A Call for More Culture-Based Research to Understand Body Dissatisfaction and Disordered Eating in Men: Commentary on Monocello et al. (2024).

Using culture-based approaches, Monocello et al. revealed that young Korean men generally shared the same perceptions of fatness, including three categories ("too thin," "balanced," and "too fat"). The "balanced" category was most consistent with local South Korean culture, and the "too fat" category was associated with higher body dissatisfaction and disordered eating. Even though cultural differences in body ideals are an essential factor to consider in the development of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating, little research has applied culture-based approaches to explore body ideals in men, including how these ideals may be related to men's body image or eating behaviors. Thus, Monocello et al.'s work is a timely and vital contribution to the literature. In this commentary, we expand on Monocello et al.'s work by not only illustrating the roles of local cultures but also introducing the potential influences of external cultures via acculturation in shaping body ideals which, in turn, contribute to body dissatisfaction and disordered eating in men. We also provide future research directions to call for more culture-based research to understand body dissatisfaction and disordered eating among men in different cultural contexts.

Personal ideal, cultural ideal and optimal attractiveness: Are these constructs for body size and shape the same or different?

There has been an assumption in the literature that the three concepts of ideal body shape (personal ideal, cultural ideal, and the most attractive body shape) are effectively the same percept. To test this presumption, 554 participants completed either a between- or within-subjects condition using a matrix of 32 bodies varying in two dimensions: muscle and adiposity. Three separate groups of participants were recruited to the between-subjects design and made only one of these judgements, whilst participants in the within-subjects version completed all three of these judgments. These bodies are based on 3D scans of 221 women's bodies and so accurately represent the change in size and shape caused by changing body composition. The participants also completed a set of psychometric questionnaires to index the degree to which external concepts of body image have been internalised. The results show that in both conditions, all three judgements collapse onto the same average preferred body shape, with low adiposity and relatively high muscularity. However, this masked systematic differences in responses between personal ideals and the other body judgements, which may be explained by a difference in how information directly related to oneself is processed relative to more abstract third person judgements.

Sexual objectification versus empowerment: Examining the effects of sexualized women's facial expression on viewers' evaluations of social cognition and self-objectification.

Objectification scholarship highlights how traditional media portrayals oftentimes direct attention toward women's bodies and away from their faces which communicate important social information. This study sought to investigate how thin-ideal, white women's facial expression potentially attenuates the negative effects of appearing in a sexually objectifying manner using validated imagery. In a 2 × 3 between-subjects experiment (N = 1001 U.S. adult women; Mage = 42.56, SDage = 12.72), portraits of women varied in their sexualization (non-sexualized vs. sexualized) and facial expression (neutral expression, low-intensity smiling, high-intensity smiling) to better understand how these factors influence dimensions of social cognition (competence, warmth, authenticity), self-promotional attributions, and viewers' own self-objectification. Results revealed that viewers rated sexualized (vs. non-sexualized) women lower in competence and authenticity, as well ascribed more self-promotional explanations for their behavior. Moreover, exposure to sexualized women heightened viewers' self-objectification, regardless of facial expression. Results also indicated that smiling intensity positively influenced viewers' ratings of social cognition. However, there is little evidence that smiling intensity overrides the negative effects of sexualization. Implications for the sexual objectification of women are discussed.

A cultural models approach to understanding body fatness perceptions and disordered eating in young South Korean men.

OBJECTIVE: The eating disorders field has been limited by a predominant focus on White, Western women, and there is growing recognition of the need to understand cross-cultural variation in key constructs (i.e., ideal body types). A transdisciplinary, cultural models approach systematizes the incorporation of an "emic" perspective (a culture's own understandings of phenomena) into assessments of relationships between body shapes and eating disorders. METHOD: Eighty-one young South Korean men aged 19-34 years living in Seoul participated in this research. A cultural model of body fatness was identified using cultural consensus analysis during 18 months of ethnographic, mixed-methods fieldwork. Participants also completed questionnaires assessing age, height, weight, sexual identity, university prestige, body dissatisfaction, eating disorder symptoms, and cultural consonance with the Korean cultural model of the ideal male body. Variation in these factors was analyzed using a series of chi-squares and analyses of variance with the culturally defined categories of body fatness as the independent variables. RESULTS: Cultural consensus analysis found that young South Korean men are consistent in identifying categories of "too thin," "balanced," and "too fat." The "balanced" category contained the lowest proportion of high-prestige university attendees and the highest average cultural consonance. The "too fat" category was characterized by the highest levels of body dissatisfaction and dieting, as well as proportion of probable eating disorders. DISCUSSION: A cultural models approach identified culturally important factors and patterns in disordered eating among young South Korean men and may be effective for understanding eating disorders in other populations not typically studied. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: This study applies a systematic, "emic" perspective to young South Korean men's body ideals. Young Korean men share a cultural model of body fatness, and this model frames how they experience risk for eating disorders. This study demonstrates a method for incorporating culture into research on eating disorder risk.

The cost of the perfect body: influence mechanism of internalization of media appearance ideals on eating disorder tendencies in adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Some studies have examined the relationship between internalization of media appearance ideals and eating disorders. However, few have discussed the relationship between eating disorder tendencies. To fill this research gap, this study was to explore the influencing mechanisms of internalization of media appearance ideals on adolescents' eating disorder tendencies in Chinese cultural context. METHOD: The Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire, Eating Attitude Test-26, Physical Self-Description Questionnaire, Body Image Depression Questionnaire and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support were employed in this study to investigate 1523 adolescents. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 and AMOS 24.0. RESULT: The results showed that: (1) internalization of media appearance ideals had a significant positive predictive effect on adolescents' eating disorder tendencies; (2) internalization of media appearance ideals significantly influenced adolescents' eating disorder tendencies through the mediating role of body esteem and body image disturbance respectively, and also influenced eating disorder tendencies through the chain mediating of both; and (3) social support played a moderating role between body image disturbance and eating disorder tendency. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest distinct pathways through which internalization of media appearance ideals may influence adolescents' eating disorder tendencies. It is suggested that reducing body image disturbance and enhancing social support can help reducing eating disorder tendency.

A Self-Categorization Perspective of Idiosyncratic Deals and Creativity: Mediating Role of Perceived Insider Status and Moderating Role of Psychological Safety.

Purpose: Idiosyncratic deals (I-deals), a novel human resource management implement, has significantly contributed to attracting, retaining and motivating personnel to enhance creativity. Building upon self-categorization theory, this study investigates the impact of I-deals on creativity and the moderating role of psychological safety in this process by perceived insider status. Participants and Methods: To mitigate common method bias and causal lag effects, this study was conducted in three phases with a half-month interval for data collection. In this study, a total of 331 employees from six enterprises in China were selected to test the hypotheses using Bootstrap and Johnson-Neyman methods. Results: Results show that I-deals have a positive influence on creativity. Perceived insider status acts as intermediary between I-deals and creativity; Psychological safety strengthens the influence of I-deals on perceived insider status and further enhances the indirect influence of I-deals on creativity through perceived insider status. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that organizations can leverage the unique characteristics of I-deals to fully showcase the diverse talents of their personnel, while simultaneously enhancing their psychological security. This, in turn, empowers employees to confidently propose new ideas and methods, thus catalyzing the generation of creativity.

Further evidence of the association between social media use, eating disorder pathology and appearance ideals and pressure: a cross-sectional study in Norwegian adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have investigated how the plethora of contemporary social media (SM) platforms relate to, and influence eating disorder (ED) pathology, appearance ideals and pressure to conform to these ideals in youth. METHODS: In this study, 1558 girls (53%) and boys (47%), predominantly within the 16-19 age range, completed an online questionnaire assessing SM use and perceived influence on appearance, ED pathology, internalization of appearance ideals and perceived appearance pressure. RESULTS: Results showed that ED pathology was common, particularly in girls, and that internalization of body ideals was gender specific, a thin ideal being more prevalent in girls, and a muscular ideal being more common in boys. Results also showed a strong association between ED pathology and perceived pressure to conform to these appearance ideals. One fourth of the participants reported spending four hours or more on SM daily, and 80% of girls reported that SM, particularly Instagram and TikTok, had a negative influence on how they felt about their appearance. These girls had significantly higher levels of ED pathology and reported higher levels of appearance pressure from the media. CONCLUSION: A clear pattern of associations between photo- and video specific SM platforms, ED pathology, internalization of body ideals and perceived pressure was found in this study. Adolescent girls appeared to be particularly at risk. The results illustrate an imperative need to keep addressing the potential risks of SM use in adolescents, and to continue monitoring the effect of SM on young people's view of themselves, their appearance, and their eating habits. Future studies should attempt to identify aspects of SM use that may be particularly detrimental for girls and boys in their formative years, but also those that may enhance adolescents' satisfaction and appreciation of their body and appearance. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study is registered in the Open Science Framework (Identifier: 10.17605/OSF.IO/5RB6P https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/5RB6P ).

Social Media (SM) has become an increasingly influential part of people's everyday life, and has transformed the patterns of communication, especially in teenagers. In this study, we investigated the relationship between eleven commonly used SM platforms in adolescents, eating disorder (ED) pathology, appearance ideals, and pressure to conform to these ideals. A little over 1500 adolescent girls and boys, predominantly within the 16-19 age range, participated in the study. Most girls who participated reported that SM use, particularly Instagram and TikTok, had a negative influence on how they felt about their appearance. These girls had significantly higher levels of ED pathology and reported higher levels of appearance pressure from the media. Future studies should attempt to identify aspects of SM use that are particularly harmful for girls and boys in their formative years, but also those who have the potential of strengthening the sense of self-worth and contribute to positive identity formation.

Analyzing the Role of Values and Ideals in the Development of Energy Systems: How Values, Their Idealizations, and Technologies Shape Political Decision-Making.

This study examines an important aspect of energy history and policy: the intertwinement of energy technologies with ideals. Ideals play an important role in energy visions and innovation pathways. Aspirations to realize technical, social, and political ideals indicate a long-term commitment in the design of energy systems, distinguishable from commitment to other abstract goals, such as values. This study offers an analytical scheme that could help to conceptualize these differences and their impact on energy policy. In the proposed model, two spheres of interaction are highlighted: a material sphere in which values and technologies co-evolve, and an imaginary sphere in which ideals interact with idealized technologies. Furthermore, the relation between these two spheres can be understood in different ways. This study examines three cases that are illustrative of the different roles of ideals in the development of energy technologies and visions: (1) the evolution of safety in nuclear reactor design; (2) visions of atomic power in France; (3) the political idealization of a tidal power scheme in the Severn Estuary. Finally, the developed model implies more general insights for the development of sociotechnical systems. Amongst others, it shows why certain projects and technologies remain a political, but not a techno-economic option.

Family ideals in an era of low fertility.

Taking stock of individuals' perceived family ideals is particularly important in the current moment given unprecedented fertility declines and the diversification of households in advanced industrial societies. Study participants in urban China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the United States, Italy, Spain, and Norway were asked to evaluate vignettes describing families whose characteristics vary on ten dimensions. In contrast to previous studies that focused on a single dimension, such as fertility ideals or gender roles, this holistic vignette approach identifies the relative importance of each dimension. Multilevel regression analysis reveals both expected and unexpected findings. Parenthood remains a positive ideal, but the number of children does not matter once other family dimensions are considered, a potentially important finding in light of conventional wisdom regarding the two-children ideal. When evaluating families with at least one child, respondents tend to positively evaluate more traditional arrangements, including valuing marriage relative to cohabitation and, particularly, divorce. Also, in addition to financial resources, good communication between immediate and extended family members, as well as maintaining respect in the larger community, are highly salient attributes of an ideal family. Notwithstanding some important cross-national differences, egalitarian gender roles and avoiding work-family conflict are also valued positively. Overall, even as the study reveals some notable variations between societies, respondents across countries identify similar components of an ideal family.

'Let the ladies know': queer women's perceptions of how gender and sexual orientation shape their eating and weight concerns.

This exploratory study aimed to describe the lived experiences of queer women affected by eating and weight-related concerns. Qualitative data from young queer women (n = 105; Age = 23.6 ± 3.4 years) with eating and weight-related concerns in response to open-ended questions related to the influence of gender identity and body image on weight concern, behaviours, and perception were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Nine themes were created to describe participants' experiences: (1) compensation for other internalised stigma, (2) to suppress body parts that can be gendered or sexualised, (3) comparisons to romantic partners' bodies, (4) media representations, (5) queer signalling, (6) queerness as protective, (7) gender expression and dysphoria, (8) societal expectations of women's bodies, and (9) internalisation of body/beauty ideals. Seven sub-themes were created to represent beauty ideals for specific subcultural communities (e.g. femme, butch). Findings suggest that queer women attribute individual, interpersonal and social factors to weight concerns, behaviours and perceptions. Findings highlight how complex tensions between the beauty/body ideals experienced in cisheteronormative and queer spaces influence eating and weight concerns among queer women. Gender, sexual orientation and subcultural ideals intersect in important ways, and may be useful to consider when screening, treating and preventing eating and weight concerns among queer women.

On the Path of Integrating Red Doctor’s Spirit into the Ideological and Political Course of Medical Students / 中国医学伦理学

Red doctor’s spirit is an important part of China’s advanced revolutionary culture and a valuable resource for medical students’ ideological and political education. Under the background of the new era, integrating the red doctor’s spirit into the ideological and political course of medical students is not only conducive to encouraging medical students to bravely shoulder the responsibility of the times and actively participate in the cause of human health, but also helps medical students to inherit the red culture and strengthen cultural confidence, which is also of great significance to improving the vitality and effectiveness of ideological and political courses.Teachers of Ideological and political courses should deeply explore the new era connotation of the red doctor’s spirit and constantly improve the guiding force of ideological and political courses; using Virtual Reality technology to realize the visual expression of red medicine spirit and enhance the appeal of ideological and political course; skillfully use four kinds of classes to strengthen the recognition of ideological and political course.

Young women's sexual satisfaction in danger: the significance of thin-ideal internalization, positive body image, and appearance-related self-consciousness during physical intimacy.

BACKGROUND: Previous research indicated that a positive body image is indirectly related to young adult women's sexual satisfaction through protecting them from appearance-related self-consciousness during physical intimacy. The aim of the present study was to investigate thin-ideal internalization as a potential factor associated with positive body image, and subsequently appearance-related self-consciousness during physical intimacy and sexual satisfaction. PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE: Using a cross-sectional design, 250 young adult Dutch women (age: M = 22.98, SD = 2.98) filled in an online survey measuring the relevant variables. RESULTS: A path analysis revealed that lower thin-ideal internalization was related to greater sexual satisfaction through a more positive body image and less appearance-related self-consciousness during physical intimacy, and also consecutively via both. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that thin-ideal internalization may trigger processes that are detrimental to sexual satisfaction in women. Consequently, strengthening sociocultural pressure resistance skills in young adult women could facilitate the development and maintenance of positive sexual experiences.

Cultural adaptation of an integrated eating disorders prevention and healthy weight management program.

BACKGROUND: Both eating disorder (ED) prevention and weight management interventions often focus on the thin ideal. Yet, many Black and Latina women do not view thinness as their body ideal. This study used focus groups to investigate the influence of race, ethnicity, and culture on appearance ideals and inform the cultural adaptation and integration of two established programs addressing EDs and weight management: the Body Project, and Healthy Weight Interventions. METHODS: White (n = 10), Black (n = 14), and Latina (n = 6) women participated in racially and ethnically homogenous focus groups. RESULTS: Thematic analysis identified several themes, including: (1) diverse beauty standards across groups, (2) lack of acknowledgement of racialized beauty standards in prevention and cultural appropriation, (3) culturally-specific impacts of standards, (4) harm of appearance-related comments, (5) limitations of available resources, (6) stigma/minimization of mental health, (7) barriers to inclusive programming, and (8) facilitators of inclusive programming. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggested that current programs' emphasis on thinness limit their relevance for women of color, and perpetuate the misconception that EDs primarily affect White women. Findings highlight the need for culturally responsive prevention.

Both eating disorder (ED) prevention and weight management interventions often focus on thinness as the ideal. Yet, many Black and Latina women do not view thinness as their ideal body shape. This study interviewed women in focus groups to investigate the influence of race, ethnicity, and culture on appearance ideals and inform the cultural adaptation and integration of two established programs addressing EDs and weight management: the Body Project, and Healthy Weight Interventions. White (n = 10), Black (n = 14), and Latina (n = 6) women participated in racially and ethnically homogenous focus groups. Several themes emerged, including: (1) diverse beauty standards across groups, (2) lack of acknowledgement of racialized beauty standards in prevention and cultural appropriation, (3) culturally-specific impacts of standards, (4) harm of appearance-related comments, (5) limitations of available resources, (6) stigma/minimization of mental health, (7) barriers to inclusive programming, and (8) facilitators of inclusive programming. Results suggested that current interventions over-emphasize thinness, limiting their relevance for women of color, and perpetuate the misconception that EDs primarily affect White women. Findings highlight the need for more culturally responsive approaches to prevention.

Body Image Perceptions and Visualization of Vietnamese Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM).

Research on body image among men who have sex with men (MSM) has predominantly been approached with the assumption that all MSM conform to a culturally preferred body, and have a high risk of body image concerns leading to risky behaviors and negative health outcomes. Scholars have called for a more nuanced understanding of how MSM engage with their body images. In response, we conducted 30 semi-structured interviews with Vietnamese MSM to explore their perceptions and feelings of their bodies, including their current body, idealized body, and sexually desired body. Inductive thematic analysis was utilized. The findings highlight the diversity and complexity in Vietnamese MSM's perceptions and feelings about their bodies, which Western measurements of body image and body dissatisfaction might not fully capture. The participants also acknowledge the pressure of physical appearance; however, they do not always conform to the dominant body ideals and have a high risk of body dissatisfaction. We conclude with a call for reframing the approach to gay and bisexual men's body image to understand better how they navigate complex pressures and make sense of their body image instead of assuming they are at risk of body dissatisfaction.

The Role of Social Appearance Comparison in Body Dissatisfaction of Adolescent Boys and Girls.

The main aim of the present study is to investigate the indirect effect of the association between thin-ideal internalisation (1), muscular-ideal internalization (2) and body dissatisfaction (BD) through the general social appearance comparison separately among boys and girls. 154 adolescents (mean age 18.2 years, SD = 0.73; 56.5% girls) provided information on the explored variables. Two hierarchical regression models were carried out for boys and girls separately. The general appearance comparison works as an important explanatory mechanism in the relationship between thin-ideal internalization and BD among girls as well as between muscular-ideal internalization and BD among both boys and girls. The more individuals internalize the societal ideals of appearance, the more they compare their physical appearance to others and thus the greater BD they perceive. The current results contribute to previous research findings by indicating the social appearance comparison as a risk factor which enhances BD among both boys and girls in late adolescence. The findings may facilitate identifying individuals who are vulnerable to body dissatisfaction earlier, before more serious eating problems occur.

Birds of a feather flocking together on Instagram: How racially similar followers and followings on Instagram are linked to young women's body image.

In light of recent studies demonstrating the detrimental effects of social media use on young women's body image, we examined the racial composition of young women's Instagram followers, as well as the racial composition of the individuals in young women's followed Instagram accounts, in relation to their appearance ideals and body image. Based on social identity theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1979), we tested two main propositions. First, women who have racially similar followers and followed accounts will be more likely to internalize body ideal preferences that are relevant to their in-group (i.e., thinness for Asian-American and White women; curviness for Black and Latina women). Second, following and being followed by people of one's racial identity in-group will have ameliorative effects on young women's body image (i.e., more body appreciation; less body dissatisfaction). Our sample included 533 U.S. women who identified as Asian-American (n = 97), Black (n = 101), Latina (n = 98), or White (n = 237). The results provided more support for the notion that racially similar followers and accounts followed are related to better body image outcomes rather than to the internalization of body ideals. Specifically, following a higher percentage of racially similar accounts was positively associated with body appreciation among Asian-American and White participants and negatively associated with body dissatisfaction among Asian-American participants. Likewise, being followed by a higher percentage of racially similar others was positively associated with body appreciation among Asian-American, Black, and White participants, and negatively associated with body dissatisfaction among Latina participants. The findings are discussed in light of social identity theory.

Failed in aging? Queering in living with dementia.

This article explored the ways in which living with dementia brings potentials to queer the concept of "successful aging" and associated notions of being human. Regarding the progressive development of dementia, it can be assumed that people affected, no matter how hard they try, will sooner or later fail to age successfully. They increasingly become a symbol of what is called the "fourth age" and are framed as an essentialized other. Based on statements of people with dementia, it will be examined to what extent the position on the outside enables people affected to abandon societal guiding ideals and undermine hegemonic-dominant notions of aging. It is shown how they develop life-affirming ways of being-in-the-world that run counter to the idea of the rational, autonomous, consistent, active, productive, and healthy human beings.

Body dissatisfaction, ideals, and identity in the development of disordered eating among adolescent ballet dancers.

OBJECTIVE: Little is known about how female adolescent ballet dancers-a group at high-risk for the development of body dissatisfaction and eating disorders-construct body ideals, and how their social identities interact with body ideals to confer risk for disordered eating. Using a novel body figure behavioral task, this study investigated (1) whether degree of body dissatisfaction corresponded to severity of disordered eating thoughts and behaviors, and (2) how ballet identity corresponded with ideal body figure size among adolescent ballet dancers. METHODS: Participants were 188 female ballet dancers ages 13-18 years who completed self-report measures of study constructs and the behavioral task. RESULTS: Linear regression models indicated that more severe body dissatisfaction was positively associated with increased disordered eating thoughts and behaviors (p < .19), except for muscle building (p = .32). We also found that identifying more strongly as a ballet dancer was correlated with having a smaller ideal body size (p = .017). CONCLUSION: Findings from this study suggest desire to achieve smaller body sizes is correlated with more severe disordered eating endorsement and stronger ballet identity. Instructors and clinicians may consider assessing the extent to which individuals identify as a ballet dancer as a risk factor for disordered eating and encourage adolescent dancers to build and nurture other identities beyond ballet. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: Eating disorders are debilitating conditions that can lead to malnutrition, social isolation, and even premature death. Though disordered eating thoughts and behaviors can affect anyone, adolescents in physically demanding and body image-driven activities including ballet dance are particularly vulnerable. Investigating how factors like body dissatisfaction and strength of identity are associated with disordered eating among high-risk groups is crucial for developing effective prevention and intervention methods that minimize harm.

About the Entropy of a Natural Number and a Type of the Entropy of an Ideal.

In this article, we find some properties of certain types of entropies of a natural number. We are studying a way of measuring the "disorder" of the divisors of a natural number. We compare two of the entropies H and H¯ defined for a natural number. An useful property of the Shannon entropy is the additivity, HS(pq)=HS(p)+HS(q), where pq denotes tensor product, so we focus on its study in the case of numbers and ideals. We mention that only one of the two entropy functions discussed in this paper satisfies additivity, whereas the other does not. In addition, regarding the entropy H of a natural number, we generalize this notion for ideals, and we find some of its properties.

Genital body image education in young adolescent girls: A proof of concept pilot study.

Our research team previously developed a brief educational video aimed at increasing adolescent girls' knowledge of the variation in cisgender female genital appearance and improving attitudes towards genital appearance. This video was efficacious with 16-18-year-old girls, but their feedback suggested that younger girls may gain greater benefit. Owing to the younger age group and sensitivity of the topic, we undertook a small pilot study, using a mixed methods approach (quantitative followed by qualitative study phase), to explore the understanding of 13-15-year-old girls of their genital anatomy and body image, and their impressions of the video. The sample (N = 6) showed, on average, low-to-moderate levels of genital anatomical knowledge and genital appearance satisfaction. In qualitative interviews, thematic analysis showed girls had received limited genital-related sexual education and had not considered genitals to be part of their concept of body image. However, after watching the video, they reported an appreciation of the diversity in genital appearance and encouraged use of the video in schools to prompt discussions about genital body image. There are broader implications of this research, namely, that the education of girls about the diversity in genital appearance could be important in improving their future gynaecological and sexual well-being.