Authors: Ora Nakash, Ph.D., Linda M. Williams, Ph.D., Judith V. Jordan, Ph.D.

In the current paper we sought to expand the relational-cultural model by drawing attention to the dialectic between the relationship with one's body and connections to others while providing preliminary findings on the association between relational health, body image, and physical health. The findings of the current study showed that higher levels of relational health were marginally associated with improved body image, as well as higher levels of overall physical health. The results provide some support for the hypothesis and suggest that being attuned to embodied experiences facilitates a more authentic existence, and promotes growth-fostering relationships, which may in turn improve attunement to bodily processes.

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