Comparing Internalization of Appearance Ideals and Appearance-Related Pressures Among Women from the United States, Italy, England, and Australia
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-17-2018
Abstract
Researchers have observed variation in levels of body image disturbance and eating pathology among women from different Western countries. Examination of cross-cultural differences in the established risk factors (i.e., thin-ideal internalization, muscular-ideal internalization, and appearance pressures from family, peers, and media) for negative outcomes may help to elucidate the prominence of specific risk factors within a given Western society and guide associated interventions. Women from the United States (US), Italy, England, and Australia completed the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-4 (SATAQ-4). Analysis of covariance controlling for age and BMI indicated significant cross-country differences for all SATAQ-4 subscales. Results typically indicated higher levels of appearance-ideal internalization and appearance pressures in the US and lower levels in Italy; however, associated effect sizes were generally small. A medium effect of country was observed for peer-appearance pressures, which were highest in the US compared with all other countries. Repeated-measures analysis of variance and paired samples t tests conducted within each country identified thin-ideal internalization and media appearance pressures as the predominant risk factors for all four countries. Overall, findings suggest more cross-country similarities than differences, and highlight the importance of delivering interventions to address thin-ideal internalization and media appearance pressures among women from Western backgrounds.
Recommended Citation
Schaefer, L. M., Burke, N. L., Anderson, L. M., Thompson, J. K., Heinberg, L. J., Bardone-Cone, A. M., Higgins Neyland, M. K., Frederick, D. A., Anderson, D. A., Schaumberg, K., Nerini, A., Stefanile, C., Dittmar, H., Klump, K. L., Vercellone, A. C., & Paxton, S. J. (2019). Comparing internalization of appearance ideals and appearance-related pressures among women from the United States, Italy, England, and Australia. Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity, 24, 947-951. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-018-0544-8
Copyright
Springer
Comments
This article was originally published in Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity, volume 24, in 2019. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-018-0544-8
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