نقش تاثیر گروه همسالان بر نارضایتی از بدن دختران و رژیم غذایی

Introduction Peer influence is considered a global construct, although the effects of its various dimensions on body dissatisfaction and dieting via internalisation of the thin ideal and social comparison have yet to be analysed. Objective The aim of this study was to analyse how the different dimensions of peer influence (i.e., perception of teasing, appearance conversation with friends and peer attributions about the importance of appearance with regard to popularity) affect body dissatisfaction and dieting. Method A total of 298 Italian adolescent girls and young women completed a questionnaire assessing different dimensions of peer influence, internalisation of the thin ideal, social comparison, body dissatisfaction and dieting. Results The results indicated that peer attributions and appearance conversations with friends affect body dissatisfaction and dieting through internalisation and social comparison. Teasing had a direct effect on girls’ dissatisfaction levels. Conclusions The current findings have important preventive and treatment implications. Preventive interventions should not target sociocultural influences as a whole, rather they should analyse the specific dimensions of peer influence, with consideration for the degree to which girls internalise sociocultural messages and engage in social comparison.

This study evaluated the contributions of different forms of peer influence with regard to explaining the variance associated with body dissatisfaction and dietary restraint among Italian adolescent girls and young women. The specific role of internalisation and social comparison as key mediational processes was investigated. This combination of factors accounted for a good amount of variance in the levels of body dissatisfaction and dieting. The results clarified the relation between the different types of peer influence and a number of psychological processes that may be responsible for high levels of body dissatisfaction and unsafe eating behaviours in this population. Firstly, and consistent with the literature, body dissatisfaction was a significant predictor of dieting (Stice, 2002 and Stice and Shaw, 2002), such that Italian adolescent girls and young women who showed greater dissatisfaction with their bodies were more likely to adopt this type of behaviour.