A large number of previous studies have examined the effects of thin-ideal avatars on body image in virtual reality (VR), reporting mixed results. A possible explanation is that individuals' sense of embodiment (SoE) can influence the effects of avatars. Using the body discontinuity paradigm, a paradigm rarely used in prior studies, this study explores how SoE affects users' body image when using thin-ideal avatars in VR. A group of 77 female participants were randomly assigned to one of the SoE conditions to complete a VR task using a thin-ideal avatar. The body image was assessed not only using explicit but also with implicit measures. The result shows that participants in a high SoE condition were more likely to have a more positive actual body image than others in a low SoE condition, regardless of whether implicit or explicit measures were used. Furthermore, the ownership subcomponent of the SoE significantly mediated the relationship between thin-ideal avatars exposure and the actual body image using implicit measures. However, no substantial difference in ideal body image was found. These findings extend our understanding of avatar effects in VR, thereby providing additional evidence for using avatars to explore body image-related phenomena and to use them in psychotherapeutic applications such as treatments for eating disorders.

中文翻译：

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在虚拟现实中用瘦理想化身影响显性和隐性身体形象：具象感的作用

大量先前的研究已经检查了瘦理想化身对虚拟现实 (VR) 中身体形象的影响，报告的结果喜忧参半。一种可能的解释是，个人的具身感（SoE）可以影响化身的效果。本研究使用先前研究中很少使用的身体不连续范式，探讨在 VR 中使用瘦理想化身时，SoE 如何影响用户的身体形象。一组 77 名女性参与者被随机分配到其中一个 SoE 条件下，以使用瘦的理想化身完成 VR 任务。不仅使用显式测量而且使用隐式测量对身体形象进行评估。结果表明，与处于低 SoE 条件下的其他人相比，处于高 SoE 条件下的参与者更有可能拥有更积极的实际身体形象，无论是使用隐式还是显式措施。此外，SoE 的所有权子组件使用隐式测量显着调节了瘦理想化身暴露与实际身体形象之间的关系。然而，在理想的身体形象上没有发现实质性的差异。这些发现扩展了我们对虚拟现实中化身效果的理解，从而为使用化身探索与身体图像相关的现象以及将其用于心理治疗应用（例如治疗饮食失调）提供了额外的证据。