About the group
Body x Identity X Society (BodIS) Lab was established in 2022 by Professor Ingela Lundin Kvalem, together with Dr. Anna Ivanova and Dr. Stine Nygård. BodIS Lab is currently led by Anna Ivanova and Stine Nygård.
The BodIS Lab does not offer its own PhD positions and does not currently offer internships. Please be aware that internship and PhD position inquiries will not be responded to.
However, any available positons within the department are advertised on the Faculty webpage: https://www.sv.uio.no/psi/english/about/vacancies/
Topics of interest
The backbone of the research groups’ operation is Professor Kvalem’s many years of research on body image, which has explored the reciprocal relationships between physical health, self-perceptions, and societal beauty ideals in relation to topics such as obesity, cosmetic surgery, and cancer treatment.
Beyond this, members of the group are passionate about a wide range of topics, including (but not limited to) digital mediation of the body (e.g. sexting and image-based sexual abuse), gender identity (e.g. experiences of trans and non-binary people), and women’s’ health (e.g. menstruation).
Ongoing Projects
MENSE – The effects of menstruation on mental health and quality of life
MENSE examines how menstruation is associated with mental health, education, employment, and sexual and reproductive health across different stages of life. We also examine how these associations develop over time and which factors may help explain them.
Read more about the project here.
Body image and mental health among bariatric surgery patients
The project is part of OBSS (Oslo bariatric surgery study). The aims are to map development, differences and possible protective factors for mental health, particularly body image and mental health, before and after bariatric surgery, as well as body contouring surgery. Analyzes are based on longitudinal quantitative data.
Growing up queer: Life experiences from lesbian, gay, and bisexual Norwegians over three decades
In the Growing up queer project, we investigate the life experiences of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) Norwegians over three decades. The project is led by Sam Fluit and Tilmann von Soest. The study’s aim is to examine how LGB Norwegians thrive in different life domains such as work, education, family life, and mental health and well-being. We also investigate how they think about socio-political issues such as equality, and what their policy preferences are, and which political parties have their preference. One aspect of interest in this is the moment of coming out. To study this, we use Young in Norway data where research participants have been followed up over 28 years. Between 1992 and 2021, they have answered the same questionnaire five times covering a broad range of topics including their sexual orientation, preferences, and behavior.
For more information about the project contact Sam Fluit.
Completed projects
Sammenhengen mellom kroppsfokusert innhold på sosiale medier, kroppsbilde og spiseatferd blant unge voksne
Formålet med prosjektet er å undersøke om eksponering for kroppsidealer på sosiale medier kan henge sammen med spiseatferdsmønstre og tanker om kropp. Dette inkluderer innhold som fokuserer på utseende og kropp på plattformer som Snapchat, Instagram og TikTok. Studien vil også se på hvordan internalisering av kroppsidealer (det vil si i hvilken grad man tar inn og tror på samfunnets idealer for kropp og utseende) kan påvirke denne sammenhengen. I tillegg undersøkes det om det finnes kjønnsforskjeller i hvordan slike idealer og kroppspress oppleves.
Body functionality and late psychological effects of head and neck cancer treatment
The aim of the project is to study long-term effects of head and neck cancer and head and neck cancer treatment on body image, sexual health, and fatigue/work disability. The project is a part of PROCCA (Protons contra cancer): UiO: Life Science – the convergence environment.
Read more about the project here.
Victims, perpetrators and bystanders of image-based sexual abuse
This project combines multiple theoretical and methodological approaches to elucidate psychosocial mechanisms that may influence the occurrence and outcomes of image-based sexual abuse (IBSA). In this endeavour, the project adopts a socio-ecological tripartite approach that recognizes IBSA as a socially situated practice which inherently involves three parties: victims, perpetrators, and bystanders.
Read more about the project here.
Experiences of sexuality and intimacy in long-term survivors of head and neck cancer
The thesis aims to shed light on experiences of sexuality and intimacy in patients who have undergone treatment for head and neck cancer (HNC). There is little research on how cancer treatment affects sexuality, especially after treatment for HNC. Through qualitative analysis of interviews with patients, who have undergone treatment an average of eight years ago, the study aims to discuss current challenges with sexuality and intimacy that emerge several years after illness and treatment.
Social media’s influence on body image perceptions among young women living in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
This research project will explore how social media influences body image perceptions among young women in Dar Es Salaam,Tanzania. An important aspect of this research is rooted in the growing body of research exploring the intersection of social media, youth, blackness,and body image. It is based on focus group interviews with research participants between the ages of 18 and 25 and document analysis of photos and videos provided by research participants and found in advertisments and magazines.
Body and pubic hair removal: Attitudes and practices among Norwegian men and women
Body hair removal is a widespread practice, especially among women. While hair removal practices may have potential benefits, they can also be detrimental to people's physical and psychological well-being. Using an online-based national probability sample of Norwegian adults, this project will explore one of the most common but understudied beauty practices. The project will build on the preliminary work of the research team and aim to answer the following core questions:
1. How often and where on the body do adults remove, trim, or style their body hair; which methods are commonly used and how often do these practices cause medical side effects?
2. How content are adults with their “natural” body hair, and how are attitudes towards body hair, pubic hair, and hair removal practices related to gender norms, social class, social media, body image, sexual identity, practices, and well-being?
Long term effects of obesity treatment
Is early identification possible of who, over the long term, will have a failed result from obesity surgery and conservative weight loss treatment? In this study we wish to study psychosocial factors and attitude changes in patients who undergo an obesity operation compared with those who receive conservative weight loss treatment.
Read more about the project here.
Cosmetic surgery: Motivation and psychological effect
The project will examine the scope and attitudes to cosmetic surgery and procedures in Norwegian women, as well as motivation to carry out cosmetic surgery. A panel of 3-4000 women will receive an anonymous online form. Start-up January 2022.
Experiences of producing content for OnlyFans
This project explores the lived experiences of creating and selling sexual or intimate content on OnlyFans.
Attitudes towards body hair and hair removal
Body hair removal is a widespread practice, especially among women. While hair removal practices may have potential benefits, they can also be detrimental to people's physical and psychological well-being. Considering that almost all people have body and pubic hair it is surprising how little research has been devoted to assess peoples’ comfort with their body and pubic hair. The purpose of this pilot study is to test a new scale that has been designed to capture peoples’ perceptions and attitudes towards own body and pubic hair and hair removal practices.
Sports body project
The sport body project is an eating disorder prevention program, aimed at young male and female athletes, going to sports specific junior high schools. The project is led by Therese Fostervold Mathsen, Phd (Østfold University College), with Line Wisting, Phd (Regional department of eating disorders, Oslo University Hospital), Christine Sundgot-Borgen (Regional department of eating disorders, Oslo University Hospital), and Jorunn Sundgot-Borgen (The Norwegian School of sport sciences) in the project group. The intervention is an adjusted version of the original Body project by Eric Stice and colleges, which was originally developed for young females who had experienced body dissatisfaction. The current study aims to pilot and tailor the intervention to adolescents 14-years old, and both boys and girls, who participate in organized sports. After experiences from the pilot and feedback from students and school staff is collected, the manual will be further improved and tailored. Further plan is to conduct a large scale RCT to investigate the effect of the intervention, for future implementation by schools and their staff.
Read more about the project here.
Body image in nature survey: An international, collaborative project
This study is an international collaboration study led by Prof Viren Swami (Anglia Ruskin University and Perdana University), Prof Stefan Stieger (Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences), Prof Ulrich S. Tran and Prof Martin Voracek (University of Vienna). The main study aim is to investigate the associations between nature exposure, mental health and positive body image among several samples across the world. The Norwegian research group consist of Christine Sundgot-Borgen, Phd (Regional department of eating disorders, Oslo University Hospital), Lise Trangsrud, Phd (University of South-eastern Norway), Tobias Otterbring, Phd (University of Agder), and professor Solfird Bratland-Sanda (University of South-eastern Norway). The Norwegian group has sub-projects related to nature exposure, physical activity and body image, and birth-order and green consumption.
Read more about the project here.
Climbing and the body: How do Norwegian climbers think and talk about their bodies?
Sports and physical activity are considered good for your health. In most sports, a well-trained body will be advantageous, and in climbing a light and strong body is considered central to performance. This focus on the relationship between weight and strength creates a body ideal that can have a negative impact on climbers' health, and means that climbers are at potential risk of body dissatisfaction and eating problems. Body image is affected by many different factors, and the aim of this study is to investigate the connection between talking about one's body with other climbers, use of social media and degree of body dissatisfaction, and whether these factors can be linked to eating problems.
Read more about the project here [broken link].
The experience of “coming out” as a transgender person
Read more about the project here [broken link].
Experiences of non-binary gender identity in a Norwegian context
Read more about the project here [broken link].
Previous events
World Mental Health Day: LGBTQ+ and mental health
Lunch seminar: Is it safe to come out yet? LGBTQ+ and mental health
Time and place: Oct. 10, 2023 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM, Auditorium 3, Harald Schelderups hus.
In Norway, LGBTQ+ individuals experience mental health issues at higher rates than the general population. Join the BodIS lab lunch seminar on World Mental Health Day to explore the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community .
Program
- Welcome Anna Ivanova & Stine Nygård, Body x Identity x Society (BodIS) lab
- Discrimination and violence against trans and LGB people (data blitz) Jacob Evje, Norwegian Research Center for Sexual Health
- The challenges of breaking free from the gender binary (data blitz) Eirill Kildal, Body x Identity x Society (BodIS) lab
- The mentioning of queer people online (report presentation) Patricia Kaatee, Amnesty International Norway
- Breaking barriers and building bridges: Queer mental health at the intersection of heteronormativity, homotolerance, and racism in Norway (reflections on context and implications) Esra Ummak, VID Specialized University
Alumni
- Oda Therese Norås (2026)
- Linda Nesse (2026)
- Christine Sundgot-Borgen (2025)
- Anita Løvik (2025)
- Malene Strømland Johnsen (2025)
- Aneka Sarah Vumilia Tenga (2025)
- Mathilde Nordbak Idland (2024)
- May Linn Garcia Vingsand (2023)
- Maria Ekre (2023)
- Eirill Rødsand Kildal (2023)
- Camilla Reiersen (2023)
- Ingvil Linnea Solheim (2023)
