Author: Melanie Deek
Deek, Melanie, 2025 Mothers, Daughters, and Sisters: Cross-Cultural Insights Into the Role of Female Family Members in Body Image and Eating Behaviours, Flinders University, College of Education, Psychology and Social Work
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Body dissatisfaction and disordered eating are growing concerns for young women worldwide. Sociocultural influences, particularly female family members, are unique contributors, exerting both risks of appearance pressures and negative body talk, while also providing protective factors, such as positive attitudes towards body image and eating behaviours. The present thesis investigated these dual pathways, examining both negative and positive body image and eating behaviours across Western and non-Western cultures. The thesis is structured into five chapters. Chapter 1 provides an overview of negative and positive body image (body dissatisfaction, body appreciation) and eating behaviours (disordered eating symptomology, mindful eating) within sociocultural familial contexts. Chapters 2, 3 and 4 present three empirical studies examining female familial influences, body image and eating behaviour outcomes.
The first study (Chapter 2) surveyed 422 young Western Australian women, aged 17 to 25 years, to examine a modified version of the Tripartite Influence Model by focussing on the perceived influence of mothers and sisters in negative body image and eating behaviours, as mediated by appearance comparisons and internalisation. Greater pressures and fat talk from mothers and sisters were associated with greater comparisons and internalisation, and, in turn, body dissatisfaction and disordered eating symptomology. Participants perceived their mothers to exert greater pressures and fat talk than their sisters. The findings support the modified Tripartite Influence Model, demonstrating the distinct influence of female family members on negative body image and eating outcomes.
Given the global prevalence of body image and eating concerns, the second study (Chapter 3) was a replication in a non-Western sample, specifically, within a Middle-Eastern Lebanese population, aged 18 to 25 years (N = 377). Results mirrored those of Study 1, again highlighting the role of appearance pressures and fat talk from mothers and sisters in predicting body dissatisfaction and disordered eating, as mediated by appearance comparisons and internalisation. Although participants perceived greater pressure from mothers than sisters, there was no difference in fat talk. A novel finding was that greater closeness in mother-daughter, but not sister, relationships was associated with lower pressures, body dissatisfaction and bulimia symptomology. These findings provide new insights of female familial influence on body image and eating outcomes within an understudied non-Western population.
The third study (Chapter 4) was a direct cross-cultural comparison of negative and positive body image and eating behaviours across young women aged 18 to 25 years, using data from Chapter 2 for the Western sample (n = 486) and from Chapter 3 for the Middle-Eastern (n = 372) sample. Familial appearance pressures and negative body talk contributed similarly to negative eating and body image outcomes across both cultural groups. However, Middle-Eastern participants exhibited relatively greater body appreciation and some mindful eating behaviours than their Western counterparts. Findings highlight distinct sociocultural differences in risk and protective factors contributing to body image and eating behaviour outcomes.
The final chapter (Chapter 5) synthesises the thesis findings and discusses theoretical and practical implications, limitations and future directions. Overall, the thesis advances understanding by shifting focus from risk factors of appearance-related pressures, toward protective factors like body appreciation and mindful eating. This work underscores the need for culturally sensitive research and interventions that consider female familial relationships to promote positive body image and eating outcomes.
Keywords: Cross-cultural, Negative body image, Positive body image, Eating behaviour, Body appreciation, Mindful eating, Female family members
Subject: Psychology thesis
Thesis type: Doctor of Philosophy
Completed: 2025
School: College of Education, Psychology and Social Work
Supervisor: Professor Eva Kemps