The present study was designed to develop predictive models for understanding body dissatisfaction among young males and females (N=1377N=1377) in China. Six factors were assessed, including body mass index (BMI), perception of teasing, social pressure to be thin, appearance comparison, thin-ideal internalization and perceived social support. Variables were examined respectively for males and females. One SEM model, which had good fit indices, was developed for each gender. For both genders, BMI exerted its influence on body image directly and indirectly through perception of teasing. Two sources of sociocultural influence, perception of teasing and social pressure to be thin, also directly predicted body dissatisfaction. Gender differences were found in the relation between mediational mechanisms (social comparison and thin-ideal internalization) and body dissatisfaction. For females but not males, social comparison and internalization acted as weak but significant mediators between sociocultural influence and body image concerns. Implications and limitations are discussed.
A wide-ranging review of research literature suggests that dissatisfaction with body size and shape is a common concern for adolescents and young adults. Approximately, 60% of females and 30% of males report a desire to change their body size or shape (Ricciardelli & McCabe, 2001) and nearly 25% of adolescent females report clinically significant levels of body dissatisfaction (Stice & Whitenton, 2002). Body dissatisfaction is associated with emotional distress, low sense of self-value and eating disorders (Chen et al., 2006; Hoffman & Brownell, 1997; Stice & Whitenton, 2002). Many factors have been implicated in the onset and maintenance of body image problems, including biological factors (e.g., body mass index), psychological factors (e.g., perfectionism, negative affect, low self-esteem) and sociocultural factors (e.g., family, peer, romantic partner and media) (Littleton & Ollenclick, 2003). Moreover, predictive models for the onset and maintenance of body image disturbance or eating problems have been developed and tested during the last decade, emphasizing the influence of sociocultural factors (Keery, van den Berg, & Thompson, 2004; Muris, Meesters, Blom, & Mayer, 2005; Ricciardelli, McCabe, Holt, & Finemore, 2003; Stice, 2001).
