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10:29
Measuring Oral Fatty Acid Thresholds, Fat Perception, Fatty Food Liking, and Papillae Density in Humans
Published on: June 4, 2014
Vulnerability to fat-stigma in women's everyday relationships
Alexandra A Brewis1, Daniel J Hruschka1, Amber Wutich1
1School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-2402, USA.
Social Science & Medicine (1982)
|July 29, 2011
Summary
Women
Area of Science:
- Social psychology
- Public health
- Sociology
Background:
- Obesity is a significant health issue, compounded by pervasive social stigma.
- Negative stereotypes like laziness and lack of self-control contribute to suffering.
- This stigma manifests institutionally and interpersonally.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate factors influencing women's sensitivity to weight-related stigma in relationships.
- To examine how social network characteristics affect the experience of "fat-stigma".
Main Methods:
- A study involving 112 women (aged 18-45) in Phoenix, Arizona.
- Data collection included social network analysis, anthropometrics, body image, and interviews.
- Follow-up interviews were conducted with 823 social ties.
Main Results:
- Women's sensitivity to weight judgment is more influenced by close, frequent contacts than by general network opinions.
- Actual body size moderates the impact of others' comments on perceived stigma.
- Perceived judgment is not strongly explained by the actual opinions within social networks.
Conclusions:
- Social network norms may have a limited influence on weight stigma experiences.
- Closeness and frequency of interaction are key factors in how women perceive weight-related judgment.
- Further evaluation of social network influence on stigma is warranted.
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