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

Objective To evaluate the role of appearance-based social comparison processes as a possible mediational link between developmental factors (negative social feedback, i.e., teasing about appearance; biological status, i.e.,early physical maturation) and levels of body dissatisfaction, eating disturbance, and global psychological functioning. Method In this study of 173 female undergraduates, covariance structure modeling (CSM) was used to examine direct and mediational relationships among these variables. Results Appearance-based social comparison mediated the effect of appearance-related teasing on body image and eating disturbance; body image mediated the effect of teasing on eating disturbance; eating disturbance had a direct effect on overall psychological functioning. Discussion Implications for devising and testing other theoretical models are discussed. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 26: 43–51, 1999.