| 1. |
- Berne, Sofia, 1977, et al.
(författare)
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Appearance-Related Cyberbullying: A Qualitative Investigation of Characteristics, Content, Reasons, and Effects
- 2014
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Ingår i: Body image. - : Elsevier BV. - 1740-1445. ; 11:4, s. 527-533
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was to explore 15-year-old adolescents’ experiences of appearance-related cyberbullying. Twenty-seven adolescents participated in four focus groups. The adolescents in this study perceived that it is common to be targeted in appearance-related cyberbullying, especially for girls, and that appearance-related cyberbullying is considered to be a potent strategy when attempting to hurt girls. Girls often received comments about being fat, while among boys, it was common to receive comments about looking or seeming “gay.” According to the adolescents, an important reason for engaging in appearance-related cyberbullying was to attain higher social status in the peer group. The girls and boys reacted differently to appearance-related cyberbullying. Boys tended to act out or take no offence, while girls experienced lower self-esteem and feelings of depression. Findings in this study contribute to research on cyberbullying as well as to research on girls’ body esteem development.
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| 2. |
- Berne, Sofia, 1977, et al.
(författare)
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Negative appearance related comments on the internet - A form of cyberbullying
- 2013
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Ingår i: 16th European Conference on Developmental Psychology Lausanne, September 3-7, 2013.
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background. We found in a previous study that many pupils believed that cyberbullying often is directed at the victim’s appearance, especially when girls are cybervictims (Frisén, Berne, & Lunde, in press). Aim. The aim of this study was to investigate what kind of negative appearance related comments pupils receive on the internet and in what forums. Method. Fifty-one pupils, age 10 and 15, participated in 8 focus groups, divided by gender and age. Results. The results showed that many of the pupils often received negative appearance related comments. The most common forums for negative appearance related comments where different social networking sites, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Chats and Blogs. Girls reported that they were more likely than boys to receive negative appearance related comments. However, many boys were also targeted. Concerning what kind of negative appearance related comments the pupils received on the internet, several of the pupils reported that they received negative comments about their weight and especially obesity. This can be illustrated by one of the ten year old girl’s examples of comments you might get on the internet: “skinny, you should eat more, we don´t want to see you”, or “hi fatso, lose weight”. Another recurring theme mentioned by the pupils was that the negative comments concerned their clothes and make up. It was also common that facial features (e.g., nose and teeth) on uploaded photos were commented in various maliciously ways. Conclusion. This study showed that many of the pupils received negative appearance related comments about their appearance and body, especially about their weight, clothes and make up. The most common places for these comments where different social networking sites. Reference Frisén, A., Berne, S., & Lunde, C. (in press). Cybervictimization and body esteem: Experiences of Swedish children and adolescents. European Journal of Developmental Psychology.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Gyberg, Fanny, 1983, et al.
(författare)
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Identitet och kön
- 2020
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Ingår i: I A. Frisén & P. Hwang (Red:er, 2:a utg.) Ungdomar och identitet. - Stockholm : Natur och Kultur. - 9789127827738 ; , s. 93-116
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Kling, Johanna, 1986
(författare)
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Appearance and gender role norms in emerging adulthood
- 2016
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The overall aim of the two studies included in this thesis was to investigate appearance and gender role norms among emerging adults. Study I aimed to explore young women’s perceptions of and conformity to feminine norms, using a mixed-methods approach. In the first part of Study I, the psychometric properties of the Conformity to Feminine Norms Inventory 45 (CFNI-45) were evaluated in Swedish women (n = 317, mean age = 21.3 years), and the women’s degree of conformity to feminine norms was examined. In the second part of Study I, four focus groups with young women were conducted. Thematic analyses confirmed that the norms conceptualized in CFNI-45 are present in Swedish society. However, results also indicated that the norms were not considered equally important to conform to in order to be feminine, with norms related to appearance being the most salient. The aim of Study II was to examine appearance investment as a prospective predictor of young men’s endorsement and pursuit of appearance ideals. A sample of 187 young men participated at ages 21 and 24 years. Hierarchical multiple regressions revealed that appearance investment was a prospective predictor of increases in leanness orientation, internalization of appearance ideals, and muscularity-related behaviors. However, appearance investment did not predict increases in muscularity dissatisfaction. In sum, the two studies point to the conclusion that the societal flow of messages about how to look does not leave young women and men unaffected. Instead, many emerging adults engage in various strategies to achieve the gendered appearance ideals of today’s Western society.
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| 7. |
- Kling, Johanna, 1986
(författare)
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Being at home in one's body. Body image in light of identity development
- 2019
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Although the importance of the body to people’s identities has long been theoretically inferred, research linking body image and identity development is scarce. The objective of this thesis was to address this research gap by exploring body image from an identity perspective. Study I aimed to examine how trajectories of body image development from early adolescence to emerging adulthood are related to young people’s sense of identity. A community sample participated from the age of 10 years (N = 967, 53% females) to the age of 24 (N = 542, 56% females). Results of Study I indicated that body image development is connected to sense of identity in emerging adulthood, such that individuals in trajectories with more negative body image displayed less identity coherence. Results also indicated that girls and women (particularly those with higher body mass index) are more likely to display disadvantageous development in terms of more negative body image and more identity problems. The aim of Study II was to explore the many ways in which people might experience their bodies as salient to their identities. Young adults (N = 121, 51% women; community sample) were interviewed, and a thematic analysis of the interviews identified four main themes: (1) identification with the body, (2) body functionality in performing identity-relevant tasks, (3) appearance and identity in social interactions, and (4) identity-relevant bodily engagement. Both positive and negative ways in which the body is salient to identity were described within all four themes, and descriptions highlighted functionality, embodied experiences, and social environments. Gender differences were generally not found, with one exception: more women than men described experiences of identifying with their bodies. Study III was performed in two parts with the aim of exploring the sociocultural context in which both body image and identity are formed. This was done by investigating young Swedish women’s perceptions of and conformity to feminine norms. In Part 1, a community sample of 317 young women participated in a cross-national comparison, showing that Swedish women generally display less gender role norm conformity than do their counterparts in Canada, the USA, and Slovakia. In Part 2, a focus group study conveyed a more nuanced picture of feminine norms, by showing that even though traditional gender roles might be less pronounced in Sweden, gender role conformity is still a pressing issue. Specifically, appearance norms were considered the most important feminine norms to conform to. In conclusion, the thesis supports theoretical notions of a connection between body image and identity. It also shows that this connection can be experienced in both positive and negative ways and that more women than men experience both negative body image and identification with their bodies, highlighting the importance of the sociocultural context. Furthermore, the thesis opens up the possibility of a new theoretical approach by including and discussing body image as part of developmental psychology in general and identity theory in particular. In this way, the thesis not only offers innovative results about the connection between body image and identity development, but is also of theoretical importance.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Kling, Johanna, 1986, et al.
(författare)
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Experiences of appearance conversations among young people living with a visible difference
- 2024
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Ingår i: BODY IMAGE. - 1740-1445 .- 1873-6807. ; 49
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Stigmatisation surrounding having a visible difference to the face or body may have a marked impact on how young people communicate about appearance. The aim of our study was therefore to explore the experiences of appearance conversations among young people living with a visible difference. Interviews were conducted with 32 young people (mean age 14.1 years; 67.7% girls), with a condition resulting in a visible difference (e.g., craniofacial condition or scarring). Using reflexive thematic analysis, we identified three themes. Importance of Safety and Understanding reflects the importance of feeling safe in order to be able to talk about appearance. Participants described appearance conversations as often originating in their need for emotional support or practical assistance when encountering difficulties (Conversations When in Need of Support), but appearance was also experienced as a sensitive topic that was difficult to talk about (Avoiding Appearance Conversations). Our results highlight the importance of creating spaces where young people with a visible difference feel safe to bring up the topic of appearance when in need of support. Elements that facilitate such conversations include others having knowledge about the condition and having one's feelings and experiences validated instead of minimised.
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| 10. |
- Kling, Johanna, 1986, et al.
(författare)
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Identitet, kropp och sexualitet
- 2020
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Ingår i: Ann Frisén & Philip Hwang (red.) Ungdomar och identitet - Andra reviderade utgåvan. - Stockholm : Natur och Kultur. - 9789127827738 ; , s. 149-173
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
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| 11. |
- Kling, Johanna, 1986, et al.
(författare)
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In what different ways is the body salient in people’s identities?
- 2018
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Ingår i: Appearance Matters 8 Conference, Bath, UK, June 12-14.
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Previous research has found associations between negative body image and identity problems. However, there are also theoretical reasons to assume much greater diversity in relations between body image and identity, and this study investigates these diverse relations further. Specifically, the aim of the present study was to attend to a gap in previous research by exploring the different ways in which young adults experience their bodies as salient to their identities. Interviews were conducted with a community sample of 121 young adults (M age=33.3; SD=.54; 62 women and 59 men). Thematic analysis resulted in four main themes, reflective of the content of the participants’ descriptions. The first main theme, Identification with the body, included descriptions of the participants’ experiences of the body as inseparable from their identity, as well as how appearance- or body-related changes has led to identity changes. An example of a statement regarding this theme came from a participant who said that: “This is the body that I’ve had and the one I’ve got so this body is me”. The second main theme, Body functionality as a means to perform identity-relevant tasks, included participants’ descriptions of bodily functions as a means to perform activities important to their identity. The third main theme, Appearance and identity in social interactions, comprised participants’ reflections about the body’s role as a means to display identity in social interactions, and how appearance-related interactions influence identity. The fourth main theme, Identity-relevant bodily engagement, included participant’s descriptions of spending considerable time and effort engaging in the body as an essential aspects of who they were. The present study offers valuable knowledge in a novel research area by showing a diversity of experiences of how the body is important in relation to people’s identities. The results show that the ways in which the body is salient for young adults’ identity include, but also go far beyond, previous associations between negative body image and identity problems. It also highlights positive aspects, functionality, embodied experiences, and social environments.
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| 12. |
- Kling, Johanna, 1986, et al.
(författare)
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Swedish women’s perceptions of and conformity to feminine norms
- 2017
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Psychology. - : Wiley. - 0036-5564 .- 1467-9450. ; 58:3, s. 238-248
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The relatively high gender equality in the Swedish society is likely to exert an influence on gender role construction. Hence, the present research aimed to investigate Swedish women’s perceptions of and conformity to feminine norms. A mixed methods approach with two studies was used. In Study 1, young Swedish women’s gender role conformity, as measured by the Conformity to Feminine Norms Inventory 45 (CFNI-45), was compared to the results from previously published studies in Canada, the United States, and Slovakia. Overall, Swedish women displayed less conformity than their foreign counterparts, with the largest difference on the subscale Sexual fidelity. In Study 2, focus group interviews with young Swedish women added a more complex picture of feminine norms in the Swedish society. For instance the results indicated that Swedish women, while living in a society with a strong gender equality discourse, are torn between the perceived need to invest in their appearances and the risk of being viewed as non-equal when doing so. In sum, despite the fact that traditional gender roles are less pronounced in Sweden, gender role conformity is still a pressing issue. Since attending to the potential roles of feminine norms in women’s lives previously has been proposed to be useful in counseling and therapeutic work, the present research also offers valuable information for both researchers and practitioners.
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| 13. |
- Kling, Johanna, 1986, et al.
(författare)
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Systematic review of body image measures
- 2019
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Ingår i: Presented at the National Eating Disorders Symposium, Stockholm, January 28, 2019.
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This systematic review synthesized and critically appraised measurement properties of influential body image measures. Nine measures that met the definition of an assessment of body image (i.e., an individual’s cognitive or affective evaluation of their body or appearance with a positive or negative valence’), and scored high on systematic expert priority ranking, were included. These measures were: the Body Appreciation Scales (BAS/BAS-2; Avalos, Tylka, & Wood-Barcalow, 2005; Tylka & Wood-Barcalow, 2015b); the Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults (BESAA; Mendelson, Mendelson & White, 2001); the Body Image States Scale (BISS; Cash, Fleming, Alindogan, Steadman, & Whitehead, 2002); the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ; Cooper, Taylor, Cooper, & Fairburn, 1987); the Centre for Appearance Research Valence Scale (CARVAL; Moss & Rosser, 2012); the Drive for Muscularity Scale (DMS; McCreary & Sasse, 2000); the Weight and Shape Concerns subscales of the Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q; Fairburn & Beglin, 1994); the Body Dissatisfaction subscale of the Eating Disorder Inventory 3 (EDI-3; Garner, 2004), and the Appearance Evaluation subscale and Body Areas Satisfaction Scale of the Multidimensional Body Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ; Brown, Cash, & Mikulka, 1990).. Articles assessing these scales’ psychometric properties (N = 139) were evaluated for their methodological quality using the Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) checklist, and a best evidence synthesis was performed. The results supported the majority of measures in terms of reliability and validity, however, suitability varied across populations, and some measurement properties were insufficiently evaluated. The measures are discussed in detail, including recommendations for their future use in research and clinical practice.
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| 14. |
- Kling, Johanna, 1986, et al.
(författare)
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Systematic review of body image measures
- 2019
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Ingår i: Body image. - : Elsevier BV. - 1740-1445. ; 30, s. 170-211
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- This systematic review synthesizes and critically appraises measurement properties of influential body image measures. Eight measures that met the definition of an assessment of body image (i.e., an individual’s cognitive or affective evaluation of their body or appearance with a positive or negative valence), and scored high on systematic expert priority ranking, were included. These measures were: the Body Appreciation Scale (original BAS and BAS-2), the Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults, the Body Shape Questionnaire, the Centre for Appearance Research Valence Scale, the Drive for Muscularity Scale, two subscales of the Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire, one subscale of the Eating Disorder Inventory 3, and two subscales of the Multidimensional Body Relations Questionnaire. Articles assessing these scales’ psychometric properties (N = 136) were evaluated for their methodological quality using the Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) checklist, and a best evidence synthesis was performed. The results supported the majority of measures in terms of reliability and validity; however, suitability varied across populations, and some measurement properties were insufficiently evaluated. The measures are discussed in detail, including recommendations for their future use in research and clinical practice.
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| 15. |
- Kling, Johanna, 1986, et al.
(författare)
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“This body is me” Discovering the ways in which the body is salient in people's identities
- 2018
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Ingår i: Body image. - : Elsevier BV. - 1740-1445. ; 24, s. 102-110
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Although previous research has revealed associations between negative body image and identity problems, there are sound theoretical reasons to assume much greater diversity in relations between body image and identity. The aim of the present qualitative study was to explore the ways people find the body salient to their identities. Young adults (N=121; 51% women) were interviewed, and four main themes were found: identification with the body, body functionality in identity-relevant tasks, appearance and identity in social interactions, and identity-relevant bodily engagement. Both positive and negative ways in which the body is salient in identity were described and descriptions included functionality, embodied experiences, and social environments. Gender differences were not found with one exception: more women than men described experiences of identifying with their bodies. These novel results have implications for the understanding of the interconnection between body image and identity and may open avenues for continued research.
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| 16. |
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| 17. |
- Kling, Johanna, 1986, et al.
(författare)
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Translation and psychometric evaluation of the Experience of Embodiment Scale in a Swedish community sample of young women and men
- 2021
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Ingår i: Body Image. - : Elsevier BV. - 1740-1445. ; 39, s. 259-265
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This report describes a Swedish translation and psychometric evaluation of the Experience of Embodiment Scale (EES; Piran, Teall, & Counsell, 2020), an instrument for assessing a wide range of positive and negative experiences of living in the body. A community sample (N = 545) of Swedish young women (56%) and men (Mage = 24.4; SD = 0.52) completed the Swedish translation of the EES. To explore its construct validity, participants also completed measures of body esteem, disordered eating, internalization of appearance ideals, drive for muscularity and leanness, body mass index, life satisfaction, self-esteem, and psychological distress. Exploratory factor analyses (performed separately for women and men) revealed structures of the Swedish EES similar to those displayed during the development and first evaluations of the scale in North America. However, among men, the factors of agency and sexual desire combined to form one factor. On total scale level, the Swedish EES showed good internal consistency (McDonald's ω = .95 for women; ω = .94 for men), convergent validity, and incremental validity. Overall, the present findings support the Swedish version of the EES and the EES's cross-national use to assess the construct of embodiment, as well as its use among men.
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| 18. |
- Kling, Johanna, 1986, et al.
(författare)
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Young men's endorsement and pursuit of appearance ideals: The prospective role of appearance investment
- 2016
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Ingår i: Body image. - : Elsevier BV. - 1740-1445. ; 16, s. 10-16
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Appearance investment has been proposed as a risk factor for the development of body dissatisfaction. Despite this, few studies have explored men's investment in their appearance. The aim of the present study was therefore to examine appearance investment as a prospective predictor of young men's endorsement and pursuit of appearance ideals. A community sample of 187 young men participated in a study at ages 21 and 24. Hierarchical multiple regressions revealed that appearance investment, as hypothesized, was a prospective predictor of increases in leanness orientation, media-ideal internalization, and muscularity behaviors. However, appearance investment did not predict increases in muscularity dissatisfaction. The present findings highlight the importance of including appearance investment in sociocultural models of the development of men's body image, and suggest that appearance investment may be an important target variable to consider when designing body dissatisfaction prevention and intervention programs tailored to young men.
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| 19. |
- Kling, Johanna, 1986, et al.
(författare)
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Young Swedish women's conformity to feminine norms - the importance of 'natural' beauty
- 2014
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Ingår i: Appearance Matters 6, 1-2 July 2014, Bristol.
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background. Gender role norms are important in that they influence identity development (Bem, 1981). Further, conformity to feminine norms, especially beauty norms, has been associated with both body dissatisfaction and eating disorders (Mahalik et al., 2005). Aim. To find out to what extent young women in Sweden conform to feminine norms, and how they experience these norms. Methods. A community sample of 330, 21-year old, women completed the Conformity to Feminine Norms Inventory (CFNI-45, Parent & Moradi, 2011). In addition, four focus groups with women (aged 19-23) were held. Results. Compared to a US sample of young women (Parent & Moradi, 2011) the Swedish women generally conformed less to feminine norms, but more to the norm ‘Invest in appearance’. Results from the focus groups showed that norms regarding thinness and appearance were the most important to conform to, since thin and beautiful women were considered feminine regardless of their degree of conformity to other norms. Also, the participants experienced pressure to conform to norms of beauty and at the same time maintaining an image as nonconforming (for instance by eating anything in public, but nothing when alone). Discussion. Young Swedish women conform to feminine norms, and find beauty norms to be the most prominent. Further, it seems that young Swedish women, while living in a society with a strong gender equity discourse, experience a double burden of having to conform to feminine norms of beauty and to do it in secret.
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| 20. |
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| 21. |
- Nelson, Sarah C., et al.
(författare)
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Identity and the Body: Trajectories of Body Esteem From Adolescence to Emerging Adulthood
- 2018
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Ingår i: Developmental Psychology. - : American Psychological Association (APA). - 0012-1649 .- 1939-0599. ; 54:6, s. 1159-1171
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Although Erikson (1968) originally conceptualized identity development as a process of becoming at home in one's body, little work has been done linking identity development and research on the body. This study examines how trajectories of the development of body esteem over time are related to young people's sense of identity and psychological functioning in a longitudinal sample from age 10 to 24 (N = 967). Using group-based trajectory modeling, three cubic subgroups were determined for each of the three types of body esteem: appearance, weight, and attribution. These groups demonstrated significant variations in the ways in which body esteem changes over time. These trajectory groups importantly differed in relationship to gender, identity coherence, identity confusion, and psychological functioning. Results are discussed in terms of the need to use a sociocultural perspective to explore the body's relation to identity development and the importance of disaggregating mean-level findings using person-centered approaches to determine high-risk groups.
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| 22. |
- Voica, Simina Antonia, et al.
(författare)
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Disordered eating through the lens of positive psychology: The role of embodiment, self-esteem and identity coherence
- 2021
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Ingår i: Body Image. - : Elsevier BV. - 1740-1445. ; 39, s. 103-113
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Applying a positive psychology perspective, this study aimed to identify potential intra-individual factors that might protect against the development of disordered eating in a community sample of young women and men (N = 510; 56 % women; M-age = 24.3). Based on existing literature, the study included the general resilience factors of self-esteem and identity coherence as well as two dimensions of positive embodiment (positive body connection and comfort, and agency and functionality). All factors were negatively correlated with disordered eating among women and men. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that positive embodiment, specifically positive body connection, was a significant predictor of lower degrees of disordered eating symptoms in both women and men, followed by self-esteem. The overall prediction model accounted for 42.6 % in the variation of disordered eating symptoms for women and 23.9 % for men. Prevention and treatment interventions promoting health factors that protect against the development of eating disorders are much needed. The present study informs such efforts by emphasizing the promotion of positive embodiment. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 23. |
- Wängqvist, Maria, 1977, et al.
(författare)
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Emerging Adults’ Body Image and Identity Formation: The role of Gender and Self-Esteem
- 2015
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Ingår i: In M. Wängqvist (chair) "A feeling of being at home in one's body" Bringing the body into research on identity development. Symposium conducted at the 7th conference on Emerging Adulthood, Miami, FL, USA..
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Experiences related to the physical body have a crucial impact on many aspects of people’s psychosocial well-being and adjustment (Cash & Smolak, 2011). Erikson (1968) stated that identity is “located” both in the core of the individual and in the core of their society. Individuals’ identity formation is thus influenced both by their individual characteristics such as physiological and cognitive development, and the characteristics of their society. Because identity formation is an essential task during emerging adulthood, and Western society today is particularly appearance-focused, body dissatisfaction may hinder a healthy transition into adulthood (Dohnt & Tiggemann, 2006). While the importance of the physical body in identity development long has been theoretically inferred (e.g., Erikson, 1968, Arnett, 2000), research investigating these associations is scarce and needs significant development (Daniels & Gillen, 2015). For example, there has been a lack in investigations of how body image (i.e., one’s body- or appearance-related perceptions, thoughts and feelings; Grogan, 1999) is related to identity formation (Daniels & Gillen, 2015). Therefore, the present study aimed to examine how different aspects of body image are related to identity synthesis and identity confusion in emerging adulthood. The participants in this study were 545 Swedish emerging adults (303 women and 242 men) with a mean age of 24.4 years (SD = .52). Body image was assessed using the Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults (BESAA; Mendelson et al., 2001) with three subscales: BE-Appearance (appearance-based body esteem), BE-Weight (Weight-based body esteem), and BE-Attribution (beliefs about how others view one’s body and appearance). Identity formation was measured using the 12-item identity subscale from the Erikson Psychosocial Stage Inventory (EPSI; Rosenthal, Gurney, & Moore, 1981; Schwartz, Zamboanga, Wang, & Olthuis, 2009) and divided into identity synthesis and identity diffusion. Self-esteem was assessed using the Single-Item Self-Esteem Scale (SISE; Robins, Hendin, & Trzesniewski, 2001). Results indicated that high appearance-based body esteem (BE-Appearance) predicted high identity synthesis and low identity confusion. Also, high scores concerning beliefs about how others view one’s body and appearance (BE-Attribution) predicted high identity synthesis, but was not related to identity confusion. Weight-based body esteem (BE-Weigh) did not predict identity synthesis or identity confusion. The analyses did not suggest that gender moderated the relationship between body image and identity formation. Furthermore, analyses revealed significant predictive relationship between BE-Appearance and identity synthesis and confusion, as well as between BE-Attribution and identity synthesis, even when including self-esteem as a predictor. However, when including self-esteem as a predictor, the effects of BE-Appearance and BE-Attribution became reduced, indicating a partial mediating effect of self-esteem. The results are discussed in relation to theory that has suggested that appearance is a more salient aspect of women’s identity than men’s and we propose that future studies might investigate how the associations between body image and identity are related to different identity domains and contents. It is concluded that associations between emerging adults’ body image and identity formation go beyond what may be explained by their associations to self-esteem.
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