Weight status, negative body talk, and body dissatisfaction: A dyadic analysis of male friends
Journal of Health Psychology: An Interdisciplinary, International Journal
Published online on December 02, 2014
Abstract
This study examined the associations among weight status, body dissatisfaction, and negative body talk with a sample of young adult male friends (N = 55 pairs). Actor–Partner Interdependence Model revealed that individuals’ body dissatisfaction was positively associated with their own body mass index, but was negatively associated with their friend’s body mass index. In addition, having a friend with low body mass index escalated the association between individuals’ own body mass index and body dissatisfaction. Further, when individuals with higher body mass index engaged in higher negative body talk, they had lower body dissatisfaction compared to those who engaged in lower negative body talk.