The role of trait self-objectification in smoking among college women

Self-objectification, which is the internalization of an observer's perspective of the self, has been related to restrained and disordered eating patterns and depression. Because disordered eating and depression are known co-factors for smoking, we tested the possible involvement of trait self-objectification in the relationship between these mental health dimensions and smoking in a sample of 130 college women smokers and non-smokers. As hypothesized, we found that trait self-objectification mediated the relationship between smoking status and dieting and disordered eating behaviors. There were no significant differences in depression between smokers and non-smokers, which limited further exploration of the relationship. Implications for trait self-objectification as relevant to women's weight-control smoking and the relevance of self-objectification to other health behaviors are discussed.