Your body image is influenced by those around you – ScienceDaily

In a new study, researchers examined the influence of social interactions on body image. They found that in addition to previous findings that having people with preoccupation with their body image was detrimental, spending time with people who were not centered on their bodies had a positive impact.

"Our research suggests that the social context has a significant impact on how we perceive our body in general and on a given day," said Kathryn Miller, a PhD candidate in Clinical Psychology in Waterloo. "Specifically, when others around us are not focused on their bodies, this can be helpful to our own body image."

Miller conducted this study with Allison Kelly, a professor of psychology in clinical psychology in Waterloo and Waterloo undergraduate student Elizabeth Stephen.

In this study, the researchers asked 92 undergraduates aged 17 to 25 to keep a daily diary for seven consecutive days and reflected on their interactions with body-focused and non-body-focused people.

The study measured the frequency of daily interactions of participants with people focused on the body and not focused on the body, their degree of body badessment, which means how much is valued for their body regardless of its size or of his form, of his bodily satisfaction, and to know if they ate intuitively in alignment. with their hunger and cravings rather than focusing on their dietary and weight goals.

"Bodily dissatisfaction is ubiquitous and can have a tremendous impact on our mood, our self-esteem, our relationships and even the activities we pursue," Kelly said. "It's important to realize that the people with whom we spend time really influence our body image.If we can spend more time with people who are not concerned about their bodies, we can actually feel a lot better with our own body."

The researchers also discovered that it could be advantageous to spend more time with non-focused people on the body to protect themselves from eating disorders and promote a more intuitive diet.

"If more women were trying to focus less on their weight / their shape, it could result in a workout effect altering social norms for the image of women's bodies in a positive direction," said Miller. "It is also important for women to know that they have the opportunity to positively influence their surroundings through their relationships with their own bodies."

The study appears in Body Image, an international research journal.

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