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Abstract
Study Objectives: The purpose of this study was to apply a Mixed-Effects Location Scale (MELS) Model, which allows for examining how covariates affect both the mean and variance structures, to analyze the impact of body talk on self-objectification, appearance comparison, body appreciation, emotional status, and drive for muscularity. Methods: Data were collected from 120 female undergraduate students over a 7-day Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) period. Exposure to positive and negative body talks was assessed through binary questions in the EMA questionnaire. Self-objectification, appearance comparison, body appreciation, emotional status, and drive for muscularity were measured by the Objectified Body Consciousness Scale (OBCS), the State Appearance Comparison Scale (SACS), the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2), the International Positive and Negative Affect Schedule Short Form (I-PANAS-SF), and the Drive for Muscularity Scale (DMS), respectively. We employed the Mixed-Effects Location Scale (MELS) Model for our analysis. Results: Exposure to either positive or negative body talk increases the level of self-objectification (b = .15, p = .004; b = .11, p = .037), body comparison (b = .29, p = .002; b = .25, p < .001), and negative emotion (b = .14, p < .001; b = .10, p < .001) at the within-subject level. Exposure to negative body talk decreases the level of body appreciation (b = -.05, p = .007) and increases the level of drive for muscularity (b = .07, p = .028). The WS (within-subject) variance model showed that exposure to positive body talk at the within-subject level is associated with greater WS self-objectification variance (b = 0.84, p < .001), greater WS body comparison variance (b = 0.64, p < .001), greater WS body appreciation variance (b = .60, p = .002), and greater WS drive for muscularity variance (b = .37, p = .025). Exposure to negative body talk at the within-subject level is associated with greater WS self-objectification variance (b = 0.33, p = .048), greater WS body appreciation variance (b = 1.02, p < .001), greater WS negative emotion variance (b = 0.59, p < .001), and greater WS drive for muscularity variance (b = .36, p = .025). Conclusion: Exposure to both positive and negative body talk predicts lower emotional status and negatively affects various aspects of body image, including decreased body appreciation and increased self-objectification, appearance comparison, and drive for muscularity. Additionally, exposure to both positive and negative body talk at the within-subject level predicts higher WS variance in emotional status, body appreciation, self-objectification, appearance comparison, and drive for muscularity over time.