Body-related cognitive distortions (thought–shape fusionbody) associated with thin-ideal exposure in femalestudents — an ecological momentary assessment study

Wyssen, Andrea; Leins, Judith; Reichenberger, Julia; Blechert, Jens; Munsch, Simone; Steins‐Loeber, Sabine (2020). Body-related cognitive distortions (thought–shape fusionbody) associated with thin-ideal exposure in femalestudents — an ecological momentary assessment study. Clinical psychology & psychotherapy, 27(2), pp. 220-227. Wiley-Blackwell 10.1002/cpp.2421

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Etiological models of eating disorders (EDs) describe body dissatisfaction (BD) as one of the major influences fostering dysfunctional body-related behavior and disordered eating behavior. BD is influenced by repeated exposure to thin ideals that evoke high self-ideal discrepancy and result in body-related cognitive distortions such as thought-shape fusion body (TSF-B). The aim of the study was to investigate the covariation of daily media exposure and the experience of TSF-B in a naturalistic setting. It was further analyzed whether TSF-B is associated with self-ideal discrepancy, dysfunctional body-related behavior and disordered eating behavior. Moreover, person-related predictors of TSF-B were explored. Altogether 51 healthy female students (mean age 21.06 years, SD=1.76) participated in an ecological momentary assessment study with 4 daily surveys during 10 consecutive days. Exposure with thin ideals in contrast to exposure to unspecific media contents went along with the experience of TSF-B. TSF-B was associated with higher self-ideal discrepancy, dysfunctional body-related behavior as well as more pronounced disordered eating behavior, suggesting that TSF-B is a common phenomenon in young healthy females' everyday life. A main effect of trait measures (e.g. preexisting BD) on TSF-B was observable, but no moderating effect. Thus, a specific vulnerability has not been detected.

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