Title:
A comparative study of body image: body concept and body cathexis for African American, Asian American and European American women
Author:
Jennifer K. Al Naber
Thesis Advisor:
Heather Lyons
Committee Member:
Matthew Kirkhart
Committee Member:
Deborah Haskins
Committee Member:
Martin Sherman
Degree Granting Institution:
Loyola University Maryland--College of Arts and Sciences
Place:
Baltimore (Md.)
Publisher:
Loyola University Maryland
Date Created:
2010
Type of Resource:
text
Genre:
thesis
Language:
eng
Format:
application/pdf
Physical Form:
electronic
Digital Source:
reformatted digital
Abstract:
For decades body image has been of great interest both to researchers and the general public. Over the past few decades women have come under increasing pressure to conform to certain societal and cultural ideals of beauty, which can lead to poor body image and greater levels of body dissatisfaction. In more recent years a growing body of research and a greater focus on the topic of body dissatisfaction have shed light on the link between body image and racial and cultural background, indicating that it is a topic that warrants further exploration. In this study, I hypothesized that (a) differences existed between African American, Asian American and European American women in terms of body concept when utilizing the Figural Rating Scale and Body Mass Index scores, and (b) differences existed between the three racial groups when looking specifically at body part satisfaction (body cathexis). Self-report data were analyzed from African American, Asian American and European American women (n = 162) from across the continental United States. These women were between the ages of 18 and 40 and demonstrated scores on the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT) above 20. Significant differences were found between the three racial groups such that actual and ideal body size and shape, as well as specific part satisfaction, varied depending on racial classification. Limitations of the present study, as well as future implications are also addressed.
Subject:
Body imagine in women
Subject:
Self-perception in women
Subject:
Body mass index
Subject:
African American women--Psychology
Subject:
Asian American women--Psychology
Subject:
Women, white--Psychology
Subject:
Body Cathexis Scale
Subject:
Body mass index
Subject:
Body Shape Questionnaire
Subject:
Eating Attitudes Test-26
Degree:
Master of Science
Level:
Master
Discipline:
Counseling Psychology
Restrictions on Access:
Author has given permission to make this work available online.
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Identifier:
AlNaberJK-06
