The relationship between bodily intolerance of uncertainty and body-related behaviors moderated by trait anxiety

Abstract

Body-related behaviors, such as body checking and body avoidance, are increasingly recognized as a major public health concern among female emerging adults. These behaviors are considered risk factors for the development of eating disorders. Processes related to anxiety, such as bodily intolerance of uncertainty (bodily IU) and trait anxiety, may contribute to these behaviors. This study aims to examine whether bodily IU is associated with body checking and body avoidance and whether this relationship is moderated by trait anxiety in nonclinical women aged 18 to 25 years. Three questionnaires were completed, measuring body checking and body avoidance, bodily IU, and trait anxiety. Bivariate correlations and moderation analyses were used to examine associations between the study variables, revealing strong positive associations between bodily IU, body checking, and body avoidance. Moderation analyses demonstrated no significant effects of trait anxiety. In short, bodily IU appears to be associated with both body checking and body avoidance in young, nonclinical women. This suggests that when someone with high bodily IU experiences anxiety due to uncertainties regarding their body, they may start checking or avoiding the body. However, trait anxiety does not affect these relationships.