Examining current-ideal discrepancy scores and exercise motivations as predictors of social physique anxiety in exercising females.

Publication: Journal of Sport Behavior

Publication Date: 01-MAR-05

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Body image is generally defined as a multidimensional construct purporting to identify an individual's perceptions and attitudes towards her/his body and physical characteristics (Bane & McAuley, 1998; Banfield & McCabe, 2002). The multidimensional measurement of body image includes cognitive, affective, and behavioral modalities (Bane & McAuley, 1998). A weakness in the literature is that body image research has typically been detached from foundational conceptual and theoretical frameworks (Bane & McAuley, 1998; Kulbok & Cox, 2002). However, associations between sociocultural frameworks, self-esteem theories, self-presentation and social anxiety perspectives, and behavioral motivations are inherent in recent portrayals of body image as a multidimensional construct (Bane & McAuley, 1998; Banfield & McCabe, 2002). Therefore, an individual's body image and possible implications of psychosocial functioning and related social physique anxiety should be examined using sound theoretical frameworks.

Researchers have emphasized females' reports of negative psychosocial affect related to body image, since they place higher meaning and importance on physical characteristics and perceptions of appearance than do males (Harter, 1999; Pliner, Chaiken, & Flett, 1990). It has been observed that the pressures to achieve a thin body shape amongst females may arise from comparisons of their own figures with the perceived female figures thought to be 'ideal' to same and opposite sex peers (Bordo, 1993; Cohn & Adler, 1992; Heinberg & Thompson, 1995). These comparisons of current and ideal body shapes may lead to heightened body-related anxiety. According to Harter (1999), real-ideal discrepancies are also motivations for behavior change, such as behaviors focused on altering body shape and size.

One method of assessing females' perceptions of the ideal body, in addition to perceptions of what others find attractive, is the Figure Rating Scale (FRS; Stunkard, Sorenson, and Schulsinger, 1983). The FRS consists of silhouette drawings of adult body figures ranging from extremely thin to very large. Individuals are asked to indicate the body figure that represents their current body shape, the body shape most desired (which is considered the ideal body figure), the body shape they perceive to be most attractive to the opposite gender, and the body shape that is perceived to be ideal to individuals of the same gender (Cohn & Adler, 1992). The FRS is purported to measure the cognitive dimension of body image (i.e., Bane & McAuley, 1998), and is frequently used as a measure of personal body dissatisfaction. This is obtained by assessing the discrepancy between the individual's current body shape and their perceived ideal body shape (i.e., Lavine, Sweeney, & Wagener, 1999; Thompson, Heinberg, Altabe, & Tantleff-Dunn, 1999).

There is a multitude of research employing an individual's current and ideal discrepancy scores. However, very few studies have examined the discrepancy scores between an individual's perceived current body shape and the body shapes they perceive to be most attractive by same gender or opposite gender peers as a measure of cognitive body image (Colin & Adler, 1992). These discrepancy scores take into account the apparent perceptions of other individuals, which are considered antecedents to body image disturbances, changes in overall self-esteem, and subsequent health behaviors (i.e., Leary, 1992; Harter, 1999; Heinberg & Thompson, 1995).

Using the FRS as a measure of perceived ideal female body shapes allows the researcher to identify discrepancies that may lead to unhealthy behaviors, such as eating disturbances, and excessive or avoidance of physical activity (Thompson et al., 1999). Although the FRS is a global-like measure, whereby individuals can only identify entire shapes rather than specific aspects of the body, it does provide an indication of whether there are differences between the body shape perceived to be current, ideal, and the shapes perceived to be desired by others. Females who report a current body shape that falls short of the perceived ideal body shape desired by themselves, males, or by other females may express body-related anxiety in social because they do not measure up to the perceived ideal body and physical attractiveness standards. Partial links between perceptions of body shape and social physique anxiety have been reported (Crawford & Eklund, 1994; Eklund & Crawford 1994).

Social physique anxiety is rooted in self-presentation and social anxiety frameworks (Hart, Leary, & Rejeski, 1989; Leafy, 1992; 1999). Self-presentation is an individual's attempt to control and monitor the impressions others form of them (Leafy, 1999). Due to the importance of physical appearance in Western cultures, positive impressions related to attractiveness and body shape/size are coveted by females, and self-presentation strategies are prolific (Leafy, 1999; McAuley & Burman, 1993). Consequently, all individual's degree of body-related anxiety can be influenced by the perceived or known impressions of others and the individual's subsequent attempt to control these impressions. Social physique anxiety arises when individuals are motivated to make desired (physical) impressions on others but doubt their capabilities to do so (Hart et al., 1989). Since social physique anxiety is a reported affective component of body image (Bane & McAuley, 1998), it is important to understand the relationships among discrepancies in perceptions of body shapes and affective responses that could have negative impacts on females" psychological and physiological health.

Apart from possible relationships between perceptions of attractive female body shapes and body-related anxiety, individuals who report a greater discrepancy between their current and perceived ideal body shapes may also identify more self-presentational concerns as motivation for physical activity. As such, these individuals may be more likely to report participating in physical activity in order to change aspects related to their appearance and shape.

Research examining the relationship between social physique anxiety and physical activity behavior has yielded ambiguous results. Predictions alluding to social physique anxiety as a precursor to behavioral responses, such as physical activity avoidance or withdrawal, have only been partially supported (Hart et al., 1989; Leary, 1999; Sabiston, Sedgwick, Farrell, et al., 2003). In recent reports, social physique anxiety had low or insignificant relations with physical activity (Crawford & Eklund, 1994; Crocker, Sabiston, Forrester et al., 2003; Kantz, Hardy, & Ainsworth,...

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