Exploring body image, strength of faith, and media exposure
among three denominations of Jewish women
Shulamit Geller
1
&
Jonathan Handelzalts
1
&
Rita Gelfat
1
&
Shirli Arbel
1
&
Yael Sidi
2
&
Sigal Levy
1
#
Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2018
Abstract
Body image dissatisfaction has been associated with harmful effects on the psychological well-being of women in western
societies. Religion has been suggested to be a protective factor against body image dissatisfaction, though its precise mechanisms
are not fully understood. Thus, the present study investigated the relationship between religious denominations and body image,
both positive and negative. Further, it examined strength of religious faith, media exposure, and modesty, as possible mediating
factors underlying this relationship. Participants were 483 Jewish women belonging to ultra-Orthodox, modern-Orthodox, or to a
secular population. All factors were measured by self-report questionnaires. Findings revealed that compared to secular Jewish
women, ultra-Orthodox Jewish women maintain more positive attitudes regarding their bodies, and suffer less from body image
dissatisfaction. Importantly, positive and negative body image had unique effects: Positive body image differed between the
Ultra-Orthodox group and the other two groups, and this relationship was fully mediated both by media exposure and by strength
of religious faith. For negative body image, secular women differed from the two other groups, and this relationship was fully
mediated only by media exposure. These findings are discussed in light of sociocultural influences, and related clinical
implications.
Keywords Body image
.
Strength of religious faith
.
Media exposure
.
Women
.
Judaism
Women in Western Societies are being subjected to unrealistic
cultural ideals of weight and shape, the result of which is body
dissatisfaction. The sociocultural model of body image as-
sumes that these ideals of beauty, transmitted via various
channels, are internalized by the individual. Thus, body satis-
faction or dissatisfaction becomes a function of the extent to
which an individual perceives the way he/she meets these
beauty standards (Tiggemann 2011). Notably, body dissatis-
faction has been identified as a major risk factor for eating
disorders, and as a predictor of low self-esteem, depression,
and obesity (Grabe et al. 2007). Therefore, it is vital, for
scholars and clinicians alike, to thoroughly understand the
possible factors affecting and contributing to body image sat-
isfaction and dissatisfaction, through both the positive and the
negative dimensions of the body (Tylka 2011).
Within the cultural context of body image, religion has
been receiving increasing empirical attention as a strong factor
shaping and influencing individuals’ attitudes and behaviors
in relation to the body (e.g. Christel et al. 2012). Specifically,
religious identity has been considered a potential buffer
against eating disorders and body image dissatisfaction
(Boyatzis and Quinlan 2008; Homan and Boyatzis 2010;
Handelzalts et al. 2017; Jackson and Bergeman 2011).
Moreover, as religion instills life with a sense of purpose
and meaningfulness, it may allow individuals to refer to their
Shulamit Geller and Jonathan Handelzalts contributed equally to this
article.
* Shulamit Geller
shulamit@mta.ac.il
Jonathan Handelzalts
jonathanh@013.net
Rita Gelfat
ritagelfat@gmail.com
Shirli Arbel
shirliarbel@gmail.com
Yael Sidi
yaelsidi@gmail.com
Sigal Levy
levy@mta.ac.il
1
School of Behavioral Sciences, The Academic College of Tel-Aviv
Yaffo, 14 Rabenu Yeruham st, 68182 Tel-Aviv, Israel
2
The Open University of Israel, Ra’anana, Israel
Current Psychology
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-018-9876-9
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