Body Image Beliefs: The Examination of Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) and Assessment of Irrational and Rational Beliefs in Body Image

Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) is a psychotherapeutic approach based on the notion that in the face of adversity our responses are determined by the beliefs we hold. REBT delineates between cognitive patterns known as irrational and rational beliefs. Irrational beliefs precede unhealthy, maladaptive, and goal-destructive emotions, cognitions, and behaviours. Contrarily, rational beliefs precede healthy, adaptive, and goal-orientated emotions, cognitions, and behaviours. REBT provides a rich history of its efficacy and effectiveness in a host of psychological difficulties. However, an area of research that has received little attention is body image. Body image relates to the multifaceted psychological experience of embodiment, especially but not exclusively to one's appearance, it encompasses one's appearance-related perceptions, thoughts, behaviours, and feelings. There has been a profound proliferation of scientific inquiry into the psychological, social, and behavioural experiences of body image. Research indicates that body image disturbance is on the rise and is linked to a host of psychopathology including body dysmorphic disorder, muscle dysmorphia, anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. Therefore, it is critical to garner insights into key mechanisms that contribute to the onset and maintenance of body image challenges and disorders. Of the limited research on REBT and body image, results indicate that irrational beliefs are linked to negative body image. However, a key limitation of studies examining the theory of REBT in body image is a failure to accurately assess irrational and rational beliefs, thus, greatly impeding researcher’s ability to provide the necessary support for its efficacy and effectiveness in body image. At present, no such psychometric exists that assesses irrational and rational beliefs in body image. Therefore, addressing previous empirical limitations, this thesis aims to advance the field of REBT in body image in the following ways. First, to conduct an examination of REBT upon negative body image, whilst
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measuring both irrational and rational beliefs. Second, to develop and validate a reliable, valid, and contextually specific psychometric that assesses irrational and rational beliefs in body image. This thesis is covered over five studies which contributed to the effectiveness of REBT applied to body image, and the validity and reliability of the Body Image Beliefs Inventory (BIBI). Collectively, the findings provided partial support for the effectiveness of REBT for body image, and the validity and reliability of the BIBI. The application of REBT brought about reductions in negative body image, irrational beliefs and increases in unconditional self-acceptance (USA). Moreover, the BIBI reported associations with negative body image, depression, anxiety, and eating disorders via irrational beliefs, and positive body image and positive mental health via rational beliefs. The finding demonstrated that USA in particular played a key moderator in negative and positive body image and eating disorders symptomatology. This thesis supports the advancement of REBT by applying REBT to body image whilst capturing changes in beliefs and developing a valid and reliable psychometric for its assessment. Implications were considered for the practice and research of REBT in body image. Limitations and future recommendations were provided.