Culture, Obesity Stereotypes, Self-Esteem, and the "Thin Ideal": A Social Identity Perspective

Recent concerns with the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adults indicate the need to better understand the psychosocial correlates of weight. We examined the relationships among negative stereotypes of obesity, "thin ideal" beliefs, perceptions of the cau...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Journal of youth and adolescence Vol. 33; no. 4; pp. 307 - 317
Main Authors:	Klaczynski, Paul A, Goold, Kristen W, Mudry, Jeffrey J
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	New York, NY Springer-Verlag New York, LLC 01-08-2004 Springer Springer Nature B.V
Subjects:	Academic Achievement Adolescents Adult Development Adults Attitudes Beliefs Biological and medical sciences Body Weight Child development Children & youth Correlation Correlation analysis Cultural Values Culture Eating Disorders Economic Status Idealization Individual Differences Individualism Medical sciences Metabolic diseases Negative Attitudes Obesity Overweight Pediatrics Peer Relationship Peers Perceptions Personal control Pregnancy Psychological Factors Self Esteem Self image Social Attitudes Social Identity Stereotypes Stigma Student Attitudes Success Teenagers Thinness USA Weight United States North America America Human Belief Social environment Obesity Attitude Body weight obesity stereotypes Nutrition disorder Sex Stereotype Personality personal control over weight Correlation analysis Cultural environment Young adult Self esteem thin idealization Nutritional status Social identity
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Summary:	Recent concerns with the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adults indicate the need to better understand the psychosocial correlates of weight. We examined the relationships among negative stereotypes of obesity, "thin ideal" beliefs, perceptions of the causes of obesity and of control over weight, body esteem, and global self-esteem. A negative correlation between beliefs in control over one's weight and self-esteem was mediated by both negative attitudes toward obesity and thin idealization. Additionally, body esteem and gender were related but this relationship was mediated by beliefs in control over weight and valuation of the thin ideal. Central to the theoretical foundation of this research, however, was the observed negative correlation between negative attitudes toward obesity and self-esteem. This relationship was mediated primarily by the belief that obesity is caused by personality shortcomings. This last finding is explained from a social identity perspective.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	0047-2891 1573-6601
DOI:	10.1023/B:JOYO.0000032639.71472.19