mass media; emotion regulation; cognitive distortions; body image; thin ideal; negative affect; stress response; moderators; eating disorder; depressive disorders; anxiety disorders; somatoform disorders
Wyssen Andrea, Lao Junpeng, Rodger Helen, Humbel Nadine, Lennertz Julia, Schuck Kathrin, Isenschmid Bettina, Milos Gabriella, Trier Stephan, Whinyates Katherina, Assion Hans-Jörg, Ueberberg Bianca, Müller Judith, Klauke Benedikt, Teismann Tobias, Margraf Jürgen, Juckel Georg, Kossmann Christian, Schneider Silvia, Caldara Roberto, Munsch Simone (2019), Facial Emotion Recognition Abilities in Women Experiencing Eating Disorders, in
Psychosomatic Medicine, 81(2), 155-164.
Humbel Nadine, Messerli-Bürgy Nadine, Schuck Kathrin, Wyssen Andrea, Garcia-Burgos David, Biedert Esther, Lennertz Julia, Meyer Andrea H., Whinyates Katherina, Isenschmid Bettina, Milos Gabriella, Trier Stephan, Adolph Dirk, Cwik Jan, Margraf Jürgen, Assion Hans-Jörg, Teismann Tobias, Ueberberg Bianca, Juckel Georg, Müller Judith, Klauke Benedikt, Schneider Silvia, Munsch Simone (2018), Self-reported emotion regulation difficulties are associated with mood but not with the biological stress response to thin ideal exposure, in
PLOS ONE, 13(6), e0199769-e0199769.
Wyssen Andrea, Debbeler Luka J., Meyer Andrea H., Coelho Jennifer S., Humbel Nadine, Schuck Kathrin, Lennertz Julia, Messerli-Bürgy Nadine, Biedert Esther, Trier Stephan N., Isenschmid Bettina, Milos Gabriella, Whinyates Katherina, Schneider Silvia, Munsch Simone (2017), Cognitive Distortions Associated with Imagination of the Thin Ideal: Validation of the Thought-Shape Fusion Body Questionnaire (TSF-B), in
Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 1.
Wyssen Andrea, Coelho Jennifer S., Wilhelm Peter, Zimmermann Grégoire, Munsch Simone (2016), Thought-shape fusion in young healthy females appears after vivid imagination of thin ideals, in
Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 52, 75-82.
Wyssen A. Coelho J. S. Wilhelm P. Zimmermann G. & Munsch S. (2016), Thought-Shape Fusion in Young Healthy Females Appears after Vivid Imagination of Thin Ideals, in
Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 52, 75.
Schuck Kathrin, Munsch Simone, Schneider Silvia (2015), Cognitive biases in response to visual body-related stimuli in eating disorders: study protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis, in
Systematic Reviews, 4(1), 103-103.
WyssenAndrea, MunschSimone (2015),
Wer ist die Schlankste im ganzen Land?, Universitas, Fribourg.
Munsch Simone (2014), Study protocol: psychological and physiological consequences of exposure to mass media in young women - an experimental cross-sectional and longitudinal study and the role of moderators, in
BMC Psychology, 2(1), 37-37.
Munsch Simone (2014), Study design: Moderators of psychological and physiological consequences of exposure to mass media in young women – an experimental cross-sectional and longitudinal study., in
BMC Psychology, 2(1), 37.
1. Summary In today’s modern eloctronical world repeated exposure to thin beauty ideals is part of the daily routine. Data indicate that under certain circumstances, exposure to thin ideals via mass media plays an important role in the development and maintenance of eating disorders (EDs), low self-esteem and depressive feelings in young females [1,2,7]. There are also contradicting results, revealing short-term positive effects of exposure to thin ideals. It is thus important to elucidate the specific circumstances under which exposure to thin ideals develops its detrimental impact and to investigate whether these features are more pronounced in EDs than in other mental disorders also related to negative body image. However, despite the striking clinical relevance of detrimental effects of body dissatisfaction, negative affect and disordered eating behavior [3], the influence of moderators on effects of exposure to the thin ideal in ED samples compared to patients sufferiung from mixed mental disorders such as depression and somatoform disorders and to healthy controls has not yet been examined. Consequently, the current study sets out to investigate the following key questions: (1) Does laboratory induced exposure to thin ideals relate to psychological impairments in terms of body image, affect and eating behavior in 18 to 35 year old female suffering from anorexia and bulimia nervosa (AN, BN) compared to female healthy controls and to a sample of females suffering from mixed mental disorders (depression and somatoform disorders)? (2) How do moderators such as cognitive distortions (“Thought-Shape Fusion, TSF”), [4] and correlates of emotion regulation (ER) moderate the influence of the exposure to thin ideals. (3) Are these characteristics amenable to change after treatment? As a second focus it will be explored how exposure to media promoting the thin ideal relates to biological parameter of stress. We combine questionnaire-based and observational data and include biological measures of stress response such as saliva cortisol, alpha-amylase, heart rate and heart rate variability to assess impact of exposure to the thin ideal. To achieve these interdisciplinary goals, two research groups (Simone Munsch, University of Fribourg, Switzerland; Stephan Herpertz, LWL-University Bochum, Germany) provide their expertise for the investigation of ED pathology, negative affect, cognitive style, emotion regulation and psychological aspects of stress. Stephan Herpertz in collaboration with Prof. C. Kirschbaum (University of Dresden, Germany) contributes to the aspects of the biological stress response. Developmental aspects of body image and risk behavior in youth are covered by Grégoire Zimmermann (University of Lausanne, Switzerland), expertise on mechanisms transporting thin ideals promoted by mass media is guaranteed by W. Wirth, (University of Zurich) and expertise on computerized procedures for ER assessment is represented by Roberto Caldara (University of Fribourg, Switzerland). A sample of 250 female participants including patients with AN, BN, depressive and somatoform disorders, and healthy women will be recruited in three collaborating Clinics in Switzerland and in the Clinic of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Bochum, Germany (SH). This project will provide pertinent findings about the role of moderators influencing the psychological and physiological effects of exposure to thin ideals promoted by mass media in AN and BN patients using an ecologically valid design. Comparing this susceptibility in ED patients to healthy participants and patients suffering from other mental disorder in a cross and longitudinal design will contribute to a better understanding of psychopathological mechanisms maintaining EDs and distinctions from depressive and somatoform disorders. Findings could be used to develop tailored interventions including a training in ER competences as well as cognitive restructuring of distorted beliefs about the own body shape and weight.