Psychological well-being in young women working in the promotional marketing industry: the role of body image factors

For young women working in some industries their judged physical attractiveness is directly related to their employment. This study investigated the role of objective physical status, societal influences on body image, and self-appraisals of personal appearance in determining the psychological well-being of young women employed in the promotional industry. Participants were 132 women (mean age = 22 years) with a Body Mass Index in healthy or underweight categories. Both depression and global self-esteem scores were in the normal range. The group reported high levels of stress and self-liking but low levels of anxiety and self-competence. The body image factors significantly predicted variance in anxiety, stress, self-competence, and self-liking. Appearance Evaluation and Appearance Orientation scores were the strongest predictors of psychological well-being. These results suggest that while social comparison can result in self-enhancement effects for those who have achieved the thin-ideal, maintaining such a physique results in ongoing stress and pressure.