The biggest blow to self-esteem comes not from others' glossy ideals but from your own old photographs, psychologists at Ohio State University have found, according to infohub.kz.
A new study showed that when people compare their current body with the way it looked in their youth or before they gained weight, they experience just as much stress as when they compare themselves with supermodels.
The researchers note that this habit, underappreciated in psychology, acts as a powerful trigger for eating disorders, especially in women.
"There is a huge body of literature devoted to social comparison, especially in the area of body image and eating disorders, and virtually nothing about comparison with oneself," says the study's lead author, Tracy Tylka.
To address this, the team of scientists developed a special 11-item questionnaire — the Self-Comparison of Self-Appearance scale (SOCS-A).
To test the accuracy of the new tool, the researchers conducted surveys in two independent groups of Americans. Subsequent statistical analysis of the responses allowed the scientists to divide the phenomenon into two types: comparison with a "better" version from the past (which more often causes shame and eating disorders) and with a "worse" version (which, by contrast, increases pride in the work one has done on oneself).
The testing also revealed a gender difference. It turned out that women are far more likely than men to undermine their self-esteem by comparing themselves with their own younger and thinner photos.
The study's authors believe this factor should be taken into account in psychological care for people experiencing changes in appearance, including those related to aging, weight change and other life stages.
Earlier, "Kursiv" reported on how to cope with childhood crises without shouting or punishment.