Graduate Program

Clinical Psychology

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Semester of Degree Completion

2011

Thesis Director

Amy Brausch

Thesis Committee Member

Marjorie Hanft-Martone

Thesis Committee Member

Caridad Brito

Abstract

In this study, the author investigated parental attachments, self-esteem, and romantic satisfaction as they related to the cognitive and affective components of the selfconcept when represented through Body Image Dissatisfaction (BID). The study was a within-subject design with 70 participants. They participants were instructed to report their feelings about each of these variables through 4 questionnaires. Individuals with low self-esteem identified as having increased BID as compared to those individuals with high self-esteem. Compared with those who reported supportive parental attachments, individuals with a highly overprotective mother reported higher BID. Multiple regression analysis indicated that gender had no significant impact on reports of BID. Discussion centers around the relation of the self-concept as represented through BID, and the treatment implications surrounding the results, with a focus on the importance of enhancing self-esteem.

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