Public Self-Awareness and Self-Referenced Attribution Predict Body Dissatisfaction in Preadolescent Children

Background: Body image dissatisfaction in childhood is linked to psychopathological risks, such as increased vulnerability to eating disorders. While cognitive-behavioral models suggest body-related cognitions and self-schemas contribute to body dissatisfaction, these mechanisms remain understudied in children. We hypothesized that children with body dissatisfaction would report higher public body awareness and show stronger body- and appearance-related attributions in negative scenarios, particularly when self-referenced. Methods: 431 children aged 8 to 13 years filled in questionnaires on body-related cognitions. Results: Children with body dissatisfaction showed significantly greater public body awareness and made more appearance- and body-related attributions under self-reference, but not under other-reference. Conclusion: These findings support cognitive models of body image dissatisfaction in preadolescents and highlight early-emerging cognitive distortions as potential targets for prevention and intervention.