Sexual Objectification, Body Image, and Sexual Health: An SEM Test of a Relational Model

Background/Purpose:

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancies among women are social problems with many consequences such as poverty, inability to obtain higher education, and infertility. Understanding the factors related preventative sexual health behaviors can have far-reaching implications for women’s health and well-being. 

Existing literature suggests that body image may be related to some sexual behaviors, but the majority of the relevant research does not account for the interpersonal relationship context.  Building on objectification theory, relational-cultural theory, and existing empirical scholarship, this study tests a model of relationships between sexual objectification, self-objectification, body appreciation, quality of the sexual relationship, and preventative sexual health behaviors among a sample of young women. 

Methods:

Using a cross-sectional design, participants were recruited from one community college and three 4-year universities (N = 399) and, after providing consent, completed an online survey.  Survey measures included the Interpersonal Sexual Objectification Scale, The Self-Surveillance Subscale of the Objectified Body Consciousness Scale, the Body Appreciation Scale (BAS), a modified Relational Health Indices Peer Subscale, and the Preventative Sexual Health Behavior Inventory.  Covariates included race, history of previous pregnancy, and body mass index (BMI).  Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were used to test the hypothesized model.

Results: 

The sample was 18-25 years old (M = 20.15, SD = 2.04), had an average BMI of 23.66 (SD = 4.09), the majority had never been pregnant (91%), and most identified as heterosexual (89%) and White (81%).  The CFA model showed an acceptable fit (SRMR = 0.064, RMSEA = 0.065; RMSEA 90% CI = [0.063, 0.068]).  The theoretical model fit significantly better than the CFA model (Dχ² (4) = 3.95, p = .41) and fit indices indicated acceptable model fit (SRMR = 0.064, RMSEA = 0.065; RMSEA 90% CI = [0.063, 0.068]).  The relationship between self-objectification and body appreciation represented the largest effect size (b = -0.79, β = -.60, p < .001). Body appreciation had a significant direct effect on preventative sexual health behavior (b = 0.28, β = .17, p = .006) and a significant indirect effect through relationship quality (b = 0.15, β = .09, p = .002) for a total standardized effect of 0.26.

Conclusions/Implications:

This is the first known study to account for quality of the sexual relationship in a test of body image variables.  Also, most of the literature focuses on body dissatisfaction and risky sexual behavior.  A change in focus to positive body image and protective sexual behavior can begin to clarify if and how body image might serve as a protective factor against negative sexuality-related outcomes. 

The strength of the relationship between self-objectification and body appreciation is worth emphasizing, as interventions that prevent women from internalizing objectification may have a clinically significant impact on body appreciation.  Further, body appreciation is related to preventative sexual health behaviors directly and indirectly through relationship quality.  This suggests that interventions that improve body appreciation among women may also improve women’s relational and sexual health, having a potential positive effect on rates of STIs and unintended pregnancies.