Beauty Sick

Body Image

Is "Body Neutrality" Really Something to Strive For?

Renee Engeln Ph.D. on September 29, 2024

Social media influencers have been promoting "body neutrality" as an alternative to body positivity, but researchers argue they're getting some key points about body image wrong.

Social media influencers have been promoting "body neutrality" as an alternative to body positivity, but researchers argue they're getting some key points about body image wrong.

Social Media

A One-Week Break From Social Media Can Have a Big Payoff

Renee Engeln Ph.D. on August 24, 2024

A new experiment asked young women to take a one-week break from social media. At the end of that week, their self-esteem and body image showed notable improvements.

A new experiment asked young women to take a one-week break from social media. At the end of that week, their self-esteem and body image showed notable improvements.

Sexual Abuse

Why Leering at Women’s Bodies Could Be a Warning Sign

Renee Engeln Ph.D. on August 21, 2024

A new study found that the tendency to gaze at women’s bodies may predict worrisome outcomes. Men who leer at women showed more arousal in response to images of injured women.

A new study found that the tendency to gaze at women’s bodies may predict worrisome outcomes. Men who leer at women showed more arousal in response to images of injured women.

Bias

Body Dissatisfaction Is Expensive

Renee Engeln Ph.D. on March 28, 2024

A new analysis estimates that body dissatisfaction and appearance-based discrimination create billions of dollars in costs for individuals, the government, and society at large.

A new analysis estimates that body dissatisfaction and appearance-based discrimination create billions of dollars in costs for individuals, the government, and society at large.

Education

Gender Diversity in Physics Classes Benefits Men and Women

Renee Engeln Ph.D. on March 24, 2024

New research across 124 physics classrooms finds that a brief belongingness intervention can have remarkable outcomes, but only if classrooms are gender diverse.

New research across 124 physics classrooms finds that a brief belongingness intervention can have remarkable outcomes, but only if classrooms are gender diverse.

Depression

Negative Moods Are Revealed in Teen Girls’ Language

Renee Engeln Ph.D. on January 15, 2024

Consistent with the idea that depression makes us self-focused, a new study shows that girls who are feeling sad use more first-person pronouns when typing on their phones.

Consistent with the idea that depression makes us self-focused, a new study shows that girls who are feeling sad use more first-person pronouns when typing on their phones.

Bias

What Depression Actually Looks Like

Renee Engeln Ph.D. on December 28, 2023

A new series of studies shows just how hard it can be to recognize depression—especially when we let our ideas of what a typical depressed person looks like affect our judgments.

A new series of studies shows just how hard it can be to recognize depression—especially when we let our ideas of what a typical depressed person looks like affect our judgments.

Body Image

Online Shopping Can Be a Blow to Body Image

Renee Engeln Ph.D. on December 17, 2023

Online shopping can be fun, but can also leave many women feeling worse about themselves. Browsing for activewear, in particular, seems to pack a negative psychological punch.

Online shopping can be fun, but can also leave many women feeling worse about themselves. Browsing for activewear, in particular, seems to pack a negative psychological punch.

Body Image

Why You Shouldn't Worry How You Look When You Work Out

Renee Engeln Ph.D. on December 6, 2023

Two new studies show that women who focus on how they look while they're exercising might miss out on the benefits that working out can bring.

Two new studies show that women who focus on how they look while they're exercising might miss out on the benefits that working out can bring.

Body Image

How Influencers Make Young Women Feel Bad

Renee Engeln Ph.D. on September 25, 2023

Social media influencers can have a negative impact on young women’s mood and body image, new research finds—especially when the images they post are sexualized.

Social media influencers can have a negative impact on young women’s mood and body image, new research finds—especially when the images they post are sexualized.

Narcissism

Narcissistic Men Have Higher Testosterone

Renee Engeln Ph.D. on September 12, 2023

New research finds that men who score high on the type of narcissism associated with status-seeking and ego-boosting have higher levels of testosterone.

New research finds that men who score high on the type of narcissism associated with status-seeking and ego-boosting have higher levels of testosterone.

Gender

What Happens When Children Think Girls Are Bad at Math

Renee Engeln Ph.D. on August 30, 2023

A new study finds that even in classrooms where girls outperform boys on math tests, classmates’ belief that boys are better at math still has a negative impact.

A new study finds that even in classrooms where girls outperform boys on math tests, classmates’ belief that boys are better at math still has a negative impact.

Eating Disorders

Women with Disordered Eating See More Toxic Instagram Posts

Renee Engeln Ph.D. on June 24, 2023

Social media use and eating struggles are correlated. Is it because women with disordered eating are more likely to seek out fitspiration and thinspiration?

Social media use and eating struggles are correlated. Is it because women with disordered eating are more likely to seek out fitspiration and thinspiration?

Eating Disorders

Food Insecurity Makes Disordered Eating More Likely

Renee Engeln Ph.D. on June 6, 2023

The stereotype is that people with eating disorders are wealthy. But new research shows that those who experience food insecurity are at high risk of disordered eating.

The stereotype is that people with eating disorders are wealthy. But new research shows that those who experience food insecurity are at high risk of disordered eating.

Embarrassment

Body Shame Is a Powerful Predictor of Poor Mental Health

Renee Engeln Ph.D. on May 17, 2023

A new study finds that body shame is a better predictor of anxiety, depression, and eating disorders than a more general measure of shame.

A new study finds that body shame is a better predictor of anxiety, depression, and eating disorders than a more general measure of shame.

Gender

93-Country Survey Reveals Who Spends the Most Time on Beauty

Renee Engeln Ph.D. on March 29, 2023

A survey of individuals from 93 different countries reveals who spends the most, and least, time trying to look attractive.

A survey of individuals from 93 different countries reveals who spends the most, and least, time trying to look attractive.

Sex

Why So Many Boys Sexually Harass Girls

Renee Engeln Ph.D. on March 21, 2023

The messages children learn about how boys and girls differ can open the door to sexual harassment.

The messages children learn about how boys and girls differ can open the door to sexual harassment.

Alcoholism

Alcohol and Zoom: A Recipe for Depression?

Renee Engeln Ph.D. on March 12, 2023

New research shows that focusing on your own face during video calls worsens your mood, and drinking while Zooming makes you even more likely to focus on yourself.

New research shows that focusing on your own face during video calls worsens your mood, and drinking while Zooming makes you even more likely to focus on yourself.

Media

Most People Ignore Instagram’s Sensitive Content Warnings

Renee Engeln Ph.D. on December 14, 2022

A new set of studies shows that most social media users choose to uncover sensitive content, even if doing so might be disturbing.

A new set of studies shows that most social media users choose to uncover sensitive content, even if doing so might be disturbing.

Fear

Do Men Hog the Microphone at Q&A Sessions?

Renee Engeln Ph.D. on December 6, 2022

New research finds that at academic conferences, men tend to be first to the microphone and women report feeling less comfortable asking questions of speakers.

New research finds that at academic conferences, men tend to be first to the microphone and women report feeling less comfortable asking questions of speakers.