Internalization of body shape ideals and body dissatisfaction: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

IBSI and body dissatisfaction were strongly linked: (a) in younger individuals (general attractiveness-ideal internalization); (b) when IBSI was operationalized in terms of endorsement rather than mere awareness of appearance ideals; (c) in studies of lower methodological quality (muscular/athletic-ideal internalization); and (d) when IBSI was assessed using instruments involving social comparisons. Given the largely cross-sectional nature of data included in this meta-analysis, further testing in prospective and experimental studies is needed to confirm hypotheses about causality of observed associations. Such findings would have impact for prevention and intervention studies.