Family Communication and Body Dissatisfaction among Young Adult Females: Mediating Effects of Social Competence

Abstract

Although the link between family-of-origin environments and body dissatisfaction among daughters is well-documented, the mechanisms through which family factors influence daughters’ body image concerns have been relatively unexplored. To address this gap, we examine the association between parental communication and young adult females’ body dissatisfaction as mediated by social competence. Female college students (N = 375; M age = 20.19) participated in an online survey which asked them to assess their perception of their mothers’ and fathers’ family communication patterns (FCPs). The hypothesized model was partially supported. Mothers’ conversation orientation was positively associated with females’ social competence, which, in turn, was negatively related to their body dissatisfaction. Results also revealed an interaction effect between mothers’ conversation and conformity orientations. Fathers’ conversation orientation was negatively and directly related to females’ body dissatisfaction. Implications of the findings are discussed.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author wishes to acknowledge the assistance provided by Dr. Anita Vangelisti (Department of Communication Studies, University of Texas at Austin) for comments in preparing the manuscript.