The role of biopsychosocial variables in the prediction of the behavioral factor of body dissatisfaction. A structural equations model

Abstract

Body dissatisfaction is a multifactorial construct where the behavioral component is aimed at modifying the body. Through structural equation models, the direct and indirect effects of gender, cognitive-emotional and perceptual factors of body dissatisfaction, the percentage of body fat and numbers of diets on the behavioral factor of body dissatisfaction are analyzed. The sample comprised 400 Mexican college, 268 women and 132 men, with a mean age of 20.55 years-old (SD=1.83). A satisfactory fit has been obtained. In particular, adding the direct and indirect effects (total effect), the emotional and perceptual factors are the most important in explaining the behavioral dimension of body dissatisfaction. In addition, these factors are mediators between gender, percentage of body fat and number of diets. The implications of the findings are discussed, both for the understanding of the construct, as well as for intervention and health promotion.