Adolescence involves significant developmental changes and challenges including heightened body image concerns. However, there is limited research on adaptive ways of responding to perceived threats to body image. This study uses body image flexibility, derived from contextual behavioral perspectives, and coping theories to explore young people’s responses to body image threats. High school and university students (12 male, 15 female) aged 12 to 24 years were recruited from educational institutions in a metropolitan area of Australia. Thematic analysis of semistructured interviews identified themes related to body image threats from internal and external sources. In response to these threats, young people reported coping by changing the content of, and how they related to, perceived threats, and seeking social support. In addition, young people viewed coping as a dynamic process that changed over time and across situations. Reported processes of attending to, and allowing, momentary negative experiences and connecting with other important life domains were consistent with body image flexibility. The coping context affected the selection of coping strategies, with body image flexibility facilitating more adaptive coping for some participants. Further investigation of contextual behavioral approaches, such as body image flexibility, could help to better understand and promote adaptive body image coping in youth.

青春期涉及显着的发育变化和挑战，包括对身体形象的关注增加。但是，关于对感知到的人体图像威胁做出反应的自适应方法的研究很少。这项研究利用从上下文行为角度衍生的身体图像灵活性和应对理论来探索年轻人对身体图像威胁的反应。年龄在12到24岁之间的高中和大学学生（男12名，女15名）是从澳大利亚大都市地区的教育机构招募的。对半结构式访谈的主题分析确定了与来自内部和外部来源的人体图像威胁相关的主题。为应对这些威胁，年轻人报告称通过改变感知威胁的内容及其与威胁的联系并寻求社会支持来应对。此外，年轻人认为应对是一个动态过程，随着时间和情况的变化而变化。报告的参与和允许短暂的负面经历以及与其他重要生活领域建立联系的过程与人体图像的灵活性相一致。应对环境影响了应对策略的选择，身体图像的灵活性为某些参与者提供了更多的适应性应对。对上下文行为方法（例如身体图像灵活性）的进一步研究可能有助于更好地理解和促进青年人的适应性身体图像应对。应对环境影响了应对策略的选择，身体图像的灵活性为某些参与者提供了更多的适应性应对。对上下文行为方法（例如身体图像灵活性）的进一步研究可能有助于更好地理解和促进青年人的适应性身体图像应对。应对环境影响了应对策略的选择，身体图像的灵活性为某些参与者提供了更多的适应性应对。对上下文行为方法（例如身体图像灵活性）的进一步研究可能有助于更好地理解和促进青年人的适应性身体图像应对。