An evaluation of the tripartite influence model of body dissatisfaction and eating disturbance with adolescent girls
Abstract
The Tripartite Influence Model of body image and eating disturbance proposes that three formative influences (peer, parents, and media) affect body image and eating problems through two mediational mechanisms: internalization of the thin-ideal and appearance comparison processes. The current study evaluated this model in a sample of 325 sixth through eighth grade girls. Simple path analyses indicated that internalization and comparison fully mediated the relationship between parental influence and body dissatisfaction and partially mediated the relationship between peer influence and body dissatisfaction. Additionally, internalization and comparison partially mediated the relationship between media influence and body dissatisfaction. Six a priori SEM models based on the full Tripartite Influence Model were also evaluated. A resulting model was found to be an adequate fit to the data, supporting the viability of the Tripartite Model as a useful framework for understanding processes that may predispose young women to develop body image disturbances and eating dysfunction.
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Internalization, together with social comparison processes, is proposed to link societal messages of a specific body ideal to the development of body dissatisfaction.
“It is this internalization, together with social comparison processes, which are proposed to be the link between the societal message of a specific body ideal and the development of body dissatisfaction (Stice et al., 2001; Tiggemann, 2003; Keery et al., 2004; Sypeck et al., 2006; Schaefer et al., 2015).”
From The degree to which the cultural ideal is internalized predicts judgments of male and female physical attractiveness (2022) · cites this paper as Keery et al., 2004
The tripartite influence model has received widespread empirical support.
“While this model has received widespread empirical support (see Keery et al., 2004;Rodgers et al., 2015;Shroff & Thompson, 2006), the sociocultural context of girls' appearance pressures and beauty ideals has evolved over time.”
From Incorporating social media and muscular ideal internalization into the tripartite influence model of body image: Towards a modern understanding of adolescent girls’ body dissatisfaction (2022) · cites this paper as Keery et al., 2004
These results are consistent with past research, which shows that media exposure is associated with internalization of the thin ideal among adolescent girls.
“These results are consistent with past research, which shows that media exposure is associated with internalization of the thin ideal among adolescent girls (Keery et al., 2004;Shroff & Thompson, 2006).”
From Incorporating social media and muscular ideal internalization into the tripartite influence model of body image: Towards a modern understanding of adolescent girls’ body dissatisfaction (2022) · cites this paper as Keery et al., 2004
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“It is this internalization, together with social comparison processes, which are proposed to be the link between the societal message of a specific body ideal and the development of body dissatisfaction (Stice et al., 2001; Tiggemann, 2003; Keery et al., 2004; Sypeck et al., 2006; Schaefer et al., 2015).”
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“While ample research demonstrates this for traditional media (Keery, Van Den Berg, et al., 2004; Lovering et al., 2018; Rodgers et al., 2011), a sequential order in these mediating variables can occur for social media.”
Zhang, W., Duan, R., Li, H., Fang, Y., Zhao, W., Wan, F., & Fan, J. (2026) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1805798
- Authors
- Keery, H., van den Berg, P., & Thompson, J. K.
- Affiliations
- University of Minnesota (US)
- University of South Florida (US)
- Corresponding author
- Thompson, J.Kevin
- ORCID
- Thompson, J.Kevin
- Venue
- Body Image
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2004-09
- Volume
- 1
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 237-251
- ISSN
- 1740-1445 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2019461812
- Cited by
- 815
- References
- 40
- Citations by year
- 2026: 52 · 2025: 47 · 2024: 54 · 2023: 49 · 2022: 58 · 2021: 88 · 2020: 45 · 2019: 31 · 2018: 27 · 2017: 31 · 2016: 47 · 2015: 48 · 2014: 41 · 2013: 48 · 2012: 25
- FWCI
- 12.61
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Body Image (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Digital Commons - University of South Florida (University of South Florida) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies
- Keywords
- Tripartite Influence Model, body dissatisfaction, disordered eating, adolescent girls, thin-ideal internalization, appearance comparison, parental influence, peer influence, media influence, mediation, eating disorder risk
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