Predicting Body Image Concern Based on Cognitive Fusion: The Mediating Role of Experiential Avoidance
Keywords:
Cognitive fusion, experiential avoidance, body image concern, high school students, KarajAbstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the role of cognitive fusion in predicting body image concern, considering the mediating effect of experiential avoidance among female high school students in Karaj.
Methodology: This applied and survey-based quantitative research was conducted on a sample of 357 female high school students selected through multi-stage cluster sampling during the 2023–2024 academic year. Data were collected using the Body Image Concern Inventory, the Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire, and the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-II). Data analysis was carried out through SPSS and structural equation modeling in AMOS.
Findings: The results indicated that cognitive fusion had a significant positive direct effect on body image concern (β=0.53, p<0.001). Cognitive fusion also positively predicted experiential avoidance (β=0.47, p<0.001), and experiential avoidance directly predicted body image concern (β=0.50, p<0.001). Bootstrap analysis revealed that experiential avoidance partially mediated the relationship between cognitive fusion and body image concern (p=0.008). Model fit indices confirmed acceptable fit (RMSEA=0.07, CFI=0.91).
Conclusion: Both cognitive fusion and experiential avoidance play critical roles in predicting body image concern. The mediating effect of experiential avoidance suggests that reducing experiential avoidance could buffer the impact of cognitive fusion on body image concerns. These findings provide practical implications for third-wave cognitive-behavioral interventions targeting body image concerns in adolescent girls.
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