Body Image, Social Comparison, and Eating Disturbance: A Covariance Structure Modeling Investigation

Objective: To evaluate the role of appearance‐based social comparison processes as a possible mediational link between developmental factors (negative social feedback, i.e., teasing about appearance; biological status, i.e.,early physical maturation) and levels of body dissatisfaction, eating disturbance, and global psychological functioning. Method: In this study of 173 female undergraduates, covariance structure modeling (CSM) was used to examine direct and mediational relationships among these variables. Results: Appearance‐based social comparison mediated the effect of appearance‐related teasing on body image and eating disturbance; body image mediated the effect of teasing on eating disturbance; eating disturbance had a direct effect on overall psychological functioning. Discussion: Implications for devising and testing other theoretical models are discussed