Body image

Running Head : BODY IMAGE

Body Image

[Name of the writer]

[Name of the Institution]

Abstract

The extent to which the construct of body image is measurement invariant across ethnic groups is an important consideration for studies examining ethnic differences and characteristics that influence body image disturbances . However , the literature examining the body image construct as a function of ethnic group membership is limited . The primary aim of this study was to investigate whether Hispanic /biethnic-Hispanic and non-Hispanic White preadolescent girls (aged 8 through 12 years ) had fundamentally different

conceptualizations of body image in a low to low /middle socioeconomic status school-based sample . Our findings suggest that the measurement construct of body image was similar and relatively stable for Hispanic /biethnic-Hispanic and non-Hispanic White preadolescent girls . In addition , the body image construct was predictably related to dised eating symptoms in both groups , with different dimensions of body image differentially predictive by ethnic group . Overall , body image appears to be a meaningful construct with similar measurement meanings across Hispanic /biethnic-Hispanic and non-Hispanic White ethnic groups Body Image

Introduction

Body image is a complex construct that refers to an individual 's overall appearance or to more specific concerns , such as body shape . It is multidimensional , consisting of perceptual , evaluative , and affective (or attitudinal ) dimensions . The evaluative dimension , which incorporates body dissatisfaction (i .e , feelings about one 's body build ) and body esteem (i .e , global ratings of much one likes his or her body , is the aspect of body image most frequently studied in children . The body image construct has received progressively more attention with children and adolescents in the past few decades due to increasing rates of eating diss and obesity in these populations In general , disturbances in body image are commonly believed to be underlying factors in the development of eating diss . Biological psychological , and sociocultural factors are all believed to influence body dissatisfaction and body esteem , thereby contributing to disturbances in body image

Although adolescence has been the primary developmental period addressed in the childhood dised eating literature , recent research has shown that biological , psychological , and sociocultural risk factors are beginning to emerge in preadolescence . For example , pubertal development and body mass index (BMI ) were found to significantly predict dised eating and psychosocial adjustment (Tremblay Frigon , 2005 ) in pre- and early adolescence . Furthermore , studies have found that parental attitudes toward their child 's appearance are beginning to change well in advance of adolescence . Parents of grade school children reported less positive evaluation , less praise , and more criticism of their child as well as more efforts to change their child 's physical appearance than did parents of younger children . Research has also shown that the opinions of peers are increasing in influence during preadolescence . The importance that peers place on weight and eating was found to be strongly correlated with girls ' weight concerns , and exposure to peer dieting techniques and peer investment in dieting was found to be significantly associated with dised eating as girls approached adolescence . Thus , preadolescence is now...