Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41960665›Full record

SynthesisScandinavian journal of psychology2026

Physical Appearance Anxiety and Eating Disorders Symptomatology: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Manuel Alcaraz-Ibáñez, Adrian Paterna, Almudena F Diaz-Carrasco, Alvaro Sicilia, Mark D Griffiths

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-AnalysisReview
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Scandinavian journal of psychology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Manuel Alcaraz-IbáñezHealth Research Centre and Department of Education, University of Almería, Almería, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1297-9565
Adrian PaternaResearch Group InCorpora-Embodied Education, Department of Didactics of Musical, Artistic and Corporal Expression, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7561-9487
Almudena F Diaz-CarrascoDepartment of Didactics of Musical, Artistic and Corporal Expression, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0008-0416-7752
Alvaro SiciliaHealth Research Centre and Department of Education, University of Almería, Almería, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9436-8743
Mark D GriffithsDepartment of Psychology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8880-6524

Funding

Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities of Spain PRX23/00318
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The present study aimed to assess the link between physical appearance anxiety (PAA) and eating disorder (ED) symptomatology by a meta-analysis of existing literature. Eligible studies were searched across six electronic databases up until November 20, 2025. Pooled effect sizes (r) were calculated using random-effects models. Potential variables that influence effect heterogeneity were analyzed by univariable and multivariable meta-regressions. Influence analyses and a three-parameter selection model (3PSM) were used to assess robustness of the results and publication bias. Twenty-seven effect sizes from 21 studies (N = 5261) were obtained. The results indicated a strong association (i.e., r = 0.559) between the two variables under consideration, which was notably stronger (i) among females compared to males; and (ii) for overall eating disorder symptoms rather than bulimic symptoms. The results of this study advocate for further investigation into the effectiveness of addressing anxiety responses related to personal body traits, particularly among females, within the context of preventing and treating eating disorders.

Indexed as

AnxietyBody ImageFeeding and Eating DisordersPhysical Appearance, BodyFemaleHumansMalebody imageeating behaviorseating pathologiessocial anxiety

Identifiers

PMID41960665
PMCPMC13546105

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.