue in other cultures, such as China, among others. Therefore, to address this gap, this study examined young Chinese women's perspectives on beauty ideals and body positivity in social media through a qualitative investigation. Female university students in China (N = 24) participated in individual interviews. A thematic analysis revealed four primary themes: (1) characteristics of mainstream beauty ideals in Chinese social media; (2) impact of beauty ideals on young women; (3) perspectives on the content and roles of body positivity; (4) influences of body positive social media content on young women. These findings indicate that young Chinese women are aware of the beauty ideals in social media and their negative impact on their body image. Furthermore, young Chinese women generally expressed a favorable outlook on body positivity but noted its limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to compare the mental health and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) of adolescents in two cross-sectional cohorts, one measured in 2003 and the other in 2015, both at age 15 and across sexes. The study also sought to estimate the association between mental health and CRF in the two cohorts and examine the relationship between the level of CRF and mental health in each cohort overall and by sex. Data from 443 participants born in 1988 (228 males, 215 females) and 303 participants born in 1999 (126 males, 177 females) were analyzed. Mental health was assessed using self-reports of body image, self-esteem, and symptoms of depression and anxiety. CRF was estimated using a maximal cycle ergometer test. From 2003 to 2015, body image scores improved (p =.043), self-esteem remained stable, and CRF declined significantly (p <.001). No self-esteem differences were observed between sexes in any cohort. Males had higher CRF and body image scores than females in both cohorts (p <.001 for all comparisons). Higher CRF correlated with fewer depressive symptoms across sexes and cohorts. Specifically, higher CRF was associated with anxiety in females and improved body image in males (2003) and both sexes (2015). Increased CRF was linked to higher self-esteem in females but not in males. Overall, higher CRF levels were associated with better mental health outcomes for both sexes. These results highlight the potential of improving adolescent mental health through increased physical fitness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Museum of Vancouver in Canada recently held an exhibition titled "Dressed for History: Why Costume Collections Matter: Women’s Fashion 1750–2000." The exhibition showcased 250 years of women's fashion through pieces loaned from four fashion and costume collectors in British Columbia. The exhibition aimed to provide insights into period aesthetics, garment construction, and societal expectations of women's comportment. It featured a variety of styles and designers, including Dior, Mary Quant, Vivienne Westwood, and Issey Miyake, representing different cultural identities and societal perceptions of women's bodies throughout history. The exhibition aimed to challenge Eurocentric perspectives, although it still had limitations in terms of representation. The article suggests that the exhibition could have been more immersive and interactive to engage visitors further. Overall, the exhibition highlighted the importance of costume collections and raised questions about collecting and preservation practices. [Extracted from the article]

Aim: This study aimed to compare the self-compassion and body image of women from different ethnicities (Azeri, Kurdish, Persian) in Urmia city, and in fact, The goal was to create a fundamental understanding of the phenomenon of the subject of research. Method: This is Causal-comparative research whose statistical population consisted of 342 women selected in 2022. Through a Stratified Sampling method, Statistical populations were chosen based on inclusion criteria and randomly assigned (Stratified random sampling). Data collection tools included a demographic checklist NEF(2003) Self-compassion scale (SCS); Cash et al(1990)Multidimensional Body-Self Relations questionnaire (MSRQ). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was applied by the SPSS-26 program. Result: Therefore, according to the results of the present study, There is no significant difference in the level of self-compassion (F=0.64 and P <0.05) and body image(F=0.66 and P <0.05) among different ethnicities. Based on this basic research, it is suggested that psychosocial variables should be investigated more in future research because a better understanding of them, provides a framework by which we can understand how we identify ourselves, and how we interact in groups and society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has demonstrated an impact of exposure to appearance-focused social media images on measures of female body image. However, the processes through which social media users consider and respond to appearance-focused content whilst browsing, or the degree to which this is reflective of their reactions to images typically encountered during every day browsing, are not fully understood. Think Aloud Protocol (TAP) was used to collect real-time, concurrent responses to Instagram content during two browsing tasks. Female participants browsed a set of 20 predefined fitspiration images, embedded within an online profile, and their own Instagram feed. Content analyses revealed that patterns of attentional focus in both tasks indicated the natural evaluation of images to extend far beyond simple comparison with the physical appearance of women. Participants engaged in more appearance appraisals when browsing fitspiration images compared to when browsing their own feed. A framework for understanding natural engagement with Instagram content is described which identifies the importance of extended social information when observing and judging appearance-focused images, via social media, that may be harmful to body image. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between pregnant women's exercise attitude and their perceptions of motherhood and body. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, comparative, and correlational study. Data were collected using a descriptive characteristics form, the Exercise Attitude Scale for Pregnant Women, and the Self-Perception of Pregnants Scale. The study sample consisted of 262 pregnant women who applied to a University Hospital, between July and October 2022. Data were assessed with t-test, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression analysis. Results: There was found no relationship between Exercise Attitude Scale scores and the mean scores motherhood and body perception. However, the relationship between Exercise Attitude Scale's knowledge level and maternal perception score was positive. The relationship between Exercise Attitude Scale's barrier sub-dimension score and maternal perception was negative, while the relationship between the Exercise Attitude Scale sub-dimension barrier and body perception was positive. Pregnant women who were informed about exercise and believed in the benefits of exercise had positive maternal and body perceptions. Conclusion: To increase the adaptation of pregnant women their pregnancy, their exercise knowledge should be increased and their barriers should be reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women of childbearing age, associated with increased incidence of emotional disorders, anxiety and depression. Objective: The aim was of this study was to investigate whether those women reporting PCOS differed to women without PCOS in measures of psychological well-being including body-image satisfaction and self-esteem across a Middle Eastern population. Materials and methods: An online survey link of 21 questions was shared and distributed across social media platforms (Instagram and WhatsApp). The main outcome measured was levels of self-esteem and body image satisfaction in association with symptoms experienced by the participants. Results: 12,199 female subjects completed the survey of whom 3,329 respondents (27.3%) self-reported a diagnosis of PCOS. PCOS respondents felt less attractive compared to non-PCOS respondents (73.9% vs 80.5%, p<0.0001). More respondents with PCOS reported avoidance of their reflection in the mirror (61.7% vs 49.8%, p<0.001) and avoidance of social interactions (22.3% vs 32.3%, p<0.0001). More PCOS respondents wanted to lose weight (75.2% vs 68.5%, p<0.001) with increasing weight being associated with being less attractive (p<0.001). Fewer PCOS respondents felt satisfied/confident compared non-PCOS respondents (38.6% vs 50.7%, p<0.001). Conclusion: PCOS respondents reported significantly lower measures of self-esteem and body image satisfaction compared to non-PCOS respondents in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We capitalized on the respiratory bodily illusion that we discovered in a previous study and called 'Embreathment' where we showed that breathing modulates corporeal awareness in men. Despite the relevance of the issue, no such studies are available in women. To bridge this gap, we tested whether the synchronization of avatar-participant respiration patterns influenced females' bodily awareness. We collected cardiac and respiratory interoceptive measures, administered body (dis)satisfaction questionnaires, and tracked participants' menstrual cycles via a mobile app. Our approach allowed us to characterize the 'Embreathment' illusion in women, and explore the relationships between menstrual cycle, interoception and body image. We found that breathing was as crucial as visual appearance in eliciting feelings of ownership and held greater significance than any other cue with respect to body agency in both women and men. Moreover, a positive correlation between menstrual cycle days and body image concerns, and a negative correlation between interoceptive sensibility and body dissatisfaction were found, confirming that women's body dissatisfaction arises during the last days of menstrual cycle and is associated with interoception. These findings have potential implications for corporeal awareness alterations in clinical conditions like eating disorders and schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Health care providers may lack data‐driven guidance about best practises for discussing weight. We assessed women's self‐perception of body mass index (BMI) and preferences for weight counselling by provider characteristics and the initiating question. A voluntary, anonymous survey was completed by 756 women (age ≥ 19 year) at our tertiary care obstetrics and gynaecology clinics in autumn 2021. The respondents' height and weight were collected before respondents selected graphics from a validated Body Image Scale that they felt best represented their current body size and which graphs should prompt weight loss or gain recommendations. Respondents were asked their preferences about provider characteristics for discussion about weight and to identify which of six initiating questions from a provider was most and least preferred. Blank responses were allowed. In 708 responses, 366 women (52%) selected the most accurate graphic that corresponded to their BMI; the selected graphic represented a lower than actual BMI in 268 women (38%) and higher in 74 women (10%). In 648 responses, 374 women (58%) preferred a female provider, but provider body shape, ethnicity/race and age were not important to most women. The most preferred question to initiate a discussion about weight was "A lot of women have trouble achieving or maintaining a healthy weight; is that something we can discuss?" in 181 of 555 women (33%), and the least preferred question was "Do you feel like you are at an appropriate weight?" in 172 of 554 women (31%). Provider knowledge about patient preferences regarding questions may facilitate the discussion about weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the prevalence and predictors of poor body image and its influence on low self-esteem and depression in middle-aged women. The study was a cross-sectional survey of 372 women using a predesigned online questionnaire. Main outcome measures were mean scores on the nine-point body image scale (BIS) and prevalence of poor body image (BIS ≥ 10). Significant sociodemographic, physical and mental health predictors of BIS ≥ 10 were established using logistic regression analysis. Correlation of body image with self-esteem, assessed by Rosenberg's self-esteem scale, and depression, assessed by Beck's Depression Inventory, was established using Pearson's correlation coefficient and the odds ratios were determined using logistic regression analysis. The mean scores obtained for body image were 5.52 (standard deviation 4.82) and the prevalence of BIS ≥ 10 was 17.4%. Significant predictors of poor body image were education status (0.59, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.39–0.89), body mass index (2.26, 95% CI = 1.12–4.55), social support structure (0.35, 95% CI = 0.16–0.79), diagnosis of mental illness (3.74, 95% CI = 1.31–10.66) and perception of menopause (positive vs. negative: 0.20, 95% CI = 0.07–0.55). Body image scores correlated with self-esteem (r = −0.46; 95% CI = −0.54 to −0.38) and depression (r = 0.59; 95% CI = 0.52–0.65). BIS ≥ 10 significantly increased the odds of low self-esteem (5.71; 95% CI = 2.66–12.26) and depression (11.25; 95% CI = 4.9–27.7). The prevalence of poor body image in middle-aged women was 17.4%. This strongly correlated with low self-esteem and depression. A lower education status, higher body mass index, a negative perception of menopause, poor social support structure and a history of mental health diagnosis increased the odds of poor body image prevalence in middle-aged women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Approximately 85% of women experience an obstetric tear at delivery and up to 25% subsequently experience wound dehiscence and/or infection. Previous publications suggest that intravenous antibiotics administrated during delivery reduces this risk. We do not know if oral antibiotics given after delivery can reduce the risk of wound dehiscence or infection. Our aim is to investigate whether three doses of oral antibiotics (amoxicillin 500 mg/clavulanic acid 125 mg) given after delivery can reduce the risk of wound dehiscence and infection in patients with a second-degree obstetric tear or episiotomy. Methods: We will perform a randomized, controlled, double-blinded study including 221women in each arm with allocation 1:1 in relation to the randomization. The study is carried out at Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Herlev University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. The women will be included after delivery if they have had a second-degree tear or episiotomy. After inclusion, the women will have a clinical follow-up visit after 1 week. The tear and healing will be evaluated regarding signs of infection and/or dehiscence. The women will again be invited for a 1-year clinical examination including ultrasound. Questionnaires exploring symptoms related to the obstetric tear and possible complications will be answered at both visits. Our primary outcome is wound dehiscence and/or wound infection, which will be calculated using χ2 tests to compare groups. Secondary outcomes are variables that relate to wound healing, as pain, use of painkillers and antibiotics, need for further follow-up, as well as outcomes that may be related to the birth or healing process, urinary or anal incontinence, symptoms of prolapse, female body image, and sexual problems. Discussion: Reducing the risk of wound dehiscence and/or infection would decrease the number of control visits, prevent the need for longer antibiotic treatment, and possibly also decrease both short-term and long-term symptoms. This would be of great importance so the mother, her partner, and the baby could establish and optimize their initial family relation. Trial registration: The conduction of this study is approved the 2/2–2023 with the EU-CT number: 2022–501930-49–00. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05830162. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to Instagram content and photo manipulation behaviors may negatively impact women's body image. However, some studies did not find support for this assumption. The current study aimed to explore this issue further. The first objective was to investigate associations between self-reported frequency of following Instagram beauty-related and body positive-related accounts and content and body image dimensions (i.e., Body Dysmorphic Disorder [BDD] symptoms, body appreciation, and body functionality appreciation). To achieve this, we controlled for the role of Instagram appearance comparison and internalization of general attractiveness ideal. As for the second objective, the influence of Instagram filter use was assessed: two groups of Instagram filter users (high-frequency and low-frequency users) and non-users were compared on dimensions of Instagram use and body image. Findings from a sample of 149 female undergraduates demonstrated that self-reported frequency of following body positive Instagram content was associated with higher levels of BDD symptoms even after controlling for appearance comparison and internalization of general attractiveness ideal. Conversely, the self-reported frequency of following beauty content was not. Moreover, positive body image dimensions were not associated with self-reported frequency of following any Instagram content. High-frequency Instagram filter users reported a higher frequency of following beauty content and higher levels of appearance comparison and internalization of general attractiveness ideal compared to non-users. However, these two groups did not differ on negative and positive body image dimensions. Finally, low-frequency Instagram filter users did not differ on any investigated dimensions from the other two groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prophylactic Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy (PBSO) may be associated with body image distress (BID). However, the risk factors of BID after PBSO and its sexual and relational consequences are still largely understudied. This study aimed at investigating 1) the frequency of BID after PBSO; 2) the role of previous medical treatments for breast cancer and age on BID; and 3) the mediating role of couple satisfaction on the relationship between BID and sexual distress. Fifty-nine women (Mage: 50.64 ± 6.7 years) who underwent PBSO took part in this cross-sectional study, filling out a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire, and self-report measures of body image, sexual distress and couple satisfaction. Statistical analyses included the Kruskal–Wallis test and a mediation model. One third (33.9%; N = 20) of the participants reported a BID. The areas of major concern were those related to physical appearance and attractiveness. Women younger than 50 years old and with a history of invasive treatments for breast cancer (i.e., mastectomy plus chemotherapy or radiotherapy) reported the highest levels of BID. Moreover, BID was a significant positive predictor of sexual distress (β =.385; p <.001), and couple satisfaction significantly mediated this association [.008,.384]; p =.041). BID is a common issue among women who underwent PBSO, being associated with negative relational and sexual consequences. Given their greater risk to develop BID, women younger than 50 years old and with an history of invasive breast cancer treatment may require ad-hoc, tailored psychological interventions to foster their body self-acceptance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This review aimed to identify, characterize, map, and summarize existing knowledge about the relationship of perceived body image with the quality of life (QoL) of women who have undergone surgical treatment for breast cancer. Methods: A scoping review was conducted following the PRISMA‐ScR guidelines. PubMed, PsycINFO and Scopus databases were searched, and articles published until August 2022 were included. Results: The search resulted in 796 records, and 51 articles were included for analysis. A significant negative impact on body image perception and QoL after surgical treatment for breast cancer was found in the majority of studies. Sociodemographic variables such as age, education, socioeconomic status, unstable attachment styles and time after the surgery may have an effect on a worsening of the overall body image and QoL score of women. It was found that there was greater dissatisfaction with body image in women who underwent mastectomy compared to those who underwent conservative surgery. Conclusion: Evidence has shown that breast cancer surgery affects the perceived body image and QoL of patients worldwide. Age, education, socioeconomic status, and the type of surgery are potential factors influencing these outcomes. It is worth noting that the review encompassed articles from various countries, reflecting a significant cultural diversity among the studied populations. However, most of these articles did not delve into an analysis of these cultural disparities. This review also indicated insufficient details regarding the assessment instruments used to assess perceived body image. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a summary of a special issue titled "Health and Performance through Sports at All Ages 2.0" from the Journal of Functional Morphology & Kinesiology. The special issue explores the impact of physical activity and sports on health and human performance across all age groups. It highlights the numerous health benefits of sports participation, including improved cardiovascular health, musculoskeletal strength, and weight management. The articles in the special issue cover a range of topics, such as the effectiveness of different exercise programs, the impact of physical activity on cognitive function, and barriers to physical activity for individuals with disabilities. Overall, the research emphasizes the importance of regular physical activity for maintaining health and optimizing performance throughout life. [Extracted from the article]

Background: The human body changes during life, but research on how sociodemographic characteristics and physical activity (PA) related to all aspects of body image are still unclear and there is conflict in the relevant results. This study aims to examine gender-specific body image perception and physical activity in relation to BMI and sociodemographic characteristics among health employees who worked in health and medical care centers. Methods: The study was a population-based cross-sectional survey of 170 health employees (55 men and 115 women) in Binaloud, Iran. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire, which consisted of a self-administered Multidimensional Body-Self Image Questionnaire (MBSRQ) and stages of change scales. The full version of Marcus-TTM based on the stages of physical activity changes was used based on 5 items related to regular physical activity behavior and intentions. Results: There were no significant differences between men and women in total body image score, body area satisfaction, and attitude. Disease orientation (p = 0.02) and health orientation (p = 0.05) were the only significant differences between men and women. The number of children, level of education, BMI, and PA had a stronger influence on body image concerns and body dissatisfaction. PA and 7 of the 10 subclasses of MBSRQ (appearance evaluation, fitness evaluation, fitness orientation, health evaluation, health orientation, and illness orientation) showed a significant difference (P<0.05) between participants in the five TTM stages. Conclusion: The ideal body image and body satisfaction may differ by the number of children, level of education, gender, BMI, and PA. Evidence from this study supports that participants' stages of change affect their physical activity and body image perception. This result suggests a need for conducting work/home place intervention to promote adults' body image perception and body area satisfaction based on the usage-specific stage under consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most studies on the effects of social media on young women's ideal body image and self-perceptions are focused on the exposure to thinness and/or fitness portrayals that emphasize the thin ideal. However, today's digital content exhibits the ideal female body as a hybrid of physical characteristics such as an hourglass figure consisting of full breasts, thin waists, and large buttocks of well-known celebrities (or influencers) on social media and specifically on the social media platform, Instagram. A fusion of attributes from Kim Kardashian, Scarlet Johansson, and other curvy celebrities reflects the "ideal body" that is voluptuous rather than thin all over. Like the ultra thin ideal, this voluptuous ideal body represents a physical figure that is impossible to achieve for most women. Based on sociocultural theory Thompson et al. (1999) and social comparison theory Festinger (1954), the present study surveyed 189 emerging adult women's use of Instagram and employed a three-stage serial mediational model of Instagram use and endorsement of the voluptuous body ideal. Results found intensity of Instagram use to be linked to viewing Instagram as a source of information and pressure, which was then linked to participants making more appearance-related comparisons and greater endorsement of a voluptuous body type as ideal. Our study indicates the thin ideal is not the only harmful and influential pressure on women's body image and supports our argument that the influence of the voluptuous body types should not be overlooked by researchers as well as therapists, counselors, and educators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many young women are dissatisfied with their bodies. This study investigated the effect on current body dissatisfaction levels of a newly developed evaluative conditioning procedure that paired self-similar and self-dissimilar images of bodies with positive and neutral affective images, respectively. We hypothesized that learning the contingency that self-similar bodies predict positive affectivity is one process that could aid in explaining how these procedures function. Methods: Adult women without disordered eating pathology participated in an online experiment with random assignment to an intervention or a control condition. All participants initially rated body images in self-similarity and were subsequently asked to categorize positive and neutral images by valence as quickly and accurately as possible. In the intervention condition, self-similar bodies systematically preceded positive images, and self-dissimilar images preceded neutral images, creating a similar body → positive contingency. Pairings in the control condition were unsystematic such that no contingency was present. We measured categorization latencies and accuracies to infer contingency learning as well as current body dissatisfaction immediately before and after exposure to the pairings. All participants further completed measures of trait body image concerns and disordered eating psychopathology at baseline, which we examined as moderators of an expected relation between condition assignment, contingency learning, and body dissatisfaction improvements. Results: We analyzed data from N = 173 women fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Moderated mediation analyses showed that assignment to the intervention (vs. control) condition predicted increased similar body → positive contingency learning, which in turn predicted improved body dissatisfaction post-intervention, but only among women with higher pre-existing trait body image concerns or disordered eating levels. Conclusions: The findings point toward the relevancy of further exploring the utility of pairing procedures. Similar body → positive contingency learning predicted improved body dissatisfaction in individuals with normatively high body image concerns, which suggests pairing procedures could help inform future research on reducing body dissatisfaction. Plain English summary: Many people are dissatisfied with how their bodies look or how much they weigh. Body dissatisfaction can increase the risk of developing an eating disorder. This study tested a method for reducing body dissatisfaction among women. The method included pairing pictures of bodies judged as similar to one's own body with positive pictures. For one half of the study participants, we arranged the pairings in a way that one could systematically learn that similar body pictures and positive pictures go together. Compared to the other half of study participants who were shown pairings by chance, we found that study participants indeed learned that similar body pictures and positive pictures go together. Moreover, this learning made participants who were generally dissatisfied with their bodies or who reported disordered eating symptoms more satisfied with their bodies immediately after the procedure. These findings suggest that the method could be further developed, investigated, and used in treating or preventing eating disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between weight gain and body image perception in in middle-aged women. Methods: Cross-sectional study with 453 women. Body image was assessed using the Stunkard scale, in which women were classified as: satisfied or dissatisfied (general, thinness or obesity). The identification of possible factors associated with body image dissatisfaction was performed using binary logistic regression analysis. Results: The mean age was 55.7 (±9.6) years; 80.8% were classified as dissatisfied with body image. As for body composition, women satisfied with their body image had lower values of body fat and higher values of lean mass. In the logistic regression, for general dissatisfaction and obesity, the associated variables were BMI, education and physical activity. As for "dissatisfaction with thinness", only BMI was associated. Conclusion: Thus, the prevalence of body image dissatisfaction is high in women and part of associated factors are linked to lifestyle behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This systematic review aimed to summarize evidence for the feasibility and acceptability of psychosocial interventions for body image among women diagnosed with breast cancer and the study methods used to evaluate the interventions in question. Methods: Articles were identified via MEDLINE, CINAHL, CENTRAL, PsychINFO, and EMBASE. Inclusion criteria were: (1) peer‐reviewed publication in English from 2000 onward with accessible full‐text, (2) reported data on the feasibility and/or acceptability of psychosocial interventions and/or study methods, (3) included at least one measure of body image or reported a body‐related theme, and (4) sample comprised women diagnosed with breast cancer. All study designs were eligible. Two reviewers independently performed study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment. Results: Sixty‐two articles were included. Participants and comparator groups varied as did interventions. Feasibility and acceptability of the interventions and study methods were inconsistently operationalized and reported across studies. Evidence of feasibility and acceptability was heterogeneous within and across studies, though mostly positive. Conclusion: Published psychosocial interventions for body image and study methods are generally feasible and acceptable. Findings should be used to advance the development, implementation, and evaluation of interventions designed to improve outcomes (body image or otherwise) for women diagnosed with breast cancer. Systematic review registration: This review was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; ID: CRD42021269062, 11 September 2021). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]