Relationship Between Self and Physical Body - An Examination of the Phenomenon of Disconnect. (Paperback)

Different levels of connectedness characterize the relationship between self and body between individuals as well as across situations. Specifically, the potential of the physical body to be regarded as an object introduces the possibility of trait and state body disconnect. In this dissertation, body disconnect is defined as the psychological separation of the self from the physical body. Three studies explored the experience of disconnect in women and men. The first study validated a measure of body disconnect and examined the prevalence of the phenomenon in women and men. Results were generally consistent with hypotheses: the body disconnect measure demonstrated convergent and discriminant validity. However, women did not evidence greater trait levels of body disconnect than men. The second study tested the relative impact of appearance and competence threats on women and men's experience of state disconnect. Results indicated that competence threats caused women and men to psychologically disconnect from their bodies. Moreover, decreased appearance evaluation in response to competence threat mediated the relationship between threat and body disconnect. The third study tested a model of body disconnect and physical health correlates (i.e., fitness and health orientations, performance of health behavior) of body disconnect. Results supported the proposed model such that body disconnect predicted physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption. Increased levels of body disconnect were associated with less performance of health behavior. Moreover, body disconnect predicted fitness and health orientations, which mediated the relationships between body disconnect and physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption, respectively. Together, the findings of the three studies suggest that men and women experience body disconnect and disconnect from their bodies when their appearances are threatened. Additionally, body disconnect is associated with health behavior. Discussion considers the active or passive nature of body disconnect as well as adaptive and maladaptive correlates. Implications of the research and intervention efforts to foster connectedness are also discussed.