ABSTRACT
Objective: Previous research demonstrates that sociocultural appearance pressures and internalization of appearance ideals lead to disordered eating (DE); however, only a subset of individuals exposed to these influences develop clinically significant DE. Identifying moderators of these associations may increase efficacy of targeted preventions for eating disorders. This study investigated whether the fear of negative evaluation (FNE) moderates these associations. Participants: 567 university students participated between November 2019 and 2020. Methods: Participants completed self-report questionnaires assessing appearance pressures, internalization of appearance ideals, FNE, and DE. Results: There was a significant interaction between appearance pressures and FNE in relation to DE. Individuals with high appearance pressures and high FNE had the highest levels of DE. The interaction between internalization of appearance ideals and FNE did not significantly contribute to DE. Conclusions: Eating disorder prevention programs that address FNE and appearance pressures may have beneficial effects, particularly for university students with heightened FNE.
