Demographic Predictors of Body Image Satisfaction: The US Body Project I

Authors

David A. Frederick, Chapman UniversityFollow
Canice E. Crerand, The Ohio State University
Tiffany A. Brown, University of California, San Diego
Marisol Perez, Arizona State University
Cassidy R. Best, Chapman University
Catherine P. Cook-Cottone, SUNY University at Buffalo
Emilio J. Compte, Adolfo Ibáñez University
Lexie Convertino, San Diego State University
Allegra R. Gordon, Boston University
Vanessa L. Malcarne, San Diego State University
Jason M. Nagata, University of California, San Francisco
Michael C. Parent, University of Texas at Austin
Jamie-Lee Pennesi, San Diego State University
Eva Pila, Western University
Rachel F. Rodgers, Northeastern University
Lauren M. Schaefer, Sanford Center for Bio-behavioral Research
J. Kevin Thompson, University of South Florida
Tracy L. Tylka, The Ohio State University
Stuart B. Murray, University of Southern California

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-24-2022

Abstract

We examined how gender, body mass, race, age, and sexual orientation were linked to appearance evaluation, overweight preoccupation, and body image-related quality of life among 11,620 adults recruited via Mechanical Turk. Men were less likely than women to report low appearance evaluation, high overweight preoccupation, negative effects of body image on their quality of life, being on a weight-loss diet, and trying to lose weight with crash diets/fasting. Racial differences were generally small, but greater appearance evaluation was reported by Black men versus other groups and Black women versus White women. Across all measures, gay and bisexual men reported poorer body image than heterosexual men, with only small effect sizes observed for sexual orientation differences among women. Body mass, but not age, was strongly associated with body image. The prevalence of poor body image highlights the need for interventions. On the positive side, half of men and women reported high appearance evaluation. Examination of this group could identify factors promoting positive body image.

Comments

NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Body Image. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Body Image, volume 41, in 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.01.011

The Creative Commons license below applies only to this version of the article.

Recommended Citation

Frederick, D. A., Crerand, C. E., Brown, T. A., Perez, M., Best, C. R., Cook-Cottone, C. P., Compte, E. J., Convertino, L., Gordon, A. R., Malcarne, V. L., Nagata, J. M., Parent, M. C., Pennesi, J. L., Pila, E., Rodgers, R. F., Schaefer, L. M., Thompson, J. K., Tylka, T. L., & Murray, S. B. (2022). Demographic predictors of body image satisfaction: The U.S. Body Project I. Body Image, 41, 17–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.01.011

Copyright

Elsevier

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.