Faculty Articles
An Attitude of Gratitude: The Effects of Body-Focused Gratitude on Weight Bias Internalization and Body Image
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Body Image
ISSN
1873-6807
Publication Date
6-1-2018
Abstract
Internalized weight bias and body dissatisfaction are associated with a number of negative psychological and physical health outcomes. The current study examined the effectiveness of body-focused gratitude, through a short writing exercise, as a strategy to reduce internalized weight bias and improve body image. Young adults (Mage = 22.71, SD = 2.08, 51.2% female) were randomly assigned to either a body gratitude condition (n = 185) or a control condition (n = 184). Results indicated that participants in the gratitude condition reported significantly lower weight bias internalization and significantly more favorable appearance evaluation and greater body satisfaction when compared to the control condition. These effects were in the small range (ds = 0.27-0.33), and neither gender nor BMI moderated these effects. These findings provide preliminary support for body-focused gratitude writing exercises as an effective individual-level strategy for both reducing internalized weight bias and improving body image.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2018.01.006
Volume
25
First Page
9
Last Page
13
PubMed ID
29427948
NSUWorks Citation
Dunaev, J.,
Markey, C.,
Brochu, P. M.
(2018). An Attitude of Gratitude: The Effects of Body-Focused Gratitude on Weight Bias Internalization and Body Image. Body Image, 25, 9-13.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/1630
