Psychological and socio-cultural risk factors for developing negative attitude and anti-health behaviour toward the body in young women

Abstract

The main aim of the paper is to present the results of research concerning psychological and socio-cultural risk factors for development of negative anti-health (that is too restrictive and compensatory) attitude toward one's body in young Polish women. The study comprised 120 women, of 20 to 25 years of age, with similar socio-demographic status (marital status, living and having been brought up in multi-generation families) who so far in the course of their lives have not disclosed mental or somatic disturbances (having accompanying manifestations of body image distortion). The theoretical theses for the research model were the contemporary cognitive concepts (multifactor models of body image dissatisfaction), as well as socio-cultural concepts. The following have been used in the study: thematic drawings (body images), the Contour Drawing Rating Scale (CDRS) developed by-developed by Thompson & Gray, the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) created by D. Garner (Polish version developed by C. Żechowski), The Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire 3 (SATAQ 3), and questionnaire for behaviour towards the body (KZWC-Kwestionariusz Zachowań Wobec Ciała) (author's own tool). The results confirmed the existence of negative attitude toward one's own body, as well as development of inclinations for compensation-generating behaviour (application of various cleansing means and methods to change body weight and body image, which are disadvantageous for health). A group of risk factors has been identified, which may lead to the development of the above attitudes and behaviours toward one's body in healthy women, who at the same time do not accept the image of their real bodies.