Social cure model: testing the link between identity centrality and body appreciation in diverse sexual orientation and gender identity groups.

BACKGROUND: The level of experienced sociocultural pressure to have an idealized body can vary depending on a person's gender identity and sexual orientation. The current study explored whether differences in levels of body appreciation among people with different sexual orientations and gender identities vary because of differing levels of experienced pressure by in-group members and varying levels of experienced hostile behaviors because of their looks or body. Thereby, the study tests the social cure model, according to which high levels of identity centrality are associated with better mental health. METHODS: An online cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted with 1,587 people (51.3% cisgender women, 39.3% cisgender men, 9.5% non-binary; 52.9% identified as heterosexual, 27.7% identified as bisexual/pansexual, 11.2% identified as gay/lesbian, 8.2% identified as asexual/demi/queer; Mage = 32.9, SD = 12.6) from German-speaking countries. Variables were assessed with German-language versions of the Multidimensional and Multicomponent Measure of Social Identification, Body Appreciation Scale-2, the Perceived Stigmatization Questionnaire, and the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-4, revised. A manifest-path model was calculated. RESULTS: Non-binary persons reported lower levels of body appreciation than did cisgender men and sexual minority persons reported lower levels of body appreciation than did heterosexual persons. Furthermore, sexual minority persons experienced more hostile behaviors directed towards them because of their looks or body than did heterosexual persons. Similarly, non-binary persons experienced more hostile behaviors than did men. Non-binary persons were subjected to lower levels of in-group pressure than were men. Gay/lesbian persons and asexual persons were subjected to lower levels of in-group pressure than were heterosexual persons. More hostile behaviors and stronger in-group pressure were related to lower body appreciation. In cisgender women and men indirect links revealed associations between strong identity centrality and low levels of body appreciation through the mediator of high in-group pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Data in sexual minority individuals or non-binary persons supported the social cure model, according to which persons can find support and validation for their looks and body from in-group members. In cisgender women and men, strong identification as a woman or man can be related to stronger in-group pressure and in turn to lower body appreciation.

Dissonance-Based Eating Disorder Prevention for Body-Dissatisfied Brazilian Cisgender Gay and Bisexual Men: A Randomized Controlled Trial With a 1-Year Follow-Up.

OBJECTIVE: Gay and bisexual men are at an increased risk for eating disorders (EDs) and muscle dysmorphia (MD) compared with their heterosexual counterparts. Existing dissonance-based (DB) EDs prevention programs for this population have been evaluated in the United States; however, these programs have not been evaluated in the Brazilian context. Thus, we investigated the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of a DB ED prevention program (i.e., the PRIDE Body Project) among Brazilian cisgender gay and bisexual men. METHOD: Eligible men were randomly assigned to either a DB intervention (n = 74) condition or an assessment-only control (AOC) condition (n = 75). Participants completed measures assessing ED and MD risk and protective factors at baseline, post-intervention, 1-month, 6-month, and 1-year follow-up. Those in the intervention condition also completed acceptability measures. RESULTS: Feasibility and acceptability ratings were highly favorable. Regarding efficacy, post-intervention results were not significant, except for self-objectification, which showed a significantly greater decrease in the DB condition compared with the AOC condition at all time-points of follow-ups (Cohen's d = -0.31 to -0.76). At follow-up, the DB condition showed significantly greater decreases in appearance-ideal internalization, drive for muscularity, self-objectification, ED and MD symptoms at 1-month, 6-month, and 1-year follow-ups (d = -0.33 to -0.92) compared with the AOC condition. Significant increases were observed in the DB compared with the AOC condition for body appreciation at 1-month, 6-month, and 1-year follow-ups (d = 0.31-0.81). DISCUSSION: Results support the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of the PRIDE Body Project up to 1-year in Brazilian cisgender gay and bisexual men. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC; available at http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/) number of registration: RBR-62fctqz.

Female genital self-image and body appreciation in Turkish women: a mixed methods study.

The study investigated negative genital self-image in women and determined the effect of education on natural/normal female genital appearance diversity on the change in women's genital self-image. The type of research is a mixed method descriptive study. The participants were 259 women living in Turkey. In the first stage of the study, female genital self-image levels and body appreciation levels were evaluated. In the second stage of the study, women were interviewed thoroughly about negative female genital self-image, and then, visual education presentation was made on natural/normal female genital diversity. One week after the presentation, the women's genital self-image levels were re-evaluated. In the first phase of the study, the mean Female Genital Self-Image Scale (FGSIS) total score was 22.07 ± 4.07 and the mean Body Appreciation Scale (BAS) total score was 42.40 ± 8.13 of the women. Higher FGSIS and BAS scores showed an increase in women's positive genital self-image and body appreciation. The relationship between the FGSIS and the BAS scale scores of the women was found to be significantly correlated (r = 0.401, p < 0.001). In the second stage of the study, four main themes were examined as "positive thoughts," "size and image," "metaphors related to genital organs," and "negative thoughts." In conclusion, in the first phase, it was determined that women's feeling of discomfort with their sexual organs during sexual intercourse, comparing their genital organs with other women's genital organs, thinking of genital organ aesthetic surgery, and BAS scores were associated with FGSIS scores. In the second phase, women's positive or negative feelings and thoughts about their genital self-image were revealed.

Psychological Distress in Women with Fibromyalgia: The Roles of Body Appreciation, Self-Compassion, and Self-Criticism.

BACKGROUND: While past research detected a direct link between symptoms of fibromyalgia (FM) and psychological distress, body appreciation was suggested as a viable mediator of this link. The aim of the present study was to further develop an explanatory model for the effect of FM on women's psychological distress and identify possible protective and risk factors. Specifically, it was hypothesized that self-compassion would moderate the indirect effect of body appreciation and self-criticism on psychological distress in women with FM. METHOD: This study comprised a total of 293 women, aged 20-68 (M = 34.8, SD = 12.3), of whom 146 were women with FM and 147 were heathy controls. All the women completed questionnaires regarding demographic characteristics, depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), self-criticism (DEQ-SC), body appreciation (BAS2), and the self-compassion scale (SCS). RESULTS: A moderated serial mediation model demonstrated lower body appreciation in participants with FM compared to controls. These lower levels of body appreciation, together with lower levels of self-compassion, were associated with greater self-criticism and, consequently, higher levels of psychological distress. CONCLUSIONS: The results emphasize the role of self-compassion as a protective mechanism against psychological distress among women with FM. Future studies should further investigate the effect of self-compassion-focused interventions on patients with FM.

The gratitude model of body appreciation and intuitive eating: Replication and extension of the model to explain intuitive eating facets among young adult women in China.

The current study replicated and extended the gratitude model of body appreciation and intuitive eating in Chinese women. Using a sample of 957 young Chinese women, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to test two previously established models derived from samples of American (original model) and Japanese (modified model) women. Results indicated that the modified model had a better fit and was largely replicated in the Chinese context. Higher gratitude was associated with lower appearance and others' approval of self-worth, higher body appreciation, and greater intuitive eating. Also, we further extended the model by exploring whether and how the model could explain intuitive eating facets. Results showed unique links between the core variables in the model and each facet of intuitive eating. Specifically, findings of the excellent model fit indicate that interventions focused on cultivating gratitude may be promising in promoting body appreciation and intuitive eating in young Chinese women. Also, interventions based on the model might be modified to address specific facets of intuitive eating, which may enhance the effectiveness of future interventions. Future research should use longitudinal and experimental designs and develop culturally adapted models to advance our understanding of how the gratitude model of body appreciation and intuitive eating applies to Chinese women.

Body appreciation and mindful eating in Lebanese adults: the mediating role of psychological distress.

A gap in the literature exists about the associations between adaptive eating patterns like mindful eating, body appreciation and psychological distress within the Lebanese population. The current culture of acceptance and increased emphasis on wellbeing elicits interest in studying body acceptance and its correlates. The aim of the current study is to assess the mediating effect of psychological distress in the association between body appreciation and mindful eating behaviors among a sample of Lebanese adults. This cross-sectional study enrolled 465 participants. Men and women over the age of 18 were eligible to participate. Then, initial participants were asked to recruit other participants they know. Individuals who consented took an online questionnaire that contained the following scales: a section collecting sociodemographic information, Mindful Eating Behavior Scale, Depression Stress Anxiety Scale (DASS-8) and Body Appreciation (BAS-2). The results of the mediation analysis showed that psychological distress fully mediated the associations between body appreciation and eating with awareness/eating without distraction. Higher body appreciation was significantly associated with less psychological distress, whereas higher psychological distress was significantly associated with less eating with awareness/eating without distraction. However, body appreciation was not associated with eating with awareness/eating without distraction respectively. These findings could guide further research on different categories of adaptive eating patterns and positive body variables within the Lebanese population.

Cognitive flexibility's role in shaping self-perception of aging, body appreciation, and self-efficacy among community-dwelling older women.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive flexibility, the capacity to adjust to new information, affects how aging is perceived. In Egyptian culture, older women's views on aging are shaped by societal gender roles and expectations. These views influence their body image and belief in their abilities, all melded by cultural standards and values. AIM: Investigate the mediating role of cognitive flexibility in the relationship between self-aging perception, body appreciation, and self-efficacy among community-dwelling older women. METHODS: A correlational analytical design was used on 200 women aged 60 years or older using the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory, Self-Perceptions of Aging, General Self-Efficacy Scale, and Body Appreciation Scales. Structural equation modeling was used in the analysis. RESULTS: The study found that cognitive flexibility is positively related to self-perception of aging and body appreciation and is also significantly related to general self-efficacy. However, no significant relationship was found between body appreciation and general self-efficacy. Additionally, the study found that cognitive flexibility partially mediates the relationship between self-perception of aging and body appreciation and fully mediates the relationship between body appreciation and self-efficacy. CONCLUSION: Cognitive flexibility is vital in the relationships between self-perceptions of aging, body appreciation, and self-efficacy among older women. Therefore, nursing interventions targeting cognitive flexibility are recommended to promote positive self-aging perceptions, body appreciation, and self-efficacy in this population.

Emotional eating mediates the relationship between perceived stress and body appreciation in adult male and female: A cross-sectional study in Turkey.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between adults' perceived stress, emotional eating, and body appreciation. The Emotional Eater Questionnaire (EES), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2) were completed by 710 adult participants. Emotional eating was found to be adversely related to body appreciation in both female (=-0.232, p: <.001) and male (ß = -0.180, p < .05). The study's findings highlighted the harmful impacts of perceived stress and emotional eating on the range of body appreciation. This finding shows that stress and emotion management should be considered in the context of adult body appreciation practices.

Transgender congruence, body appreciation, body dissatisfaction, and disordered eating in Chinese transgender adults.

OBJECTIVE: Ample evidence shows that transgender congruence is negatively associated with body dissatisfaction and disordered eating in the Western context; however, limited research has explored these relationships in non-Western populations (e.g., Chinese transgender adults). Moreover, to our knowledge, there has been no research describing disordered eating in Chinese transgender adults. Thus, this study aimed to explore group differences in and relationships between transgender congruence, body appreciation, body dissatisfaction, and disordered eating in Chinese transgender adults. METHODS: This study examined transgender congruence, body appreciation, body dissatisfaction, and disordered eating in a sample of Chinese transgender adults (N = 200). Chi-square, F tests, and correlation analyses were conducted to examine group differences and relationships between study variables. RESULTS: Of the transgender adults, 31.0% screened positive as probable eating disorder (ED) cases. There were no gender identity differences in the study variables. Transgender congruence was positively associated body appreciation (r = .40, p < .001) and negatively associated with body dissatisfaction (r = -.26, p < .001) and disordered eating (r = -.15, p = .031). DISCUSSION: Chinese transgender adults may be at high risk of EDs. Transgender congruence and body appreciation may serve a protective role in the context of eating pathology in Chinese transgender adults. Future research is needed to validate the observed relationships between transgender congruence, body appreciation, body dissatisfaction, and disordered eating in Chinese transgender adults. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: Research on disordered eating and body image in Chinese transgender adults is limited. This study describes disordered eating and its relations with transgender congruence, body appreciation, and body dissatisfaction in Chinese transgender adults. Findings highlight the need for and implications of ED intervention in Chinese transgender adults.

Can I Love My Body Even if It Doesn't Look Like the Porn Stars'? Longitudinal Associations Between Pornography Use Frequency and Body Appreciation in a Diverse Sample of Adolescents.

Online technologies could play an important role in the sexual development of adolescents as they watch more pornography than before. Pornography may relate to adolescents' perceptions of their bodies, especially among those identifying as a sexual and/or gender minority (SGM) as they have an increased risk of body image concerns compared to their heterosexual, cisgender (HC) peers. The present study examined the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations over 3 years between adolescents' pornography use frequency and body appreciation, considering potential gender and sexual orientation-based differences. Results from linear univariate and parallel processes latent growth curve models with a multi-group approach among 2904 adolescents (MageT1 = 14.5 years, SD = 0.61; 51.4% girls, 16.3% sexual minority) demonstrated that HC and SGM girls' body appreciation slightly decreased over time. Moreover, HC boys, HC girls and SGM girls' pornography use frequency slightly increased over time. Cross-sectionally, greater pornography use frequency was associated with lower levels of body appreciation in HC girls and SGM boys, with a small effect size. However, longitudinally, pornography use frequency and body appreciation were not related to each other in either group. Our findings support that pornography use, in the short term, is negatively associated with adolescents' body appreciation, although these associations might not hold in the long term. Adolescents may be more critical of body ideals represented in pornography as they learn to think with more discernment about the pornographic depictions of bodies and sexuality.

Functionality appreciation is inversely associated with positive psychotic symptoms in overweight/obese patients with schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: While the relationship between negative aspects of body image and positive schizophrenia symptoms was extensively investigated and is relatively well-established, there is a dearth of literature on the relationship between positive symptoms and positive aspects of body image, such as body appreciation and functionality appreciation, in patients with schizophrenia. This study aimed to (1) compare weight stigma, body and functionality appreciation between obese/overweight and normal-weight patients with schizophrenia, and (2) explore the associations between these variables and positive psychotic symptoms in the obese/overweight group. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Psychiatric Hospital of the Cross, Lebanon during September 2022 recruiting selected in-patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Patients were classified as overweight/obese if they had a BMI > 25 (N = 76 (37.25%), aged 55.57 ± 11.30 years, 42.6% females). The Weight self­stigma questionnaire, the Functionality Appreciation Scale, and the Body Appreciation Scale, and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) were used. RESULTS: No significant difference was found between overweight/obese and normal-weight patients for all variables, except for weight stigma; a significantly higher weight stigma score was significantly found in overweight/obese compared to normal-weight patient. In the bivariate analysis, higher functionality appreciation was significantly associated with higher positive PANSS scores. The results of the linear regression, taking the positive PANSS score as the dependent variable, showed that higher functionality appreciation (Beta = - 0.52) and higher social support (Beta = - 0.16) were significantly associated with lower positive PANSS scores, whereas having a secondary education level compared to illiteracy (Beta = 7.00) was significantly associated with higher positive PANSS scores. CONCLUSION: Although based on cross-sectional data, these findings preliminarily suggest that higher functionality appreciation can help reduce the severity of positive psychotic symptoms in overweight/obese schizophrenia patients, and that interventions aimed at improving functionality appreciation could be regarded beneficial therapeutic targets in the treatment of psychosis.

The mediating effect of body appreciation between muscle dysmorphia and bulimia nervosa among Lebanese adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Muscle dysmorphia (MD) is a common psychological disorder present in Lebanese adolescents. Several disorders can be present concomitantly with MD such as bulimia nervosa and exercise addiction. This study aims to explore the mediating effect of body appreciation between Muscle dysmorphia and bulimia nervosa, and to validate the exercise addiction inventory scale in Lebanese adolescents. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional designed study, conducted between August-September 2022, and enrolling 403 adolescents currently residing in Lebanon (15 to 18 years old), from all Lebanese governorates (Beirut, Mount Lebanon, North, South, and Bekaa). Our sample was chosen using the snowball technique, a soft copy of the questionnaire was created using google forms software, and an online approach was conceived to proceed with the data collection. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 16.63 ± 1.46 years with 57.3% females. The factor analysis for the Exercise Addiction Inventory suggested one factor, which explained 62.58% of the common variance. The confirmatory factor analysis revealed an adequate fit to the model with satisfactory Maximum Likelihood Chi-Square/Degrees of Freedom (χ2/df), SRMR, CFI, TLI, and AVE. The mediation analysis showed that the direct relation between bulimia and MD was not significant after eliminating the effect of body appreciation (r = .12, p < .001). However, body appreciation was significantly associated with bulimia nervosa (r=-1.06, p < .001) and MD (r=-.28, p < .001). CONCLUSION: Body appreciation was found to be a mediator between muscle dysmorphia and bulimia nervosa and thus it is the main factor leading to both disorders. Therefore, body appreciation should be addressed in the evaluation and management of Muscle Dysmorphia.

Sports participation, body appreciation and life satisfaction in Norwegian adolescents: A moderated mediation analysis.

AIMS: Life satisfaction is an important aspect of quality of life and plays an essential role in optimal developmental adaption in adolescence. This study investigated whether being active in organised leisure sports is associated with a higher level of life satisfaction among adolescents, both directly and indirectly, through increased body appreciation. Whether gender moderates the mentioned associations will also be examined. METHODS: The study was cross-sectional and based on a sample of 541 participants (44% females) between 16 and 19 years of age (Mage=16.89 years, SD=0.46). A moderated mediation model was examined using SPSS v27 and the PROCESS macro. RESULTS: Boys had higher life satisfaction and body appreciation levels than girls did. There was no direct effect of organised leisure sports participation on life satisfaction. However, there was a positive association between organised leisure sports participation and life satisfaction through increased body appreciation. No gender differences were observed for the direct association between sports participation and life satisfaction or the indirect associations between sports participation and life satisfaction through body appreciation. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support that body appreciation is a mediator for the association between organised leisure sports participation and life satisfaction for both boys and girls. Longitudinal studies should be conducted to further examine if causal relationships exist.

The Effect of Social Media Usage, Appearance-Related Social Media Pressure and Body Mass Index on Body Appreciation of Cosmetic Procedure Patients.

BACKGROUND: The number of cosmetic procedures has increased in recent years. Social media use and its effects on plastic surgery decisions are among the most widely discussed topics. This study aimed to test a research model that explores the relationship between social media usage frequency, appearance-related social media pressure, and body mass index (BMI) on the body appreciation of patients undergoing cosmetic procedures, and to evaluate their clinical impacts. METHODS: In total, 136 participants were included in this study, which met and exceeded the sample size requirement. The questionnaire was designed by using reliable scales and demographic data. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized research model. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 35 years, and 70% had normal BMI scores. Among them, 59.6% underwent invasive procedures and 40.4% underwent minimally invasive procedures. BMI negatively affected body appreciation (ß = 0.199, p < 0.05). Social media did not have a significant effect on appearance-related social media pressure (ß = 0.001, p > 0.05). Appearance-related social media pressure negatively affected body appreciation (ß = - 0.280. p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Social media is not only an information source but also creates pressure on appearance. Therefore, plastic surgeons should use social media and consider the psychology of patients during their communication. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Peer Ethnicity as a Mediator in the Relationship Between Ethnic Identity and Body Appreciation in Black College-Aged Women.

Strong ethnic identity is recognized as a protective factor against body image concern and eating pathology in Black women as they tend to hold cultural values in line with an acceptance of a variety of body shapes and sizes. Reinforcement of these cultural ideals may occur via same-race peer relationships. The current study examined the mediating role of same-race versus other-race peers in the relationship between ethnic identity and body appreciation in Black women. Participants were 139 Black undergraduate women (Mage = 18.94 years, MBMI = 25.33) who completed validated measures of ethnic identity and body appreciation and reported on the ethnic makeup of their friends. We conducted mediation analysis examining the role of same-race peers on the relationship between ethnic identity and body appreciation. Same-race peers mediated the relationship between ethnic identity and body appreciation, where having a greater percentage of friends increased both ethnic identity and body appreciation in Black women. The influence of same-race peers should be considered in the development of culturally informed prevention and intervention efforts for eating pathology in Black women.

Reciprocal associations between intuitive eating and positive body image components: A multi-wave, cross-lagged study.

Intuitive eating is an adaptive style of eating that has gained substantial research attention. However, possible predictors and outcomes of intuitive eating are poorly understood, as prospective study designs addressing this are missing. Since theoretical research indicates that positive body image might enhance - and be enhanced by - intuitive eating, the present study tested for possible reciprocal associations between three components of positive body image (body appreciation, functionality appreciation, and body image flexibility) and intuitive eating. Adult women (n = 3039) were invited to complete study measures at baseline (T1), four (T2), and eight month (T3) follow-up. Cross-lagged panel analyses were computed to test for possible reciprocal relationships between intuitive eating and positive body image components. Results showed that intuitive eating and both body appreciation and functionality appreciation were reciprocally related. Higher intuitive eating levels at T1 predicted greater increases in these two positive body image components at T2 (and vice versa). Similarly, higher intuitive eating levels at T2 predicted greater increases in these two positive body image components at T3 (and vice versa). Only unidirectional effects were observed between intuitive eating and body image flexibility: higher intuitive eating levels predicted greater increases in body image flexibility at the subsequent time-point. Findings suggest that intuitive eating and certain components of positive body image might serve to enhance each other over time. Intervention strategies designed to cultivate intuitive eating may also result in concomitant improvements in certain indices of positive body image.

Heterosexual, Cisgender and Gender and Sexually Diverse Adolescents' Sexting Behaviors: The Role of Body Appreciation.

Sexting has become part of the repertoire of adolescents' sexual behaviors, especially among those who identify as gender and sexually diverse. Whereas body dissatisfaction increases during adolescence and is associated with negative sexuality outcomes, little research has examined how body appreciation may contribute to adolescents' sexting. The present study examined associations between body appreciation and sexting behaviors, and whether these differed by gender and sexual orientation, using path analysis in a sample of 2904 adolescents (Mage = 14.53; SD = 0.61) comprised of five groups: heterosexual cisgender and gender and sexually diverse boys (heterosexual cisgender = 1193; gender and sexually diverse = 157), heterosexual cisgender and gender and sexually diverse girls (heterosexual cisgender = 1152; gender and sexually diverse = 320), and non-binary adolescents (n = 18). Lower levels of body appreciation were associated with higher sexting frequency in heterosexual cisgender girls and gender and sexually diverse boys. Adolescents preoccupied with their appearance may use sexting for body image-related validation.

The Relationship between Body Appreciation and Health Behaviors among Women and Adolescent Girls: A Scoping Review.

Literature on body image and health behaviors has largely been pathology-based, investigating body dissatisfaction and disordered eating. Body appreciation is a useful construct of positive body image and has been used to understand its relationship with health behaviors beyond eating. This scoping review explores the literature on the relationship between body appreciation and physical health-promoting behaviors and health-compromising behaviors. A comprehensive search of databases was conducted to gather correlational studies written in English between January 2005 and November 2019. Behaviors related to eating and exercise were excluded. Nine quantitative studies met inclusion criteria. Evidence suggests an overall positive relationship between body appreciation and health-promoting behaviors, including preventive sexual health behaviors, preventive cancer behaviors, and seeking medical attention. Alternatively, body appreciation is negatively associated with health-compromising behaviors including risky sexual activity and alcohol and tobacco use. Promoting positive body image, above and beyond the reduction of body dissatisfaction, may play a crucial role in the health and well-being of women and girls. Research that examines positive body image in groups that are racially diverse and include sexual and gender minorities and people without healthcare access is urgently needed.

Adolescent girls' body appreciation: influences of compassion and social safeness, and association with disordered eating.

PURPOSE: Adolescence has been stated as a period in which body image and eating difficulties' have its greatest expression, especially in females. Nonetheless, protective factors, such as body appreciation and compassion, are not thoroughly studied in this developmental stage. The current study hypothesized that competences for self-compassion and receiving others' compassion associate positively with social safeness, and the three variables with body appreciation. Moreover, the association between body appreciation and disordered eating was analysed. A sample of Portuguese female adolescents was used. METHODS: 205 participants, aged between 12 and 18, completed a set of self-report measures in the school context. Data were explored via descriptive, correlational and path analysis. RESULTS: Path analysis indicated that self-compassion and receiving compassion from others associate positively with feelings of social safeness which, in turn, associate with higher body appreciation. All the variables in study associated indirectly and negatively with disordered eating, and body appreciation presented a direct and negative association with disordered eating. CONCLUSION: Findings of the current study may suggest the pertinence of developing programs for female adolescents that include the cultivation of compassionate and affiliative skills to promote positive body image and to prevent or intervene with disordered eating symptoms, with potential effects on overall well-being and mental health. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Cross-sectional descriptive study, Level V.

Dissonance-based eating disorder prevention delivered in-person after an online training: A randomized controlled trial for Brazilian men with body dissatisfaction.

OBJECTIVE: Few prevention programs have been developed and empirically evaluated to address eating disorder (ED) and muscle dysmorphia (MD) symptoms in men. Furthermore, new strategies for the broad implementation of available programs are needed. We investigated the acceptability and efficacy of a dissonance-based (DB) intervention for Brazilian undergraduate men with body dissatisfaction to target risk and protective factors for ED and MD symptoms (the Body Project: More Than Muscles) after an online training for facilitators. METHOD: Participants were randomized to a two-session DB-intervention (n = 89) or assessment-only control (AOC) (n = 91), and completed validated measures assessing ED and MD risk and protective factors pre-intervention, post-intervention, and at 4- and 24-week follow-up post-intervention. RESULTS: Acceptability ratings were highly favorable. Regarding efficacy, the DB condition demonstrated significantly greater decreases in ED and MD risk factors compared to AOC from pre-intervention to 4-week (p-values <.05, between-condition Cohen's d = 0.35-1.10) and 24-week follow-up (p-values <.05, between-condition Cohen's d = 0.33-0.78). Results at post-intervention were not significant, with the exception that body appreciation showed significantly greater improvements in the DB condition (post-intervention: p < .01, between-condition Cohen's d = 0.40; 4-week: p < .001, between-condition Cohen's d = 0.80; and 24-week follow-up: p < .001, between-condition Cohen's d = 0.58). DISCUSSION: Results support the acceptability and efficacy of a DB-intervention delivered in-person after an online training for facilitators up to 24-week follow-up in Brazilian men.