Body image, social comparison, and eating disturbance: A covariance structure modeling investigation

Objective: To evaluate the role of appearance-based social comparison proce sses as a possible mediational link between developmental factors (negative social feedback, i.e., teasing about appearance; biological status, i.e.,e arly physical maturation) and levels of body dissatisfaction, eating distur bance, and global psychological functioning. Method: In this study of 173 f emale undergraduates, covariance structure modeling (CSM) was used to exami ne direct and mediational relationships among these variables. Results: App earance-based social comparison mediated the effect of appearance-related t easing on body image and eating disturbance; body image mediated the effect of teasing on eating disturbance; eating disturbance had a direct effect o n overall psychological functioning Discussion: implications for devising a nd testing other theoretical models are discussed. (C) 1999 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.