Internalization of body image as a potential mediator of the relationship between body acceptance by others and intuitive eating.

To investigate the role of internalization of body image ideals as a potential mediator between perceived body acceptance and intuitive eating among college students. 168 undergraduates completed the Body Acceptance By Others Scale (BAOS), Sociocultural Attitudes Toward Appearance Questionnaire-3 (SATAQ-3; Internalization-Total and -General, -Athletic subscales), and Intuitive Eating Scale (IES). Internalization-Total mediated the relationship between BAOS and IES ( These data suggest that internalization of general (i.e., thin) body image ideals may be more destructive to body satisfaction and adaptive eating styles in college students than athletic-ideal internalization. More research is needed to examine the role of athletic-ideal internalization on body image and eating behaviors.