The relationships between fat talk, body dissatisfaction, and drive for thinness: Perceived stress as a moderator

Although body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness are commonplace in college-aged women, their relationships with fat talk and stress are understudied. This study examined (a) whether fat talk predicts body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness and (b) whether stress moderates these relationships. Results from self-report questionnaires completed by 121 female college students revealed that fat talk and perceived stress were significantly positively correlated with body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness. Although fat talk was a significant independent predictor of body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness, stress moderated these relationships such that they were stronger at lower stress levels. Although contrary to predictions, these results are logical when means are considered. Results suggest that fat talk positively predicts body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness in students with relatively lower stress levels, but does not for students under high stress because mean levels of these constructs are all already high.

► Fat talk positively correlated with body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness.
► Stress positively correlated with body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness.
► Stress moderated these relationships: they were stronger at lower stress levels.
► Highly stressed participants reported significantly more eating pathology.