The causal impact of thin-ideal glorification vs criticism on emotional and body image outcomes

Internalization of the thin-ideal is a well-established risk factor for body dissatisfaction and eating disorders among women. Messages that glorify the benefits of the thin-ideal play a role in its internalization, whereas adopting a critical stance toward the thin-ideal has been suggested as a protective factor. However, the causal impact of real-time glorification versus criticism of the thin-ideal on reactions to thin-ideal content remains understudied. To address this gap, this study employed an experimental design in which 137 young women were randomly assigned to one of three groups: exposure to thin-ideal glorification messages (n = 45), exposure to thin-ideal criticism messages (n = 46), or exposure to neutral content (n = 46). After viewing videos corresponding to their assigned group, participants were exposed to images depicting thin-idealized models. Affective state was assessed at baseline and following the video manipulation, and state body dissatisfaction and body appreciation were measured at baseline and after image exposure. Glorification of the thin-ideal increased negative affect, whereas criticism increased positive affect. Subsequent exposure to thin-ideal images led to increased body dissatisfaction and reduced body appreciation among participants exposed to glorification messages, whereas prior exposure to thin-ideal criticism attenuated these effects. Moreover, exploratory analyses revealed that a greater positive affective response to thin-ideal criticism was associated with a weaker impact of thin-ideal images on body dissatisfaction. These findings highlight the harmful effects of real-time thin-ideal glorification and underscore the potential of thin-ideal criticism as a protective factor, particularly when it elicits a positive affective response.