Weight acceptance versus body dissatisfaction: Effects on stigma, perceived self-esteem, and perceived psychopathology
Abstract
Objective It is unknown whether weight acceptance or body dissatisfaction impact anti-fat stigma. Therefore, this study utilized a 2×2 between-subject experimental design to examine of the relationship between body acceptance and stigmatization.Method Participants were university undergraduates (N=394, 70% women, mean age=20.8 years, mean BMI=23.61 kg/m(2)) who were randomly assigned to read vignettes describing an obese or normal-weight target described as either accepting or not accepting of her weight. Participants completed measures of stigma (the Fat Phobia Scale (FPS), the modified Anti-fat Attitudes Scale (AFA)), perceived self-esteem (assessed with the modified Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE)), and perceived psychopathology.Results Analyses revealed significant main effects for acceptance. Notably, targets who accepted their weight were less stigmatized on the FPS (F(1, 354)=66.82, p<.001) and the AFA willpower subscale (F(1, 373)=37.90, p<.001), and they were perceived as having better self esteem (F(1, 371)=166.16, p<.001) and fewer psychological problems (F(1, 381)=123.19, p<.001) than those who did not accept their weight.Conclusion Results from this study suggest that size acceptance, even when practiced by obese targets, was significantly less stigmatized than body dissatisfaction and associated with better perceived self esteem and mental health.
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The literature demonstrates the importance of body acceptance in improved self-esteem, mental health and wellbeing.
“the literature demonstrates the importance of body acceptance in improved self-esteem, mental health 39 and wellbeing.40,41”
From The Groundswell Community Surf Therapy Intervention for At-Risk Women and Changes in Body Acceptance, Resilience, and Emotional Regulation (2024) · cites this paper as [39]
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“38 Additionally, the literature demonstrates the importance of body acceptance in improved self-esteem, mental health 39 and wellbeing.”
Background
- Authors
- Murakami, J. M., & Latner, J. D.
- Affiliations
- University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (US)
- Corresponding author
- Murakami, Jessica M.
- ORCID
- Latner, Janet D.
- Venue
- Eating Behaviors
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2015-12
- Volume
- 19
- Pages
- 163-167
- ISSN
- 1471-0153 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1767623134
- Cited by
- 42
- References
- 66
- Citations by year
- 2025: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 3
- FWCI
- 7.53
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Eating Behaviors (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Obesity and Health Practices
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
- Keywords
- weight acceptance, body dissatisfaction, weight stigma, self-esteem, obesity, body acceptance, anti-fat attitudes, mental health perceptions
- MeSH terms
- Body Image, Body Weight, Female, Humans, Male, Obesity, Personal Satisfaction, Psychopathology, Self Concept, Social Perception, Stereotyping, Young Adult
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