Prevention implications of peer influences on body image dissatisfaction and disturbed eating in adolescent girls

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
This paper reviews research reflecting on the relationship between peer and friendship factors, and body dissatisfaction and weight loss behaviors in adolescent girls, and considers the implications of these findings for prevention of poor body image and eating problems. It is suggested that the friendship and peer environment provides a subculture that may enhance or diminish the importance of thinness and engaging in weight loss strategies through talk, modeling of behavior, and teasing. Research regarding the impact of frequent negative social comparison in the body shape domain, quality of friendship relations, and heterosexual peer factors are examined. The role friends may play in discouraging unhealthy weight loss behaviors and supporting positive body image attitudes is also raised. In relation to primary prevention programs, the research suggests that activities conducted at the friendship group level may be powerful. The content of primary prevention programs could include identification of peer pressures to diet and skills to counteract them, management of body comparison tendencies and emotional eating, and the positive potential of friendship networks in supporting healthy body image and eating. The importance of raising awareness of female body image issues in boys is discussed. The value of fiends as a resource in secondary and tertiary prevention is also considered.

This publication has 45 references indexed in Scilit: