Thin-ideal internalization: Mounting evidence for a new risk factor for body-image disturbance and eating pathology

Body-image disturbance and eating disorders are a significant physical and mental health problem in Western countries. We describe emerging work on on e newly identified variable that appears to be a potent risk factor for the development of these problems-internalization of societal Standards of att ractiveness. Work conducted independently in our labs over the past decade has included scale development, correlational studies, prospective risk-fac tor studies, randomized experiments, and randomized prevention trials. Find ings collectively suggest that internalization is a causal risk factor for body-image and eating disturbances, and that it appears to operate in conju nction with other established risk factors for these outcomes, including di eting and negative affect. Future research is needed to examine the peer, a nd media influences that promote internalization and to replicate and exten d our prospective and experimental studies.