Positive self-beliefs mediate the association between body appreciation and positive mental health.
Body Image
; 48: 101685, 2024 Mar.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38382233
ABSTRACT
Previous work has supported direct, positive associations between body appreciation and positive mental health, but has largely neglected to examine possible indirect mechanistic pathways. Here, we propose one relevant mediational pathway, wherein body appreciation is associated with positive mental health via positive self-beliefs (i.e., cognitions that lead individuals to view themselves, their lives, and/or their futures under a positive outlook). To test this hypothesis, we asked an online sample of 496 adults (249 women, 247 men) from the United Kingdom to complete measures of body appreciation, positive self-beliefs, and positive mental health. Participants also completed measures of self-efficacy and resilience, and provided their demographic information. Correlational analysis revealed significant, positive, and strong associations between body appreciation and facets of positive self-beliefs and positive mental health, respectively. Structural equation modelling showed that positive self-beliefs mediated the association between body appreciation and positive mental health after controlling for self-efficacy and resilience. This model was robust across women and men separately, and the mediational effects remained intact in sensitivity and robustness analyses. We discuss ways in which greater body appreciation may help individuals develop and maintain positive self-beliefs, which in turn shape mental health outcomes.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Imagen Corporal
/
Salud Mental
País/Región como asunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Body Image
Asunto de la revista:
PSICOLOGIA
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article