The role of body objectification in disordered eating and depressed mood

Objectives. The study aimed to extend tests of objectification theory into the realm of depression. The theory's applicability to men was also investigated. Design. A cross-sectional study. Method. A sample of 115 men and 171 women completed questionnaire measures of self-objectification, depressed mood, disordered eating, as well as the proposed mediating variables of body shame, appearance anxiety, flow and awareness of internal states. Results. For women, it was found that depressed mood and disordered eating were both predicted by self-objectification and its corollary of habitual self-surveillance. Path analysis gave strong support to the mediational relationships of the theoretical model. With one major exception (the role of self-objectification), the pattern of relationships was similar for men. Conclusion. Objectification theory provides a useful framework for identifying predictors of depressed mood.