Background and objectives

Two experimental studies examined the impact that body comparison has on women's body satisfaction and self-esteem. The two studies differed in the use of a human comparator or an avatar (non-human) comparator. The independent variables were the type of body comparison (upward, downward and neutral) and the perceived personality of the comparator.

Methods

Each study used a within-participant design. Participants compared themselves to images of women or avatars (previously rated as ‘attractive’, ‘neutral’ or ‘unattractive’), with an accompanying ‘positive’ or negative’ personality descriptor. Participants rated their body satisfaction and self-esteem after each image.

Results

Upward comparison resulted in negative effects for the participant compared to downward and neutral conditions, but downward comparison's impact was only found for human images. The described personality of the image had a more complex impact when using human images, but was still relevant for avatars.

Limitations

The sample for this study was lacking in diversity. Compliance within the experimental tasks was not strictly monitored. The use of a within-subject design might have allowed some participants to deduce the nature of the study.

Conclusions

These findings provide causal evidence for the theorised effects of body comparison on body satisfaction self-esteem. Upward comparison has especially problematic outcomes, even causing negative effects when comparing to a non-human avatar. Downward comparison had positive effects, but only for human images. Furthermore, personality played some moderating role in these outcomes. Social comparison theory needs to be reviewed in light of these findings, and practical implications are discussed.

中文翻译：

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身体比较对非临床女性影响的实验分析

背景和目标

两项实验研究检验了身体比较对女性身体满意度和自尊的影响。这两项研究在使用人类比较器或化身（非人类）比较器方面有所不同。自变量是身体比较的类型（向上、向下和中性）和比较者的感知个性。

方法

每项研究都使用参与者内部设计。参与者将自己与女性或头像（之前被评为“有吸引力”、“中性”或“没有吸引力”）的图像进行比较，并附带“积极”或“消极”的个性描述。参与者在每张照片后评估他们的身体满意度和自尊。

结果

与向下和中性条件相比，向上比较对参与者产生负面影响，但向下比较的影响仅在人类图像中发现。在使用人类图像时，所描述的图像个性具有更复杂的影响，但仍然与化身相关。

限制

本研究的样本缺乏多样性。没有严格监控实验任务中的合规性。使用受试者内设计可能使一些参与者能够推断出研究的性质。

结论

这些发现为身体比较对身体满意度自尊的理论影响提供了因果证据。向上比较的结果特别有问题，甚至在与非人类化身进行比较时会产生负面影响。向下比较有积极影响，但仅适用于人类图像。此外，性格在这些结果中发挥了一定的调节作用。社会比较理论需要根据这些发现进行审查，并讨论实际意义。