I Feel Better Naked: Communal Naked Activity Increases Body Appreciation by Reducing Social Physique Anxiety
- PMID: 32500740
- DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2020.1764470
I Feel Better Naked: Communal Naked Activity Increases Body Appreciation by Reducing Social Physique Anxiety
Abstract
Positive body image predicts several measures of happiness, well-being, and sexual functioning. Prior research has suggested a link between communal naked activity and positive body image, but has thus far not clarified either the direction or mechanisms of this relationship. This was the first randomized controlled trial of the effects of nakedness on body image. Two potential explanatory mediators of this effect were also investigated. Fifty-one participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups in which they interacted with other people either naked (naked condition) or clothed (control condition). All participants completed measures of body appreciation before and after the intervention, as well as measures of the relative perceived attractiveness of others and social physique anxiety immediately after the intervention. Perceived attractiveness of others was neither affected by the manipulation nor correlated with body appreciation. However, as expected, participants in the naked condition reported more body appreciation, an effect that was mediated by reductions in social physique anxiety. This research provides initial evidence that naked activity can lead to improvements in body image and evidence of a specific explanatory mechanism. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Similar articles
-
Associations between body image, social physique anxiety, and dating anxiety in heterosexual emerging adults.Body Image. 2021 Dec;39:305-312. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2021.10.004. Epub 2021 Nov 5. Body Image. 2021. PMID: 34749263
-
Comparing a Yoga Class with a Resistance Exercise Class: Effects on Body Satisfaction and Social Physique Anxiety in University Women.J Phys Act Health. 2016 Nov;13(11):1202-1209. doi: 10.1123/jpah.2015-0642. Epub 2016 Aug 16. J Phys Act Health. 2016. PMID: 27334125
-
Body Image and Voluntary Gaze Behaviors towards Physique-Salient Images.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Mar 4;18(5):2549. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18052549. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021. PMID: 33806533 Free PMC article.
-
Media effects of experimental presentation of the ideal physique on eating disorder symptoms: a meta-analysis of laboratory studies.Clin Psychol Rev. 2013 Feb;33(1):168-81. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2012.10.011. Epub 2012 Nov 6. Clin Psychol Rev. 2013. PMID: 23232051 Review.
-
Music interventions for improving psychological and physical outcomes in cancer patients.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Aug 15;(8):CD006911. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006911.pub3. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016. Update in: Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021 Oct 12;10:CD006911. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006911.pub4. PMID: 27524661 Updated. Review.
Cited by
-
My Exposed Body: Psychometric Properties of the Italian Version of the Social Physique Anxiety Scale-7 among Women.Behav Sci (Basel). 2023 Mar 3;13(3):224. doi: 10.3390/bs13030224. Behav Sci (Basel). 2023. PMID: 36975249 Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Medical