1 research outputs found
The influence of gender and body dissatisfaction on bodyârelated attentional bias: An eyeâtracking and virtual reality study
Objective In the attentional bias (AB) phenomenon, eating disorder (ED) patients show a tendency to pay more attention to selfâattributed unattractive body parts than to other body parts. However, little research has focused on gender differences in bodyârelated attention, controlling for body dissatisfaction (BD). This study aimed to assess gender differences in AB toward specific weightâ or nonweightârelated body parts using a virtual reality (VR)âbased embodiment technique and an eyeâtracking AB assessment. Method Fortyâfive women (23 with high BD and 22 with low BD) and 40 men (20 with high BD and 20 with low BD) were subsequently embodied in three virtual avatars, the first based on the participant's actual measurements, the second being larger than the participant, and the third being the same as the first avatar. The number of fixations and complete fixation time on weightârelated areas of interest (WâAOIs) and nonweightârelated areas of interest (NWâAOIs) were recorded for the three assessment time/avatars. Results The results showed a statistically significant interaction between gender and time for total fixation time and number of fixations (pâ<â.05). BD levels did not significantly affect the results. Overall, women paid more attention to the WâAOIs than men, who in turn paid more attention to the NWâAOIs. Furthermore, preliminary evidence was found for an AB toward muscularârelated AOIs among men. Conclusions This study provides new information about gender differences and BD in gaze pattern behaviors. Future psychological ED assessments and treatments could take advantage of the possibilities of VR while realâtime AB is objectively measured