Exercising caution: social physique anxiety and protective self-presentational behaviour.

This study examined relations among body mass index (BMI), social physique anxiety (SPA) and protective self-presentational exercise behaviours in a sample of 86 female participants in aerobics classes at a university fitness centre. Participants completed a questionnaire assessing demographic and exercise-related information, the 9-item version of the Social Physique Anxiety Scale, and measures of two forms of protective self-presentational exercise behaviour (i.e., preferring to stand away from the aerobics instructor and wearing concealing exercise attire). Consistent with previous research, SPA was positively associated with both preferred exercise studio floor position (r = .31, p < .05) and clothing concealingness (r = .25, p < .05). SPA did not mediate the relations between BMI and either of the two protective self-presentational behaviours. BMI was a better predictor of clothing concealingness than SPA, but the opposite was found for exercise studio floor position preferences (r = .31 with SPA versus r = .15 with BMI). The findings provide an enhanced understanding of factors associated with self-presentation in exercise.

Social physique anxiety and disordered eating: what's the connection?

Social physique anxiety (SPA) is highly correlated with other body image measures that have been considered to be important in understanding eating disorders. However, SPA has not been directly studied with respect to eating disorders. Thus, the purpose of this investigation was to examine the link between SPA and measures of eating disorder symptomatology to determine if SPA should be considered as an additional risk factor in the prediction of eating disturbances. One hundred and sixty female undergraduates completed questionnaires measuring body mass index (BMI), social physique anxiety (SPAS), anorexic symptoms (EAT), bulimic symptoms (BULIT-R), depression (CES-D), self-esteem (SES) and obligatory exercise (OEQ). Regression analyses revealed that SPA and depression were the psychological correlates that predicted bulimic symptomatology and that SPA, depression, and obligatory exercise predicted anorexic symptomatology; all variables were positively related to eating disorder symptoms. Overall, the results indicate that social physique anxiety appears to be a useful construct for understanding eating disorder symptoms in female undergraduates.

From the Cleavers to the Clintons: role choices and body orientation as reflected in magazine article content.

The media have been heavily implicated as sources of overconcern with body focus, attractiveness, and thinness, primarily for women. Attendant negative consequences are widely assumed. Yet there appears to be a recent media trend to concern with physical health and fitness, rather than just appearance. This trend has not been empirically assessed. Further, previous research has not adequately explored the possibility that there may be an assortment of physical ideals represented in the media, which may vary according to the different audiences being targeted. The current study assessed magazine article content, examining gender differences, time trends, and magazine audience type. Four types of article content were examined: health, fitness, beauty, and weight loss, in an attempt to capture the major aspects of body focus. The numbers of articles containing such content were tallied, over a 12-year period, in a sample of magazines oriented to three distinct audiences: traditional, high fashion, and modern. Huge gender differences were obtained, with female-targeted magazines not surprisingly outstripping male-targeted ones for all content categories assessed. There were also clear differences in content between magazine types. Time-trend analyses indicated a decrease in emphasis on weight loss in women's magazines over the period studied, and a statistical trend for an increase in weight loss focus in men's magazines. We conclude that apparent trends toward healthier habits are not just thinness goals revisited.