Application of a Relational Model to Understanding Body Image in College Women and Men

Relational cultural theory was examined in relation to body image in two samples of college women (n = 102) and men (n = 78) from a Midwestern university. Participants completed measures of mutuality and body image satisfaction. Results revealed that low mutuality with mothers and fathers predicted body dissatisfaction in both men and women, and low mutuality with romantic partners predicted body dissatisfaction in women. For women, when the shared variance between mothers and fathers was removed, mutuality with fathers was associated with body satisfaction as well as several indexes of body image, including evaluation of overall appearance, level of fitness, and overall health. For men, mutuality with mothers, fathers, and friends was associated with several body image scales. Additional findings and implications for working with college students are discussed.