Objectification Theory and the Family: The Effect of Attachment Insecurity on Self-Objectification and Attentional Bias toward Eating Disorder Stimuli

Eating disorders (EDs) and disordered eating represent a serious public health issue among young adolescent and adult populations. EDs are predominately a problem for girls and women. Approximately 90% of people who develop EDs are female (Harvard Health Publications, 2012). Objectification theory (Frederickson & Roberts, 1997) posits that internalization of sexualized media messages (self-objectification) and social pressures lead to ED behaviors. Not all females exposed to objectifying stimuli experience ED behaviors. This study explored insecurity in family relationships as a risk factor; specifically, whether women who have greater attachment insecurity are more prone to self-objectification and ED-specific attentional bias. Components of Frederickson et al.'s (1998) and Tiggemann & Boundy's (2008) experimental designs were replicated. This design has shown that (1) self-objectification can be heightened by context, and (2) self-objectification induces feelings of body shame, which promote ED behaviors. To test attachment insecurity as a risk factor in the objectification framework, a repeated measures experimental design was conducted with women (n = 107), between the ages of 18 and 35. This study utilized a repeated measures, experimental design where each participant either viewed an image set reinforcing the thin-ideal or a control image set of products (no people). Participants were assigned to one of four groups using the minimization method (high attachment insecurity and control images; low attachment insecurity and control images; high attachment insecurity and experimental images; low attachment insecurity and experimental images). Groups were balanced on race, type of insecurity (anxious, avoidant, both), and level of insecurity (over a standard deviation above the mean). The study involved deception in that participants were told that the purpose was to understand women's attitudes towards advertising. Participants took a screening measure online to assess inclusion and exclusion criteria and then were invited to an in-person session. During in-person data-collection sessions, participants filled out outcome-specific, exploratory and deception self-report measures, viewed the experimental or control image set, and took a cognitive processing test with ED-specific stimuli. Using a factorial MANCOVA, the following hypotheses were tested while controlling for self-esteem (SISE) and parental psychological control (PCS-YSR): 1) Exposure to objectifying stimuli will cause higher levels of state self-objectification (TST) and greater attentional bias towards ED-salient stimuli (ED-specific stroop test); and 2) Exposure to objectifying stimuli will cause higher levels of state self-objectification and greater attentional bias towards ED-salient stimuli for the high attachment insecurity (ECR-RS) group. These hypotheses were tested within a sample of racially and ethnically diverse women. Results demonstrated that those in the high attachment insecurity group demonstrated more attentional bias towards ED-specific stimuli regardless of condition. Implications for family therapists and research limitations are discussed.