Alexandra F. Corning

Differential Social Comparison Processes in Women with and without Eating Disorder Symptoms.

On the basis of predictions from social comparison theory (L. Festinger, 1954) and informed by findings from the social comparison and eating disorder literatures, hypotheses were tested regarding the social comparison behaviors of women with eating disorder symptoms and their asymptomatic peers. Re

Self-Esteem as a Moderator between Perceived Discrimination and Psychological Distress among Women.

The relationship between perceived discrimination and psychological distress was investigated within a social comparison theory framework. Predictions of a variant of social comparison theory—relative deprivation theory—as well as predictions from the stress-buffering literature pertaining to the moderating effects of self-esteem were tested using samples primarily composed of European American women. Results regarding the theorized self-protecting roles of personal self-esteem (Study 1) and collective self-esteem (Study 2) indicated mixed support for personal self-esteem and consistent support for collective self-esteem as moderators of the discrimination– distress relationship. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for theory, practice, and research pertaining to the impact of discrimination and social stigma. Historically, in the study of prejudice and discrimination, the majority of the empirical focus has been on understanding the variables associated with prejudiced beliefs and discriminatory behavior on the part of the perpetrator. As a result, over the span of more than half a century, a substantial body of research that articulates the personal characteristics, social structures, and psychological processes associated with the development and maintenance of prejudiced attitudes and discriminatory behavior has been amassed (e.g., Adorno, Frenkel-Brunswik, Levinson, & San

Heterosocial involvement, peer pressure for thinness, and body dissatisfaction among young adolescent girls

The purpose of this study was to examine longitudinal connections among young adolescent heterosocial involvement (i.e., mixed-sex interactions), peer pressure for thinness, and body dissatisfaction. Three years of self-report questionnaire data were collected from 88 adolescent girls as they completed 6th through 8th grades. Results indicated that the relation between heterosocial involvement and body dissatisfaction was mediated by perceived peer pressure for thinness. Within this model, heterosocial involvement was associated with greater peer pressure for thinness. In turn, peer pressure for thinness was associated with greater body dissatisfaction. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for prevention and intervention efforts aimed at girls during their middle-school years.

The Application of Survival Analysis to the Study of Psychotherapy Termination.

The state of the psychotherapy termination literature to date might best be characterized as inconclusive. Despite decades of studies, almost no predictors of premature termination have emerged consistently. An examination of this literature reveals a number of recurrent methodological-analytical problems that likely have contributed substantially to this state. Survival analysis, which was designed for longitudinal data on the occurrence of events, not only circumvents these problems but also capitalizes on the rich features of termination data and opens brand new avenues of investigation. A substantive illustration of survival analysis is provided through tests of 5 variables and their interaction with time in the prediction of both premature and mutual termination.

Who is most likely to fat talk? A social comparison perspective.

Negative talk about food, weight, or the body that occurs commonly among women--fat talk--is gaining increasing attention. Whereas its negative eating pathology and body esteem correlates have received continued empirical validation, what is not yet known is who is most likely to fat talk. We propose that social comparison processes underlie and motivate much of fat talk. In a sample of 143 college women, we found evidence for the role of social comparison. First, having a stronger tendency to socially compare directly predicts fat talk. Second, as a womans body image concerns increase, her likelihood of engaging in fat talk increases, and this is intensified if she has a greater tendency to socially compare. Finally, social comparison propensity begins to exert its exacerbating effects at surprisingly low levels of body image concern. Results are discussed in terms of the advantages of using a social comparison perspective to better understand fat talk.

Preventing the development of body issues in adolescent girls through intervention with their mothers.

The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of the Healthy Girls Project, an ecologically based, targeted prevention program aimed at discouraging the development of body-related problems in middle-school girls via an intervention directly and only with their mothers. Participants were 31 seventh- and eighth-grade girls and their mothers. The empirically based intervention comprised a series of 4 weekly workshops that had both interactive psychoeducational components and behavioral components (e.g., homework to do with daughters, modeling activities). The study design was experimental, with mother-daughter dyads randomly assigned to either the intervention group or a wait-list control group. Daughters completed pretest (i.e., pre-workshop) measures, posttest measures, and, 3 months later, follow-up measures. Results indicated that at both posttest and follow-up, girls whose mothers were in the intervention group perceived less pressure from their mothers to be thin. At follow-up, these girls also showed a lower drive for thinness. Results were mixed regarding group differences in body dissatisfaction levels at posttest and at follow-up. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for targeted prevention efforts aimed at girls during their middle-school years.

Who Believes Us When We Try to Conceal Our Prejudices? The Effectiveness of Moral Credentials With In-Groups Versus Out-Groups

Moral credentials are pieces of evidence accrued by individuals that can later be presented, intentionally or unintentionally, as a record of their lack of prejudice (B. Monin & D. T. Miller, 2001). For example, attending a gay pride march or being an openly gay person ostensibly credentials an individual to tell gay jokes free of concern that he or she will be labeled prejudiced. The authors tested whether displays of moral credentials actually work to insulate individuals from attributions of prejudice by others. Results indicated that displays of moral credentials generally discourage attributions of discrimination but unevenly so, depending on who makes the judgment. Consistent with predictions from social identity theory (H. Tajfel & J. C. Turner, 1979), participants most swayed by displays of moral credentials were those who shared an in-group status with the person displaying the moral credentials.

Predicting termination type from client-therapist agreement on the severity of the presenting problem.

Discrepancies between clients and therapists in their perceptions of the severity of the clients presenting problem were tested for their utility in predicting both premature and mutual termination. Eight problem types were examined, and analyses were conducted within a survival analysis framework. Across the majority of problem types, results indicated that greater discrepancies between clients and therapists lowered the odds of mutual termination; however, greater discrepancies did not in turn increase the odds of premature termination. Interaction tests of client-therapist discrepancy with a variable that changes over time, accruing number of sessions, offer some qualifications. In particular, in the case of two problem types--depression and family-of-origin--when large discrepancies occurred, the likelihood of premature termination maintained at an equal rate throughout treatment, whereas when discrepancies were moderate or absent, the likelihood of premature termination diminished. Implications for clinicians and researchers point to enhancement of the therapeutic alliance as a means of reducing the probability of premature termination and increasing the probability of mutual termination. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved).

Thin or overweight women's fat talk: which is worse for other women's body satisfaction?

Fat talk is not merely correlated with, but appears to be one of the causes of body dissatisfaction in other women. Moderators of fat talks deleterious effects, however, have not yet been identified. This experiment tested whether the body type of the fat-talker affects listeners’ body satisfaction. Women viewed photos of either noticeably thin or overweight women making either fat talk or positive body statements. Fat talk by thin and overweight women both had a negative impact on womens body satisfaction, but dissatisfaction was highest after exposure to photos of thin women making fat talk statements. Statistically indistinguishable from this latter effect, however, was the negative effect of thin women making positive body statements. Results are considered within a social comparison framework. Theoretical implications for the thin-ideal and fat talk literatures are presented, as are clinical implications for work with clients.

Drive for Muscularity Is Heightened in Body-Dissatisfied Men Who Socially Compare

Men’s drive for muscularity refers to the degree to which men wish to increase their muscularity. Men who are more extreme in their drive for muscularity face dangerous consequences, such as increased levels of eating pathology and use of performance-enhancing substances. The aim of this study was to predict men’s drive for muscularity, and to test whether hypothesized predictive factors vary across age groups. Participants were 226 men ages 18–67. It was hypothesized that body dissatisfaction would predict men’s drive for muscularity. More substantively, however, it was hypothesized that having a strong tendency to compare oneself with others would exacerbate the relationship between men’s body dissatisfaction and their drive for muscularity. Results of a hierarchical multiple regression analysis supported these hypotheses. Furthermore, this exacerbating effect was present regardless of men’s age. Implications for assessment, clinical practice, research, and prevention efforts are discussed.