Perceptions of a Child Who was Overweight or of Average Weight by African American Children

• Published in: Child & adolescent social work journal Vol. 33; no. 1; pp. 47 - 53
• Main Authors: Nabors, L., Merianos, A., Olsen, B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-02-2016; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acceptance; African American Children; African Americans; Aggression; Averages; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Bullying; Children; Clinical Psychology; College Students; Empathy; Females; Gender Differences; Girls; Health Promotion; Intervention; Kindness; Literature Reviews; Males; Marginality; Minority Group Children; Minority Groups; Obesity; Occupational roles; Peer Relationship; Perceptions; Personality and Social Psychology; Popularity; Professional practice; Psychology; Resistance (Psychology); Sexes; Social acceptance; Social Bias; Social work; Social workers; Sociology; Studies; Sympathy; Weight; United States > US; Acceptance; Children; Overweight
• ISSN: 0738-0151; 1573-2797
• DOI: 10.1007/s10560-015-0401-9

The current study examined African American children’s perceptions of a peer who was overweight or average weight and was called a name. Participants were 107 African American children who viewed same gender line-drawings of an overweight and average weight peer and selected one line drawing as being the child who was called “stupid” in a vignette. Next, participants rated their perceptions of (popularity, friendliness, etc.) for both line-drawings. The line-drawing of an overweight peer was selected as being called a name more often than the average weight one and this child was viewed as less popular. Girls provided higher sympathy and acceptance ratings of the child selected as a victim than boys. Findings provided support for the notion that children are aware that overweight children may be marginalized. Girls may be more accepting because they are more empathic or more likely to support a peer who is teased or called names. Further research will be needed to ascertain factors related to negative perceptions of overweight children to inform intervention efforts. Speaking with children about accepting others and conducting activities to improve acceptance are important roles for social workers and implications for social work practice are reviewed.