Abstract
Objectives : The present research examined causal mechanisms of body dissatisfaction, binge eating, and dieting behaviors in female university students from the standpoint of cognitive-behavioral counseling. In Study 1, a questionnaire survey was conducted with 258 female students. Results showed that Self-Evaluative Salience (SES) of appearance schemas and Safety Beliefs and Body Control (SBBC) of body checking cognitions influenced body dissatisfaction, binge eating, and dieting behaviors. Study 2 experimentally examined if SES and SBBC caused body dissatisfaction using 29 female students with the average or higher SES and SBBC scores as participants. They were assigned to an SES, SBBC, or non-activation (NA) condition. Results demonstrated a significant interaction of the condition and the period for negative appearance-related thoughts (ART; F(2,26)=6.55, p<.01). Bonferroni post hoc test revealed a significant increase in the negative ART for the SES and SBBC groups but not for the NA group (p<.01,p<.05, respectively). The effect sizes for the scales to measure dissatisfaction with one's face and entire body were substantial, though they were small. This research provides evidence that SES and SBBC are part of the causal factors of body dissatisfaction, binge eating, and dieting behaviors.
