Author: T. F. Cash (2005)
“Body Image” refers to how we think and feel about our own physical appearance.
In the course of everyday life, there are situations and events that occur which can negatively affect our body image. These situations and events are called “body image threats or challenges,” because they threaten or challenge our ability to feel okay about our looks.
People do lots of different things to cope or deal with these challenges or threats. Listed below are some of the ways that people may try to cope with body image threats or challenges.
For each item, think about how much it is characteristic of how you usually cope or would probably cope with an event or situation that poses a threat or challenge to your body image feelings. Using the scale below, indicate how well each way of coping describes what you actually do or would do.
There are no right or wrong answers. It doesn't matter how helpful or unhelpful your ways of coping are. Don't answer based on how you wish you usually reacted. Just be completely truthful.