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Extensions of objectification theory to pregnant women are few and continued research is needed to better understand the psychological consequences of significant changes to physical appearance during pregnancy. Specific interests in this area include functionality appreciation which may be particularly relevant to pregnancy. Research in this area is also lacking representation of non-Western cultural contexts. To this end, we employed an online survey to assess objectification theory and functionality appreciation in Chinese pregnant women (N = 345). Correlations showed that higher body surveillance and body shame were associated with higher disordered eating and psychological distress, and higher functionality appreciation was associated with lower body surveillance, body shame, and disordered eating. Mediation analyses suggested that higher body surveillance was associated with higher body shame which, in turn, was associated with higher disordered eating and psychological distress. Main effects suggested a negative association between functionality appreciation and body shame, but moderation analyses suggested that higher functionality appreciation strengthened the positive association between body surveillance and body shame. Findings underscore objectification theory as a useful framework to understand eating and body image disturbances and psychological distress in Chinese pregnant women and outline future directions to clarify the temporal nature of these associations and the precise role of functionality appreciation., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Ample evidence shows that transgender congruence is negatively associated with body dissatisfaction and disordered eating in the Western context; however, limited research has explored these relationships in non-Western populations (e.g., Chinese transgender adults). Moreover, to our knowledge, there has been no research describing disordered eating in Chinese transgender adults. Thus, this study aimed to explore group differences in and relationships between transgender congruence, body appreciation, body dissatisfaction, and disordered eating in Chinese transgender adults., Methods: This study examined transgender congruence, body appreciation, body dissatisfaction, and disordered eating in a sample of Chinese transgender adults (N = 200). Chi-square, F tests, and correlation analyses were conducted to examine group differences and relationships between study variables., Results: Of the transgender adults, 31.0% screened positive as probable eating disorder (ED) cases. There were no gender identity differences in the study variables. Transgender congruence was positively associated body appreciation (r = .40, p < .001) and negatively associated with body dissatisfaction (r = -.26, p < .001) and disordered eating (r = -.15, p = .031)., Discussion: Chinese transgender adults may be at high risk of EDs. Transgender congruence and body appreciation may serve a protective role in the context of eating pathology in Chinese transgender adults. Future research is needed to validate the observed relationships between transgender congruence, body appreciation, body dissatisfaction, and disordered eating in Chinese transgender adults., Public Significance: Research on disordered eating and body image in Chinese transgender adults is limited. This study describes disordered eating and its relations with transgender congruence, body appreciation, and body dissatisfaction in Chinese transgender adults. Findings highlight the need for and implications of ED intervention in Chinese transgender adults., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objective: Research on muscularity-oriented disordered eating has grown in recent years. However, the bulk of this research has focused on men and Western populations. Limited research is available in non-Western populations of women (e.g., China) which is likely due to the lack of valid instruments in these populations. Thus, the current study aimed to describe the validity and reliability of the Muscularity-Oriented Eating Test (MOET) in Chinese women., Method: Two online surveys (survey one: n = 599, M age = 29.49, SD = 7.36; survey two: n = 201, M age = 28.42, SD = 7.76) were conducted to explore the psychometric properties of the MOET in Chinese women. In survey one, the factor structure of the MOET was examined via exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA and CFA). Internal consistency reliability and convergent and incremental validity of the MOET were also assessed. In survey two, test-retest reliability across a 2-week interval was examined., Results: EFA and CFA provided support for the unidimensional factor structure of the MOET in Chinese adult women. The MOET presented good internal consistency and test-retest reliability and convergent validity via large, positive associations with theoretically related constructs (e.g., thinness-oriented disordered eating, drive for muscularity, and psychosocial impairment). Finally, muscularity-oriented disordered eating described unique variance in psychosocial impairment, providing support for the incremental validity of the MOET., Discussion: The sound psychometric structure of the MOET was supported in Chinese women. Continued research is needed to describe muscularity-oriented disordered eating in Chinese women to contribute to this significant gap in the literature., Public Significance: The Muscularity-Oriented Eating Test (MOET) is a measure specifically developed for assessing muscularity-oriented disordered eating. This study examined the validity and reliability of the MOET in Chinese women. The results showed that the MOET had sound validity and reliability in Chinese women. Thus, the MOET is a valuable tool for advancing the understanding of the muscularity-oriented disordered eating of women from the Chinese context., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Considerable evidence exists on the associations of celebrity worship with body dissatisfaction and disordered eating. However, relevant findings are confined to Western contexts and thinness-oriented body dissatisfaction and disordered eating. Consequently, the relationships of celebrity worship with muscularity-oriented body dissatisfaction and disordered eating are largely underexplored, especially in non-Western countries. Thus, the present study aimed to examine the relationships of celebrity worship with body dissatisfaction and disordered eating in China. A total of 593 young adult celebrity worshippers in China were recruited online. Correlation and mediation analyses were conducted. In contrast to previous findings, celebrity worship was not associated with thinness-oriented body dissatisfaction. However, significant associations were identified between celebrity worship and muscularity-oriented body dissatisfaction for men (r = 0.32, p < .001) and women (r = 0.26, p < .001), thinness-oriented disordered eating for men (r = 0.31, p < .001) and women (r = 0.37, p < .001), and muscularity-oriented disordered eating for men (r = 0.58, p < .001). Body image inflexibility mediated the associations between celebrity worship and disordered eating in men and women. Findings indicate that celebrity worship correlates positively with body dissatisfaction and disordered eating in Chinese young adults., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest All authors declare that they have no conflict(s) of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: An extensive literature has documented the deleterious effects of weight bias internalization (WBI) on biopsychosocial health outcomes. Still, this research is largely confined to the Western context. Furthermore, few studies have explored associations between WBI and biopsychosocial health outcomes, including in non-Western adolescent populations., Method: The present study explored the longitudinal relationships between WBI and body dissatisfaction, disordered eating, psychosocial impairment related to eating disorder features, and psychological and physical well-being in a sample (N = 1549; aged 11-18 years at baseline) of Chinese adolescents. Relationships between study variables were examined between two waves of data measurement (Time 1, baseline, and Time 2, 6-month). Cross-lagged and multivariate models were used to explore prospective relationships between WBI and biopsychosocial correlates., Results: Bidirectional relationships were observed between WBI and biopsychosocial correlates in Chinese adolescents. Adjusting for covariates and other predictor variables, higher body dissatisfaction, disordered eating, psychosocial impairment, and psychological distress at Time 1 predicted higher WBI at Time 2. Furthermore, higher WBI at Time 1 predicted higher body dissatisfaction, disordered eating, psychosocial impairment, and psychological distress at Time 2., Discussion: Weight bias internalization and psychosocial correlates were interrelated across time in Chinese adolescents. Improving WBI might be promising in the prevention of eating and body image disturbances and diminished psychosocial well-being. Similarly, reducing eating and body image disturbances and improving psychosocial well-being might be useful prevention targets in reducing WBI in Chinese adolescents., Public Significance: The present study represents an initial effort to explore bidirectional relationships between WBI and biopsychosocial health outcomes in Chinese adolescents. Findings suggest bidirectional relationships between WBI and psychosocial variables, highlighting the potential utility of incorporating WBI interventions into eating pathology and poor psychosocial well-being prevention designs for Chinese adolescents., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The present study developed the Muscularity Bias Internalization Scale (MBIS), a measure of muscularity bias internalization, which assesses the extent to which an individual endorses muscularity-based stereotypes and engages in negative self-evaluations due to muscularity. In Study 1, a pool of candidate items was developed. By using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on a sample of 300 Chinese adult men (M age = 29.98 years, SD = 7.81), 14 items from the item pool were retained. The 14-item MBIS contained three factors. In Study 2, a second sample of 300 Chinese adult men (M age = 29.50 years, SD = 7.50) was used to confirm the factor structure of the MBIS, as well as to examine its reliability and validity. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) further confirmed the three-factor structure of the MBIS with a good model fit. The MBIS showed high internal consistency reliability and high two-week test-retest reliability. The MBIS also showed good construct validity with measures of drive for muscularity, muscularity-oriented disordered eating, and muscle dysmorphia symptoms. The newly developed MBIS may help understand the role of muscularity bias internalization in the development and maintenance of muscularity-oriented body image and muscularity-oriented disordered eating., Competing Interests: Declarations No conflict of interest declared., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Given existing empirical support for the tripartite influence and social comparison models to explain variance in body dissatisfaction and disordered eating across diverse populations in the Western context, research is needed to describe these models in non-Western populations. The present study tested an integrated model inclusive of appearance pressures, thinness and muscularity internalizations, and social comparisons in relation to drive for muscularity and thinness-oriented disordered eating in heterosexual Chinese adult men (n = 510) and women (n = 473). Separated by gender, two integrated models had good fit statistics per structural equation modeling. In men and women, higher appearance pressures were uniquely related to higher drive for muscularity and thinness-oriented disordered eating. In men and women, higher thinness and muscularity internalizations were uniquely related to higher thinness-oriented disordered eating and drive for muscularity, respectively. In men and women, higher upward body image comparisons were uniquely related to higher drive for muscularity, and in men only, higher downward body image comparisons were uniquely related to higher thinness-oriented disordered eating. The present findings, which extend theories of eating pathology, may aid in improving treatment efforts for body dissatisfaction and disordered eating in heterosexual Chinese adult men and women., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: This study examined the bidirectional relationships between sleep quality, loss of control (LOC) eating, and night eating in Chinese adolescents using longitudinal data over an 18-month study period., Method: Four-waves of data measurement (Waves 1-4), at 6-month intervals, were conducted with 2566 adolescents aged 11-17 years at baseline. A set of questionnaires were used to assess night eating, LOC eating, and sleep quality at each wave of data collection. Cross-lagged models were applied to analyze the bidirectional relationships between night eating, LOC eating, and sleep quality., Results: Results indicated that higher night eating scores consistently predicted poorer sleep quality and higher LOC eating scores at Waves 1, 2, and 3. Furthermore, poorer sleep quality predicted higher night eating scores at Wave 1 and Wave 3, and higher LOC eating scores predicted higher night eating scores at Wave 1 and Wave 2., Discussion: These findings highlight that night eating, LOC eating, and sleep quality were interrelated across time in Chinese adolescents. Improving sleep quality and reducing LOC eating might be promising in the prevention of night eating in adolescents. Similarly, reducing night eating might be promising in improving sleep quality and reducing LOC eating in adolescents., Public Significance: This study explored the bidirectional relationship between night eating, LOC eating, and sleep quality in Chinese adolescents using cross-lagged models. Findings indicate bidirectional relationships between these variables and highlight the potential utility in incorporating sleep, LOC eating, and night eating interventions in eating pathology prevention designs for adolescents., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)