Objectification in the workplace refers to relationships in which employees can be reduced to the status of objects. This phenomenon has deleterious consequences for health. In this study we examine the protective role of reflexivity, i.e. self-consciousness and team reflexivity. 98 employees answered an online questionnaire which measured objectification, self-consciousness, team reflexivity, mentalization and instrumentality/humanness. The results highlighted a moderation effect of private self-consciousness in the relations between objectification and its consequences. An elevation of self-consciousness is associated with a decrease in dementalization and is associated with an increase in instrumentality. Team reflexivity promotes a decrease in instrumentality and an elevation in humanness either directly or indirectly via the diminution of objectification. The two forms of reflexivity are therefore complementary when facing objectification in the workplace and its consequences. The question of the articulation of the self and co-regulation processes is discussed in connection with these results.

The presented study is based on three theoretical approaches: the sociocultural model of eating disorders, self- determination theory and objectification theory. The study has two aims. Firstly, to test a model of body dissatisfaction in women based on these theories and secondly, to experimentally examine the effect of low-intensity fat talk on body dissatisfaction and its related variables. The results showed that body surveillance and self-determination were directly associated with body dissatisfaction. There was an indirect effect of thin-ideal internalization on body dissatisfaction as well as an indirect effect of self-determination on body dissatisfaction, both through body surveillance. The experimental effect of this subtle form of fat talk was not confirmed. However, the content analysis of the participants’ short texts revealed that even this form of fat talk was associated with marked body dissatisfaction and negative emotions for some participants. In summary, body surveillance was a central variable in the model of body dissatisfaction in young women. This habit of constant monitoring of body appearance is not trivial and should be addressed in interventions.