Body image flexibility refers to the ability to openly experience thoughts or feelings about the body without acting on them or trying to change them. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that body image flexibility is connected to numerous adaptive processes, and that it is sensitive to change during psychological interventions. However, a quantitative synthesis of empirical research on body image flexibility is lacking. We conducted the first meta-analysis on body image flexibility and its correlates. Sixty-two studies were included. Random effects meta-analyses were conducted on 19 psychological correlates, divided into three clusters: eating and body image disturbances, positive body-related and general psychological constructs, and general psychopathology. Meta-analyses showed inverse correlations between body image flexibility and each construct within the eating and body image disturbances cluster (rs= −.45 to −.67), and the general psychopathology cluster (rs= −.37 to −.58). Body image flexibility was positively associated with each positive psychology construct (rs = .23 – .58). Men reported higher levels of body image flexibility than women (d = 0.32). Psychological interventions were more effective than control groups at enhancing body image flexibility in randomized controlled trials (d = 0.42). Findings confirm that body image flexibility is consistently connected to indices of mental health, and that it can be enhanced during psychological interventions.

身体形象的灵活性是指能够公开体验关于身体的想法或感觉而无需对它们采取行动或试图改变它们的能力。越来越多的证据表明，身体图像的灵活性与许多适应性过程有关，并且在心理干预过程中它对变化很敏感。但是，缺乏对人体图像柔韧性的实证研究的定量综合。我们对人体图像的灵活性及其相关性进行了首次荟萃分析。包括62个研究。对19个心理相关因素进行了随机效应荟萃分析，分为三类：饮食和身体形象障碍，积极的与身体相关的和一般的心理结构以及一般的心理病理学。r s = -.45至-.67）和一般的精神病理学类（r s = -.37至-.58）。身体形象的灵活性与每个积极的心理建构都呈正相关（r s = .23 – .58）。男性报告的身体图像柔韧性水平高于女性（d = 0.32）。在随机对照试验中，心理干预比对照组更有效地增强了身体图像的灵活性（d = 0.42）。研究结果证实，身体形象的灵活性始终与心理健康指数相关，并且可以在心理干预过程中得到增强。