Longitudinal associations of body image disturbance, psychological distress, and substance use.
Listed in
This article is not in any list yet, why not save it to one of your lists.Abstract
Body image disturbance is pervasive among young adults and linked with adverse health outcomes. This preregistered study examined longitudinal associations between body image and eating disturbance, psychological distress, and substance use over one year among 365 diverse young adults (54% BIPOC, Mage = 20.77) using structural equation modeling. Higher body image disturbance and substance misuse at Time 1 were associated with increased psychological distress at Time 2, with no significant bidirectional relationships found. Body image disturbance did not predict subsequent alcohol use or substance misuse. LGBQ+ young adults reported higher levels of psychological distress and substance misuse compared to heterosexual peers at Time 1, and women reported higher levels of body image and eating disturbance and psychological distress compared to men at Time 1. This research addresses the gap in empirical understanding of longitudinal associations between body image and eating disturbance, psychological distress, and substance use to inform targeted interventions. Implications for prevention, clinical practice, and advocacy in promoting mental health and well-being are discussed.
