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It is completely normal to feel a certain amount of tension when you start dating. Despite the fact that you already know each other a little, the first date is a special experience. Will it really be the one you saw in the pictures? And will the digital click also be there in real life? All these questions are answered during a first meeting and that is why most people can be quite nervous at that moment.
While everyone feels a little jittery on a first date, some people feel more than just a healthy dose of anxiety . Some people feel sheer fear when they go on a date. And for those who are more concerned with their body image in their daily lives, a first date can be even less enjoyable. The results of a new study on body image and dating show that people who are more concerned with their appearance experience more anxiety during dating.
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The Relationship Between Body Image and Dating Anxiety
As a researcher in the field of body image, study author Viren Swami, a professor of social psychology at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), was interested in whether dating anxiety is related to body image. He decided to investigate.
For the study, published in the journal Body Image , 501 heterosexual young adults from the UK were asked to complete a questionnaire measuring different aspects of their body image, social body anxiety and dating anxiety.
Participants were asked to rate their choices on statements such as “Before I leave the house, I always pay attention to how I look,” “When it comes to showing off my body type/figure to others, I’m a shy person,” and “I’m afraid the person I’m dating will find something wrong with me.” It’s the largest study ever conducted on body image and dating anxiety.
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More concerns about appearance, more dating anxiety
The researchers found that those who are more focused on their body image and worried about their appearance have more problems with dating anxiety. The researchers warn that dating anxiety can lead to a variety of mental health and behavioral problems.
The findings suggest that an unhealthy fixation on appearance is associated with social body anxiety. And according to Viren Swami, people with high social body anxiety are more likely to fear negative evaluation from others—such as in the context of dating. If you experience this, the researchers recommend using a “targeted intervention” to reduce your dating anxiety. Or, in layman’s terms, seek professional help.
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