The Research Dialogue

Author(s) : Govind Panwar¹, Priyanshi Sirohi²

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64880/theresearchdialogue.v5i2.31

Abstract

During adolescence, a developmental stage typically marked by heightened concerns regarding appearance, body image-related cognitive fusion has become identified as a substantial psychological factor linked to disordered eating. This study examined the relationship among body image-related cognitive fusion, disordered eating, and gender in adolescents aged 12 to 18 years. A total of 168 participants (N = 168) completed standardized self-report measures of body image-related cognitive fusion and disordered eating attitude, along with a brief demographic form including gender. Using a correlational, cross-sectional design, the study tested four hypotheses: that cognitive fusion would be positively related to disordered eating, that gender would be related to cognitive fusion, that gender would be related to disordered eating, and that these three variables would form an interrelated pattern rather than independent associations. The bivariate correlation analyses statistically support H1 and H2 at .05 level, whereas H3 and H4 were not statistically significant, including the finding shows no statistically significant correlation between gender and disordered eating (r = -.081, p > .05). Body image-related cognitive fusion was statistically significant at level .05 and positively associated with disordered eating (r = .194, p < .05), Gender showed a weak negative association with body image-related cognitive fusion (r = -.178, p < .05), indicating higher cognitive fusion scores of males than females. Taken together, these outcomes contribute to the growing body of literature linking body image-related cognitive fusion to disordered eating attitudes, and underscore the importance of assessing these cognitive processes which are central to frameworks like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to better understand eating-related difficulties among adolescents.

Keywords: body image-related cognitive fusion, disordered eating, adolescents, gender, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy 

Cite this Article