Body Image in an Interpersonal Context: Adult Attachment, Fear of Intimacy and Social Anxiety

Abstract

A growing literature attests to the salience of social factors in body image development and the importance of body image to interpersonal functioning. The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the relationships of specific facets of the multidimensional body image construct to interpersonal anxiety and adult attachment processes for both sexes. Participants were 103 male and 125 female college students who completed standardized assessments of dimensions of body image as well as social-evaluative anxiety, fear of romantic intimacy, general adult attachment, and romantic attachment. Our results indicated significant associations of body image evaluation, investment, and affect with social-evaluative anxiety for both sexes, and with romantic intimacy anxiety for women. For both sexes, greater body image dysfunction was linked to less secure general attachment, especially more preoccupied general adult attachment and more anxious romantic attachment. Findings are discussed in terms of the importance of understanding the interplay of body image and interpersonal variables. Clinical implications are elaborated.

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