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Publication

Perfection hurts: Identity formation and body image throughout adolescence and emerging adulthood

Book - Dissertation

During adolescence and emerging adulthood, body image becomes a central component of adolescents' self-concept. Together with physical changes during puberty, such a heightened focus on appearance strongly influences body image. The number of young people experiencing their body in a negative way is so high that body image concerns - especially in girls and women - are thought to be the norm rather than the exception. Body dissatisfaction, in turn, is a risk factor for several physical and mental health problems, but especially so for eating disorder symptoms. Although the role of body dissatisfaction has been widely addressed in sociocultural theories on the onset and course of different pathological behaviors, specific key mechanisms that influence body image throughout adolescence and emerging adulthood have not been dealt with in depth. Identity formation, a key developmental task in these life periods, has been rarely taken into account in body image research. Hence, theorists call for an increasing integration of both research fields. This project introduces identity as a key factor to improve our understanding of body image and how it is related to eating disorder symptoms. The main goal of this project is to assess an integrative perspective on the link between identity and body image throughout adolescence and emerging adulthood, paying close attention to societal influences. In doing so, four objectives will be addressed by using cross-sectional and longitudinal data in community adolescents and emerging adults. First, we investigated identity problems throughout adolescence and emerging and young adulthood. More specifically, identity distress was addressed by examining prevalence rates, age trends, and associations with exploration and commitment processes. Second, we focused on moderation and indirect effects of identity in the relationship between sociocultural appearance pressures and the internalization of appearance ideals and appearance comparison. In a third objective, we addressed associations between identity and body image cross-sectionally and prospectively over time. In a fourth objective, we explored interrelations between identity formation, body image, and eating disorder symptomatology. This project can make an innovative contribution to the scientific field and general community by emphasizing that body dissatisfaction should be the exception rather than the norm in adolescents and emerging adults. Furthermore, the present project may inform prevention programs targeting body dissatisfaction and eating disorder symptoms by focusing on the strengthening of one's identity and the promotion of more positive ways of living in the body.
Publication year:2021
Accessibility:Open