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This study extends the literature on eating disorder symptomatology by testing, based on extant literature on objectification theory (B. L. Fredrickson & T. Roberts, 1997) and the role of sociocultural standards of beauty (e.g., L. J. Heinberg, J. K. Thompson, & S. Stormer, 1995), a model that examines (a) links of reported sexual objectification experiences to eating disorder-related variables and (b) the mediating roles of body surveillance, body shame, and internalization of sociocultural standards of beauty. Consistent with hypotheses, with a sample of 221 young women, support was found for a model in which (a) internalization of sociocultural standards of beauty mediated the links of sexual objectification experiences to body surveillance, body shame, and eating disorder symptoms, (b) body surveillance was an additional mediator of the link of reported sexual objectification experiences to body shame, and (c) body shame mediated the links of internalization and body surveillance to disordered eating.

Research, theory, treatment, and prevention of eating disorder symptomatology have been important foci for counseling psychologists (Kashubeck-West & Mintz, 2001). Identifying contextual and intrapersonal variables linked to eating disorder symptoms is crucial for understanding how to prevent and treat such symptoms. Indeed, a perspective that attends to contextual and intrapersonal variables in understanding mental health is a defining feature of counseling psychology (American Psychological Association, 1999). Using such a perspective to understand eating disorder symptomatology among college age women is important given the high prevalence of such symptoms in this population. Studies focusing on undergraduate women suggest that as many as 64% have engaged in disordered eating behaviors or attitudes (Mintz & Betz, 1988). More recently, Tylka and Subich's (2002) data suggested that more than half of college women skipped meals (59%); approximately one third restricted calorie intake (37%), eliminated fats (30%), and eliminated carbohydrates (27%); and about one fourth fasted for more than 24 hr (26%).

Objectification theory (Fredrickson...