Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online 2009-3
Gender-Related Discourses as Mediators in the Association Between Internalization of the Thin-Body Ideal and Indicants of Body Dissatisfaction and Disordered Eating
This study examined whether the gender-related discourses of self-objectification, self-silencing, and anger suppression mediated the association between internalization of the thin-body ideal and body dissatisfaction and eating pathology. We employed a cross-sectional design to study both university (n = 140) and community (n = 76) samples of women from Ireland ranging from 17 to 30 years of age (M = 21.48, SD = 3.05). Structural equation modeling was used to test for mediation, with the final model suggesting that gender-related discourses (silencing the self/anger suppression and body surveillance) mediated the association between thin-body ideal internalization and attitudes and behaviors characteristic of disordered eating. Limitations of the current study and directions for future research are highlighted.
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