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Body image-related cognitive fusion as a main mediational process between body-related experiences and women’s quality of life

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Abstract

Purpose

Although the experience of body image has been considered an important indicator of women’s psychological quality of life (QoL), it has also been suggested that the impact of unwanted body-related experiences on QoL may be mediated by emotional regulation processes. The aim of the current study was therefore to explore for the first time the role of body image-related cognitive fusion on these associations.

Methods

This study comprised 779 young females who completed self-report measures. A path analysis was conducted to explore whether BMI, body dissatisfaction and feelings of inferiority based on physical appearance would impact on psychological QoL through body image-related cognitive fusion.

Results

The model explained 39 % of psychological health, and revealed an excellent fit. Results showed that BMI did not directly impact on psychological health. Furthermore, the effects of increased body dissatisfaction and feelings of inferiority based on physical appearance on psychological health were fully and partially mediated by body image-related cognitive fusion, respectively.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that the presence of body image-related negative experiences does not necessarily lead to impairment in women’s QoL, which is rather dependent upon one’s ability to observe these unwanted experiences as transient and subjective. Therefore, intervention programmes aiming at increasing women’s QoL should focus on targeting emotional regulation processes in order to develop the ability to pursue life goals and values, even in the presence of unwanted experiences concerning body image.

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Abbreviations

QoL:

Quality of life

BMI:

Body mass index

FRS:

Figure rating scale

BD:

Body dissatisfaction

SCPAS:

Social comparison through physical appearance scale

CFQ-BI:

Cognitive fusion questionnaire-body image

WHOQOL-BREF:

World Health Organization Brief Quality of Life Assessment Scale

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Conflict of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cognitive-Behavioural Research Centre, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Cláudia Ferreira & Inês A. Trindade

  2. CINEICC, Faculdade de Psicologia e Ciências da Educação, Universidade de Coimbra, Rua do Colégio Novo, Apartado 6153, 3001-802, Coimbra, Portugal

    Cláudia Ferreira & Inês A. Trindade

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  1. Cláudia Ferreira
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  2. Inês A. Trindade
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Correspondence to Inês A. Trindade.

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Ferreira, C., Trindade, I.A. Body image-related cognitive fusion as a main mediational process between body-related experiences and women’s quality of life. Eat Weight Disord 20, 91–97 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-014-0155-y

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