ABSTRACT
According to Thompson (1990), physical appearance-related body image is generally divided into three components: (1) a perceptual component that relates to how accurately we estimate our body size; (2) a subjective component that involves our feelings, thoughts, and attitudes toward our bodies; and (3) a behavioral component that refers to repetitive checking behavior and the tendency to avoid situations where we might feel uncomfortable about our bodies. Other researchers have dened body image in similar and different manners, and research has seldom focused on the multidimensional nature of body image described above. Rather, in trying to understand the negative body images that women often report, researchers have tended to focus on two areas: body-size distortion and body dissatisfaction (negative attitudes toward the body).
