Body image dissatisfaction, weight-related schemas, and self-focused attention

This study examined the relationship between body image dissatisfaction, weight-related schemas, and self-focused attention among female undergraduates. The 82 participants were divided into highly weight-related, moderately weight-related and non-weight-related schema groups and were randomly assigned to self-focused and non-self-focused attention groups. The results indicated that a significant interaction of weight-related schema and attentional focus contributed to overall body image dissatisfaction, as measured by discrepancies between estimated current and ideal body size. Participants with highly weight-related and moderately weight-related schemas demonstrated greater body image dissatisfaction in the self-focused attention condition than the non-self-focused attention condition. In contrast, participants with non-weight-related schemas demonstrated greater body image dissatisfaction in the non-self-focused attention condition than in the self-focused attention condition. Results also indicated significant main effects of weight-related schema and attentional focus.