Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of acceptance and reappraisal on body dissatisfaction: an experimental comparison of two adaptive emotion regulation strategies

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

In recent years, research has increasingly focused on body dissatisfaction, which is associated with numerous negative psychological and physical health consequences and, more importantly, with the development and maintenance of eating pathology.

Objective

In the present study, we focused on the effect of two adaptive emotion regulation strategies (acceptance and reappraisal) on body dissatisfaction compared to a control group, and pre- and post-induction of body dissatisfaction.

Methods

A total of 105 women [mean age (M) = 22.07; standard deviation (SD) = 6.11] were randomly assigned to one of the two emotion regulation conditions: acceptance (n = 35) and reappraisal (n = 35) or to a control group (n = 35). Participants were instructed accordingly with the condition that was assigned (acceptance or reappraisal). Participants were then induced body dissatisfaction by exposure to images representing the female thin-ideal and were asked to respond to their body-related feelings according to the instructions. Outcomes assessed were body dissatisfaction, and positive and negative affect.

Results

Results indicated a significant increase of body satisfaction in the acceptance and reappraisal conditions from pre- to post-induction of body dissatisfaction, compared to control group which suffered a significant decrease in body satisfaction. Moreover, in the control group, positive affect significantly decreased and negative affect increased from pre- to post-induction, and did not change significantly, neither in the acceptance nor in the reappraisal condition.

Conclusions

Our findings highlight the positive effects of acceptance and reappraisal as emotion regulation strategies on body dissatisfaction and on positive and negative affect.

Level of evidence

Experimental study, Level 1.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Atkinson MJ, Wade TD (2012) Impact of metacognitive acceptance on body dissatisfaction and negative affect: Engagement and efficacy. J Consult Clin Psychol 80(3):416–425. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0028263

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Beck AT, Rush AJ, Shaw BF, Emery G (1979) Cognitive therapy of depression. Guilford Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  3. Burnette CB, Davies AE, Boutté RL, Mazzeo SE (2019) What are you losing it for? Weight suppression motivations in undergraduates. Eat Weight Disord. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-018-00635-y

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Cash TF (2012) Cognitive-behavioral perspectives on body image. Encycl Body Image Hum Appear. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-384925-0.00054-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Cash TF, Fleming EC, Alindogan J, Steadman L, Whitehead A (2002) Beyond body image as a trait: the development and validation of the body image states scale. Eat Disord J Treat Prev 10(2):103–113. https://doi.org/10.1080/10640260290081678

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Chithambo TP, Huey SJ (2017) Internet-delivered eating disorder prevention: a randomized controlled trial of dissonance-based and cognitive-behavioral interventions. Int J Eat Disord 50(10):1142–1151. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.22762

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Cohen J (1988) Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences, vol 2. Lawrence Erlbaum, Hillsdale

    Google Scholar 

  8. Etu SF, Gray JJ (2010) A preliminary investigation of the relationship between induced rumination and state body image dissatisfaction and anxiety. Body Image 7:82–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2009.09.004

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Fuller-Tyszkiewicz M, Chhouk J, McCann L-A, Urbina G, Vuo H, Krug I, Richardson B (2019) Appearance comparison and other appearance-related influences on body dissatisfaction in everyday life. Body Image 28:101–109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2019.01.002

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Grabe S, Ward L, Shibley-Hyde J (2008) The role of the media in body image concerns among women: a meta-analysis of experimental and correlational studies. Psychol Bull 134:460–476. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.134.3.460

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Gross JJ (2015) Emotion regulation: current status and future prospects. Psychol Inq 26(1):1–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/1047840X.2014.940781

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Gross JJ (1998) The emerging field of emotion regulation: an integrative review. Rev General Psychol 2(3):271–299. https://doi.org/10.1037/1089-2680.2.3.271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Hayes SC, Luoma JB, Bond FW, Masuda A, Lillis J (2006) Acceptance and commitment therapy: model, processes, and outcomes. Behav Res Ther 44(1):1–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2005.06.006

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Hayes SC, Strosahl KD, Wilson KG (1999) Acceptance and commitment therapy: an experiential approach to behavior change. Guilford Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  15. Heron KE, Smyth JM (2013) Body image discrepancy and negative affect in women’s everyday lives: an ecological momentary assessment evaluation of self-discrepancy theory. J Soc Clin Psychol 32(3):276–295. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2013.32.3.276

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Lantz EL, Gaspar ME, DiTore R, Piers AD, Schaumberg K (2018) Conceptualizing body dissatisfaction in eating disorders within a self-discrepancy framework: a review of evidence. Eat Weight Disord 23(3):275–291. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-018-0483-4

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Lewis-Smith H, Diedrichs PC, Rumsey N, Harcourt D (2015) A systematic review of interventions on body image and disordered eating outcomes among women in midlife. Int J Eat Disord 49(1):5–18. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.22480

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Loeber S, Burgmer R, Wyssen A, Leins J, Rustemeier M, Munsch S, Herpertz S (2016) Short-term effects of media exposure to the thin ideal in female inpatients with an eating disorder compared to female inpatients with a mood or anxiety disorder or women with no psychiatric disorder. Int J Eat Disord 49(7):708–715. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.22524

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Mac Neil BA, Leung P, Montemarano V (2016) Exposure with response prevention (ERP) for body dissatisfaction in a group therapy format: an exploratory study. Eat Weight Disord 23(2):225–232. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-016-0340-2

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Margolis S, Orsillo S (2016) Acceptance and body dissatisfaction: examining the efficacy of a brief acceptance based intervention for body dissatisfaction in college women. Behav Cogn Psychother 44(4):482–492. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1352465816000072

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. McCabe MP, Ricciardelli LA, Banfield S (2001) Body image, strategies to change muscles and weight, and puberty: do they impact on positive and negative affect among adolescent boys and girls? Eat Behav 2(2):129–149. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1471-0153(01)00025-3

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. McLean SA, Paxton SJ, Wertheim EH (2011) A body image and disordered eating intervention for women in midlife: a randomized controlled trial. J Consult Clin Psychol 79(6):751–758. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0026094

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Mitchison D, Hay P, Griffiths S, Murray SB, Bentley C, Gratwick-Sarll K, Mond J (2017) Disentangling body image: the relative associations of overvaluation, dissatisfaction, and preoccupation with psychological distress and eating disorder behaviors in male and female adolescents. Int J Eat Disord 50:118–126. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.22592

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Naumann E, Tuschen-Caffier B, Voderholzer U, Schäfer J, Svaldi J (2016) Effects of emotional acceptance and rumination on media-induced body dissatisfaction in anorexia and bulimia nervosa. J Psychiatr Res 82:119–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2016.07.021

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Pearson AN, Follette VM, Hayes SC (2012) A pilot study of acceptance and commitment therapy as a workshop intervention for body dissatisfaction and disordered eating attitudes. Cogn Behav Pract 19(1):181–197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpra.2011.03.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Prichard I, McLachlan AC, Lavis T, Tiggemann M (2017) The impact of different forms of #fitspiration imagery on body image, mood, and self-objectification among young women. Sex Roles 78(11–12):789–798. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-017-0830-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Robinson L, Prichard I, Nikolaidis A, Drummond C, Drummond M, Tiggemann M (2017) Idealised media images: the effect of fitspiration imagery on body satisfaction and exercise behaviour. Body Image 22:65–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2017.06.001

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Rosewall JK, Gleaves DH, Latner JD (2019) Psychopathology factors that affect the relationship between body size and body dissatisfaction and the relationship between body dissatisfaction and eating pathology. Front Psychol 9:2768. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02768

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Runfola CD, Von Holle A, Trace SE, Brownley KA, Hofmeier SM, Gagne DA, Bulik CM (2012) Body dissatisfaction in women across the lifespan: results of the UNC-SELF and gender and body image (GABI) studies. Eur Eat Disord Rev 21(1):52–59. https://doi.org/10.1002/erv.2201

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. Singer AR, Dobson KS (2007) An experimental investigation of the cognitive vulnerability to depression. Behav Res Ther 45:563–575. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2006.05.007

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Svaldi J, Naumann E (2014) Effects of rumination and acceptance on body dissatisfaction in binge eating disorder. Eur Eat Disord Rev 22:338–345. https://doi.org/10.1002/erv.2312

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Swami V, Frederick DA, Aavik T, Alcalay L, Allik J, Anderson D, Cunningham J (2010) The attractive female body weight and female body dissatisfaction in 26 countries across 10 world regions: results of the international body project I. Pers Soc Psychol Bull 36(3):309–325. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167209359702

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Tiggemann M, Mcgill B (2004) The role of social comparison in the effect of magazine advertisements on women’s mood and body dissatisfaction. J Soc Clin Psychol 23(1):23–44. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.23.1.23.26991

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Tiggemann M (2004) Body image across the adult lifespan: stability and change. Body Image 1(1):29–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1740-1445(03)00002-0

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Wade TD, George WM, Atkinson M (2009) A randomized controlled trial of brief interventions for body dissatisfaction. J Consult Clin Psychol 77(5):845–854. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016879

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Watson D, Clark LA, Tellegen A (1988) Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: the PANAS Scales. J Pers Soc Psychol 54(6):1063–1070. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.54.6.1063

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Wolgast M, Lundh LG, Viborg G (2011) Cognitive reappraisal and acceptance: an experimental comparison of two emotion regulation strategies. Behav Res Ther 49(12):858–866. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2011.09.011

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Wyssen A, Coelho JS, Wilhelm P, Zimmermann G, Munsch S (2016) Thought shape fusion in young healthy females appears after vivid imagination of thin ideals. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry 52:75–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbtep.2016.03.010

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Evidence-based Assessment and Psychological Interventions Doctoral School, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

    Alice Beatrice Prefit

  2. Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, The International Institute for the Advanced Studies of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health, Babeș-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca, 37, Republicii Street, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

    Alice Beatrice Prefit, Diana-Mirela Cândea & Aurora Szentagotai-Tătar

  3. Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

    Diana-Mirela Cândea & Aurora Szentagotai-Tătar

Authors
  1. Alice Beatrice Prefit
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Diana-Mirela Cândea
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Aurora Szentagotai-Tătar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Aurora Szentagotai-Tătar.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

Author Alice B. Prefit declares that she has no conflict of interest. Author Diana M. Cândea declares that she has no conflict of interest. Author Aurora Szentagotai-Tătar declares that she has no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. The research study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at Babes-Bolyai University.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Prefit, A.B., Cândea, DM. & Szentagotai-Tătar, A. Effects of acceptance and reappraisal on body dissatisfaction: an experimental comparison of two adaptive emotion regulation strategies. Eat Weight Disord 25, 803–809 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-019-00691-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-019-00691-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation