The influence of Western body ideals on Kenyan, Kenyan American, and African Americans’ body image

Abstract Eating disorders and body image disturbance are known to result in unhealthy consequences. When attempting to understand the etiology and management of these disorders, sociocultural models of body image disturbance and disordered eating have been predominant. The objective of the present study was to develop and validate the Internalization of Sociocultural Body Ideals Scale (ISBIS), a psychometric instrument that utilizes items from various versions of the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire (SATAQ). The ISBIS was developed to overcome some of the limitations found in existing instruments (including the SATAQ) that assess the internalization of sociocultural body ideals. The sample comprised 1130 students aged between 10 and 14 years. The psychometric properties of the ISBIS were examined using different analyses. The results supported the eight-item structure: four items for thin body ideal internalization and four items for thin body muscular/athletic internalization. The structure showed invariance to gender and achieved acceptable internal consistency and temporal stability indexes. Controlling for gender and body mass index, the results also showed that the internalization of the thin body ideal positively predicted social-physique anxiety in a statistically significant way. The results provide empirical evidence that the ISBIS is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing sociocultural body ideals in Spanish preadolescents.

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Diabetes in Urban African Americans. Body Image, Satisfaction With Size, and Weight Change Attempts

The Diabetes Educator ◽

10.1177/014572179702300309 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 23 (3) ◽

pp. 301-308 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Lynda A. Anderson ◽

Gail R. Janes ◽

David C. Ziemer ◽

Lawrence S. Phillips

Keyword(s):

Body Image ◽

Body Size ◽

African Americans ◽

Body Image Satisfaction ◽

Weight Group ◽

Weight Category ◽

Men And Women ◽

Adult Participants ◽

Cognitive Perspectives ◽

Gender Specific

We developed two gender specific sets of body-size silhouettes for evaluating body image in African Americans; 370 clinic-based adult participants with diabetes were queried on body image, perceptions, current efforts to change weight, and psychosocial variables. Comparisons were made by weight group and sex after classification as overweight or not overweight according to body mass index (BMI). Regardless of sex or weight category, perceived current body size was significantly related to BMI. Both men and women who were classified as overweight selected a desired body size that was significantly smaller than their perceived current size. Men, however, were more likely than women to select a larger desired size relative to their current size. Both men and women expected the dietitian to favor a body size smaller than their own desired size alld felt their designated important adult would choose the same desired size that they selected. Given the importance of cognitive perspectives in understanding weight management, it may be useful to incorporate body image measures into both observational and interventional studies.

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Body Image among African Americans

Encyclopedia of Body Image and Human Appearance ◽

10.1016/b978-0-12-384925-0.00038-9 ◽

2012 ◽

pp. 89-94 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

S.M. McClure

Keyword(s):

Body Image ◽

African Americans

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BMI-based norms for a culturally relevant body image scale among African Americans

Eating Behaviors ◽

10.1016/j.eatbeh.2013.07.005 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 14 (4) ◽

pp. 437-440 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Kim Pulvers ◽

Jennifer Bachand ◽

Nicole Nollen ◽

Hongfei Guo ◽

Jasjit S. Ahluwalia

Keyword(s):

Body Image ◽

African Americans ◽

Culturally Relevant ◽

Body Image Scale

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Cultural and environmental associations with body image, diet and well-being in NCAA DI female distance runners: a qualitative analysis

British Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1136/bjsports-2020-102559 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. bjsports-2020-102559

Author(s):

Traci Lyn Carson ◽

Troy Tournat ◽

Kendrin Sonneville ◽

Ronald F Zernicke ◽

Carrie Karvonen-Gutierrez

Keyword(s):

Body Image ◽

Disordered Eating ◽

Thematic Analysis ◽

Well Being ◽

Power Dynamics ◽

High Risk Population ◽

Distance Runners ◽

Power Dynamic ◽

Perceived Norms ◽

Body Ideals

ObjectiveWe aimed to describe current and former National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division One (DI) female distance runners’ experiences of perceived norms of body image and disordered eating in their sport, as well as the emergence and influence of coach–athlete power dynamics.This manuscript reports a qualitative research study (consisting of interviews and thematic analysis) of women athletes’ experiences of perceived norms of body image and disordered eating in their sport. We also report athletes’ experiences of coach–athlete power dynamics.MethodsThe study sample included 29 current and former female NCAA DI female distance runners, defined as competing in 800-metre distance or greater. Interviews were conducted, audio-recorded and hand transcribed. A thematic analysis was performed and presented.ResultsTwo major themes emerged: (1) sport body ideals and body image norms and myths that exist in the sport, and (2) the power dynamic between athletes and coaches. It is not clear whether sport body ideals and culture of running influences coaching culture, or whether the coaches—who maintain positions of power in the sport—perpetuate the culture. These themes likely feed into each other and reinforce the existing and dominant mentalities of the sport.ConclusionSport body image ideals and the power dynamic between coach and athlete may contribute to female athlete’s risk of disordered eating and body image disturbance. We call for the NCAA and athletic departments to develop and implement prevention and intervention programmes to prevent eating and body image disorders in this high-risk population.

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Is Fitspiration the Healthy Internet Trend It Claims to Be? A British Students’ Case Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18041837 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 1837

Author(s):

Maria Limniou ◽

Charlotte Mahoney ◽

Megan Knox

Keyword(s):

Body Image ◽

Significant Influence ◽

Body Satisfaction ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Future Research ◽

Negatively Associated ◽

Research Opportunities ◽

Before And After ◽

Body Ideals

The increasingly popular #fitspiration community on Instagram aims to promote body positivity and inspire health in its followers. However, fitspiration accounts often endorse unattainable, overly fit body ideals. The aim of this study is to explore the effects of viewing fitspiration photos on body image and fit-ideal internalisation. We compared 109 British students’ (18–50 years-old) responses on state self-esteem, mood satisfaction, body satisfaction and fit-ideal internalisation before and after viewing fitspiration photos. Online questionnaires exposed students to either five male or five female fitspiration photos, respectively for their given gender. Photos were sourced from public Instagram accounts. This study also examined the influence age and Instagram usage have on body image. Exposure to fitspiration photos produced a significant reduction in state self-esteem, mood satisfaction and fit-ideal internalisation, but had no significant influence on body satisfaction. Age had no effect on body image; however, gender impacted mood satisfaction and fit-ideal internalisation. Instagram usage influenced fit-ideal internalisation, with specific Instagram factors, such as how the importance of a photo’s “likes” were negatively associated with state self-esteem, mood and body satisfaction. Unexpectedly, Instagram frequency use and posting were related to higher levels of state self-esteem. Detailed explanations of the findings and potential future research opportunities are also discussed.

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