Self-Objectification, Disordered Eating, and Depression: A Test of Mediational Pathways

Objectification theory asserts that poor interoceptive awareness and features of anxiety, such as social anxiety, may be two potential mechanisms that place women at risk for both eating disorders and depression. Existing research supports this theory; however, few studies have examined the extent to which these two constructs may serve as mediators in the relationship between self-objectification and eating disorder symptoms and/or depression. Therefore, the current study evaluated the potential mediational roles of interoceptive awareness and social anxiety using the nonparametric bootstrapping procedure for multiple mediation. College-aged women (N = 214) completed self-report measures assessing self-objectification, disordered eating, depression, interoceptive awareness, and social anxiety. Results indicate that both interoceptive awareness and social anxiety are significant mediators in the relationship between self-objectification and eating disorder symptoms and depression. These findings lend further support to objectification theory and contribute to a greater understanding of the etiological underpinnings of eating disorders and depression in women. Practice implications of these results suggest that targeting both self-objectifying and socially anxious behaviors and cognitions may be an important component for reducing vulnerability to disordered eating.