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Self-Objectification Among Physically Active Women

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Abstract

Objectification Theory (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997) was used to examine (a) the mediation effects of body shame and flow on the relationship between self-objectification and disordered eating, (b) age differences in self-objectification, body shame, flow, and disordered eating, (c) the prediction of physical activity from self-objectification, flow, body shame, and disordered eating, and (d) the relationships between self-objectification, flow, and physical activity. Participants were 394 women ages 18–64. Results revealed that (a) body shame mediated the relationship between self-objectification and disordered eating, (b) younger women reported higher levels of self-objectification, body shame, dieting, and several flow characteristics, (c) older women scored higher on the loss of self-consciousness subscale of the flow measure, and (d) self-objectification was a significant predictor of physical activity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology, University of North Texas, Health Promotion, and Recreation, P.O. Box 311337, Denton, TX, 76203

    Christy Greenleaf

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  1. Christy Greenleaf
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Correspondence to Christy Greenleaf.

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This article is based on the author’s doctoral dissertation, which was completed at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro under the direction of Daniel Gould.

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Greenleaf, C. Self-Objectification Among Physically Active Women. Sex Roles 52, 51–62 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-005-1193-8

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