The role of memory in the relationship between attention toward thin-ideal media and body dissatisfaction

Purpose This study examined the causal relationship between attention and memory bias toward thin-body images, and the indirect effect of attending to thin-body images on women’s body dissatisfaction via memory. Method In a 2 (restrained vs. unrestrained eaters) × 2 (long vs. short exposure) quasi-experimental design, female participants ( n = 90) were shown images of thin models for either 7 s or 150 ms, and then completed a measure of body dissatisfaction and a recognition test to assess their memory for the images. Results Both restrained and unrestrained eaters in the long exposure condition had better recognition memory for images of thin models than did those in the short exposure condition. Better recognition memory for images of thin models was associated with lower body dissatisfaction. Finally, exposure duration to images of thin models had an indirect effect on body dissatisfaction through recognition memory. Conclusions These findings suggest that memory for body-related information may be more critical in influencing women’s body image than merely the exposure itself, and that targeting memory bias might enhance the effectiveness of cognitive bias modification programs.