THE EFFECT OF SELF-FOCUSED ATTENTION DURING MIRROR GAZING ON BODY IMAGE EVALUATIONS, APPEARANCE-RELATED IMAGERY AND URGE TO MIRROR GAZE

Abstract

Emerging evidence has linked mirror gazing to poor body image. Cognitive-behavioural models propose that mirror gazing induces self-focused attention. This lowers body satisfaction, activates appearance-related imagery and promotes mirror gazing. Evidence for these relationships remains scarce. Our study experimentally investigated how self-focused attention impacts overall and facial appearance satisfaction, perceived attractiveness, distress about appearance and disliked features, vividness and emotional quality of appearancerelated imagery, and urges to mirror gaze. Baseline body dysmorphic concerns were studied as a moderator. Sixty-three Singaporean undergraduates (Mage = 21.22, SDage = 1.62; 35 females, 28 males) were randomly assigned to high or low self-focused attention during a mirror gazing task. Dependent variables were measured with visual analogue scales, and body dysmorphic concerns with the Body Image Disturbance Questionnaire. Analysis of variance and moderation analyses were conducted. Self-focused attention lowered overall and facial appearance satisfaction. Interestingly, perceived attractiveness decreased only in those with high baseline body dysmorphic concerns. Contrary to predictions, distress, imagery quality and urges to mirror gaze were unaffected. Findings suggest that even individuals with fewer appearance concerns are susceptible to low appearance satisfaction, while those with high concerns are particularly vulnerable to low perceived attractiveness. Limitations and implications for future research are discussed.