The role of close others in promoting weight management and body image outcomes: An application of confirmation, self-determination, social control, and social support

Abstract

Four theoretical perspectives grounded this examination of mothers’, romantic partners’, and friends’ interpersonal communication behaviors related to young women’s weight management behaviors and body image outcomes. Specifically, behaviors identified by confirmation (i.e., acceptance and challenge), self-determination (i.e., autonomous and controlled motivation), social control (i.e., positive and negative social control), and social support (i.e., esteem and informational support) were predicted to be associated with young women’s physical activity, healthy eating, body appreciation, and body satisfaction. Female participants ( N = 637) completed online surveys and reported on perceptions of either their mothers’, romantic partners’, or friends’ communication, as well as their own behaviors and self-views. Results identified a number of perceived interpersonal behaviors (e.g., acceptance, autonomous motivation, positive social control) associated with young women’s weight management and body image outcomes, with mothers’ communication being a particularly consistent predictor.