The importance of family fat talk and body image for indirect self-destructiveness of adult girls and boys in late adolescence

Abstract

Introduction: During adolescence, relationships and communication within the family undergo significant changes, but they remain important, and a supportive family reduces the risk of mental health disorders in the future. However, caregivers – apart from engaging in various activities for the children’s development – also initiate fat talk, which refers to conversations that devalue the shape and weight of their own bodies and/or the bodies of others. This article addresses the potential connections between family fat talk conversations and body image, as well as the significance of these phenomena for the indirect self-destructiveness of both girls and boys in late adolescence. An exploratory study was designed using a correlational model, as the literature review indicates that these relationships – particularly in Poland – have not been empirically verified before, since the tool for assessing family fat talk conversations was only published in December 2024. Method: The study involved 83 individuals aged 18 and 19 – late adolescence. The following measurement tools were used: a) Personal Questionnaire – used to collect data characterizing the sample (e.g., age, gender, siblings), b) Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults (BESAA) in the Polish adaptation by Słowińska to measure body image, c) Family Fat Talk Questionnaire (FFTQ-PL) in the Polish adaptation by Ziółkowska et al. to measure body-related conversations within the family, d) Indirect Self-Destructiveness Scale (PAD-25) in the Polish adaptation by Pilarska and Suchańska to measure the intensity of risky behaviors. Results: The study confirmed that the greater the involvement in fat talk conversations within the family, the more negative self-perception and body image. It was shown that more intense participation in family fat talk conversations could be associated with a reduction of indirect self-destructiveness symptoms. Furthermore, higher frequency of family fat talk conversations is linked to a more negative self-image and a higher level of indirect self-destructive behaviors. Conclusions: Participation in family fat talk conversations may alleviate emotional tension related to dissatisfaction with one’s body, while temporarily protecting against more drastic forms of self-destructive behaviors. On the other hand, these conversations can also be considered a form of indirect self-destructive behavior due to their self-deprecating nature and the negative consequences that manifest over time. It is important to emphasize that further exploration of these areas and their co-occurrence is necessary to obtain more representative results.