Body image and binge eating in adolescents : a person-centered analysis of their associations with sexual domains and psychological well-being

Body image is a central developmental concern in adolescence, often influencing a wide range of emotional and behavioral outcomes. This study employed a person-centered approach to identify distinct adolescent profiles based on dimensions of positive body image and binge eating symptomatology. A sample of 473 adolescents aged 14 to 18 completed measures assessing body image, binge eating, sexual behavior regulation (including problematic pornography use, compulsive sexual behavior, pornographic and sexual thought suppression, moral disapproval regarding pornography and sex, and pornographic and sexual self-concealment), and psychological well-being. Latent profile analysis revealed three distinct profiles, ranging from high body appreciation with low binge eating to low appreciation with elevated symptoms. These profiles differed significantly across measures of sexual behavior regulation and psychological distress. Adolescents with low body image and high binge eating symptoms reported greater difficulties in regulating sexual behavior, higher emotional distress, and lower well-being, while those with high body appreciation demonstrated more adaptive outcomes. The results suggest that body image may function as a transdiagnostic factor linked to both eating and sexual regulation during adolescence. Clinical implications include the importance of recognizing heterogeneity in adolescent experiences of body image and its impact beyond traditional domains like eating behavior, extending to sexual health and emotional coping.  Findings underscore the need for developmentally attuned, integrative prevention and intervention strategies targeting both body image and impulsive behavior in adolescence.