An Examination of General and Specific Motivational Mechanisms for the Relations Between Body Dissatisfaction and Eating Behaviors

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to test a model of the regulation of eating behaviors that could help to better understand the processes by which body dissatisfaction could be either associated with dysfunctional eating behaviors or with healthy eating behaviors. Based on Self–Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985; Ryan & Deci, 2000, it appears that women's general level of self–determination in life may help protect against pressures about body image and endorsement of society's beliefs about thinness and obesity. Findings also suggest that women's general level of self–determination is positively associated with an autonomous regulation of eating behaviors (AREB) and negatively associated with a controlled regulation of eating behaviors (CREB). In turn, the AREB is positively associated with healthy eating while CREB is positively associated with dysfunctional eating. Overall, it appears that body dissatisfaction resulting from pressures about body image and endorsement of society's beliefs about thinness and obesity may be more closely associated with a controlled regulation of eating behaviors, which may explain its relation with eating pathology.