Seeing both sides: Examining profiles of negative and positive body image among Italian adolescents using a person-centered approach

Negative body image is highly prevalent during adolescence and is associated with a wide range of harmful consequences. In contrast, positive body image is recognized as a distinct construct that may promote psychological well-being. Despite their inverse association, negative and positive body image are theorized to exist on separate continua and may coexist within individuals. However, whether this coexistence can be empirically identified among adolescents remains unclear. To address this, the present study employed Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) to pinpoint profiles of negative body image (i.e., body dissatisfaction and body shame) and positive body image (i.e., body and functionality appreciation) in a sample of 1023 Italian adolescents aged 14–19 years. Additionally, associations between these profiles and eating disorder (ED) symptoms, beauty-ideal internalization, and appearance comparisons were examined. The LPA revealed three distinct profiles for both boys and girls: “Strong negative body image and weak positive body image”, “Weak negative body image and strong positive body image”, and “Moderate negative and positive body image”. Adolescents in the “Weak negative body image and strong positive body image” profile scored significantly lower in terms of ED symptoms, thin-ideal internalization, and frequency of appearance comparisons. These findings support the coexistence of negative and positive body image and suggest that positive body image may play a protective role against maladaptive outcomes during adolescence. This can have important implications for the implementation of preventive interventions aimed at the adolescent population.