Body dissatisfaction and restrained eating: Mediating effects of self-esteem

• Fanchang Kong

  Central China Normal University

• Yan Zhang

  Mianyang Normal University

• Zhiqi You

  Central China Normal University

• Cuiying Fan

  Central China Normal University

• Yuan Tian

  Central China Normal University

• Zongkui Zhou

  Central China Normal University

Mixed results have been found in studies of the relationship between body dissatisfaction and restrained eating, and self-esteem (Flament et al., 2012; Forrester-Knauss, Perren, & Alsaker, 2012; Wilksch & Wade, 2004). We investigated if body dissatisfaction significantly predicted restrained eating and if restrained eating was affected by body dissatisfaction through the mediation of self-esteem. The Negative Physical Self Scale-Fatness Scale (NPSS-F; Chen, Jackson, & Huang, 2006), the State Self-Esteem Scale (SSES; Heatherton & Polivy, 1991), and the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire-Revised 18-item version (TFEQ-R18; Karlsson, Persson, Sjöström, & Sullivan, 2000) were administered to 376 Chinese women undergraduates. Results showed that body dissatisfaction, as measured with the NPSS-F, was positively related to restrained eating, and self-esteem mediated in the relationship between body dissatisfaction and restrained eating. Therefore, restrained eating was affected not only directly by body dissatisfaction, but also indirectly by body dissatisfaction through the mediation of self-esteem.

1. Fanchang Kong, Central China Normal University
   School of Psychology
2. Yan Zhang, Mianyang Normal University
   Department of Educational Science
3. Zhiqi You, Central China Normal University
   Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology
   
4. Cuiying Fan, Central China Normal University
   Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology
5. Yuan Tian, Central China Normal University
   Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology
6. Zongkui Zhou, Central China Normal University
   Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology

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