The International journal of eating disorders
-
This study examined two related and confused body image constructs--overevaluation and body image dissatisfaction--and tested their distinctiveness by examining their longitudinal associations with changes in self-esteem and negative affect. ⋯ These findings demonstrate that evaluating oneself by shape and weight is related to, but not the same as, being dissatisfied about shape and weight. Given that overevaluation is less likely to be influenced by mood, it appears to be a more stable marker for disturbance in body image than body image dissatisfaction. This distinction has important implications for how clinicians and researchers assess these constructs.