Body Dissatisfaction: Commitment, Support and Trust in Romantic Relationships

Research investigating dimensions of relationship quality (Markey, Markey, & Birch, 2001; Pierce, Sarason, & Sarason, 1996) has suggested that aspects of relationship quality (e.g., commitment, support, trust) are related to lower levels of body dissatisfaction in women. However no studies have examined the effect of all three measures of relationship quality on body dissatisfaction simultaneously. Trust and support correlated with body dissatisfaction in men and women. Additionally the results showed that lack of support is a predictor of body dissatisfaction in men, lack of trust is a predictor in women; relationship commitment did not appear to relate to body dissatisfaction. Keyword: body dissatisfaction, romantic relationships, trust, support, and commitment Body image dissatisfaction is considered to be the “negative subjective evaluation of one’s physical body” (Stice & Shaw, 2002, p. 985). Body image dissatisfaction is related to having a higher body mass index (BMI), greater likelihood of binge eating, and higher depression in female university students (Saules, Collings, Wiedemann, & Fowler, 2009). In addition, Mora-Giral et al. (2004) suggest that college females with a high level of body image dissatisfaction are at risk of developing disordered eating behaviors (subclinical) and eating disorders (clinically diagnosed) (see also Saules et al., 2009). This is alarming given the high number of women who feel dissatisfied with their bodies (Stice & Shaw, 2002). Moreover, in today’s society body image dissatisfaction does not discriminate; it seems that men are catching up to women and are becoming just as susceptible to the sources that promote thin or muscular body ideals (O’Dea & Abraham, 2002). In fact, body dissatisfaction and dieting are now considered normative in both male and female adolescents (Cook-Cottone & Phelps, 2006; Polivy & Herman, 1987) and adults (French, Jeffrey, & Murray, 1999; Neumark-Sztainer, Sherwood, French, & Jeffrey, 1999; Polivy & Herman, 1987). Given the aforementioned research suggesting that body image dissatisfaction may jumpstart various unhealthy behaviors, lifestyles and disorders (i.e., depression, obesity, and disordered eating behaviors), it is important to examine the factors that contribute to body image dissatisfaction. Although media consumption has been blamed for young adults’ warped perceptions of ideal body types for men and women (Kjelsås, Bjørnstrøm, & Götestam, 2004), media is not the only influence on those perceptions. According to Cossrow, Jeffery, and McGuire (2001), women’s body dissatisfaction is also impacted by everyday interactions with people. Additionally, Nichter (2000) suggested that negative interactions with romantic partners might be associated with body dissatisfaction. According to Swann, Rentfrow, and Guinn (2003), this may be due to the feedback romantic partners receive from one another that can impact self-evaluations, positive or negative. Murray, Touyz, and Beumont (1995) found that most women and one-third of men report that members of the opposite sex impact their eating, exercise habits, and body image. In addition, Sheets and Ajmere (2005) reported that some college students criticize their romantic partners’ weight. Although most research focuses on the detrimental effects of significant other’s comments on their partner’s body dissatisfaction, some research suggests that such involvement may also be positive. Sheets and Ajmere (2005) proposed that romantic partners could be buffers against pressures to be thin and muscular. Morrison et al. (2009) also suggest that romantic relationships could serve as a “protective factor” that would perhaps prevent or abate concerns about weight, eating, and shape (see also Whisman, Sheldon, & Goering, 2000). Therefore, young adults in romantic relationships could potentially be less likely to be dissatisfied with their bodies. Given the aforementioned impact that partners have on perceptions of self it is proposed in this study that relationship quality or specific factors in relationship quality such as commitment, support, and trust could ameliorate or prevent body dissatisfaction in young adults. For example, 61% of female college students reported that romantic relationships had improved their body image (Ambwani & Strauss, 2007). On the other hand, if