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Associations Between Women’s Body Image and Happiness: Results of the YouBeauty.com Body Image Survey (YBIS)

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  • Viren Swami
  • Ulrich Tran
  • Stefan Stieger
  • Martin Voracek

Abstract

Studies that have examined associations between body image and well-being have used limited measures of the former or have utilised small convenience samples. Here, we report on data from 9,667 Western women (US residents n = 8,925, non-US residents n = 742) who completed the online YouBeauty Body Image Survey. Respondents completed measures of weight-based body dissatisfaction, body appreciation, and subjective happiness, and provided demographic data including their education, age, and body mass index (BMI). Preliminary analyses indicated that 89.0 % of women evidenced weight-based body dissatisfaction, with the majority (84.1 %) wanting to be thinner. Path analysis showed that body appreciation positively predicted subjective happiness. BMI was negatively associated with body appreciation, but showed a direct positive association associated with subjective happiness. Controlling for BMI, body dissatisfaction had no significant association with subjective happiness. In addition, older and non-US respondents had higher body appreciation. Implications of the present results for intervention studies aimed at promoting healthier body image are discussed in conclusion. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015

Suggested Citation

  • Viren Swami & Ulrich Tran & Stefan Stieger & Martin Voracek, 2015. "Associations Between Women’s Body Image and Happiness: Results of the YouBeauty.com Body Image Survey (YBIS)," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 705-718, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:16:y:2015:i:3:p:705-718
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-014-9530-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Viren Swami & Stefan Stieger & Martin Voracek & Stefan Dressler & Laura Eisma & Adrian Furnham, 2009. "Psychometric Evaluation of the Tagalog and German Subjective Happiness Scales and a Cross-Cultural Comparison," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 93(2), pages 393-406, September.
    2. Viren Swami, 2008. "Translation and Validation of the Malay Subjective Happiness Scale," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 88(2), pages 347-353, September.
    3. Sonja Lyubomirsky & Heidi Lepper, 1999. "A Measure of Subjective Happiness: Preliminary Reliability and Construct Validation," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 46(2), pages 137-155, February.
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    1. Jessie Coronel* & Hao Weng & Min Chung Han, 2019. "Discussion of Consumers’ Body Satisfaction: Focused on Purchasing Decision and Service Satisfaction," Business, Management and Economics Research, Academic Research Publishing Group, vol. 5(9), pages 127-133, 09-2019.
    2. Leanne L. Davis & Samantha A. Fowler & Lisa A. Best & Lilly E. Both, 2020. "The Role of Body Image in the Prediction of Life Satisfaction and Flourishing in Men and Women," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 505-524, February.
    3. Shuanghu Fang & Dongyan Ding & Pingping Ji & Mingjie Huang & Kesong Hu, 2022. "Cognitive Defusion and Psychological Flexibility Predict Negative Body Image in the Chinese College Students: Evidence from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-16, December.
    4. Li, Shuanglong & Chen, Yunsong & He, Guangye, 2018. "Laugh and grow fat: Happiness affects body mass index among Urban Chinese adults," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 55-63.
    5. Hui-Ling Chen & Po-Fu Lee & Yun-Chi Chang & Fu-Shu Hsu & Ching-Yu Tseng & Xin-Yu Hsieh & Chien-Chang Ho, 2020. "The Association between Physical Fitness Performance and Subjective Happiness among Taiwanese Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-11, May.

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