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Quantification of Hypopigmentation Activity In Vitro
Published on: March 6, 2019
Body image disturbance and skin bleaching
Christopher A D Charles1, Shua-Kym McLean2
1Department of Government, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston, Jamaica.
British Journal of Psychology (London, England : 1953)
|February 25, 2017
Summary
Skin bleaching in Jamaica is not linked to body image disturbance for most users. Participants bleached for social and economic reasons, not due to distress about their skin color.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Skin bleaching is a prevalent practice in Jamaica.
- Motivations for skin bleaching are often social and economic.
- The relationship between skin bleaching and body image disturbance requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between skin bleaching and body image disturbance (BID) among Jamaicans.
- To test the hypothesis that skin bleaching is positively related to BID.
Main Methods:
- A convenience sample of 160 Jamaicans was recruited.
- Participants were divided into a skin bleaching group (n=80) and a non-bleaching comparison group (n=80).
- Data were collected using demographic questions, the Body Image Disturbance Questionnaire (BIDQ), and specific questions on skin bleaching practices.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in body image disturbance was found between the skin bleaching group (M=1.53, SD=0.42) and the non-bleaching group (M=1.49, SD=0.74).
- The majority of participants bleached for perceived personal, social, and entrepreneurial benefits, including acquiring beauty, attracting partners, and marketing products.
- A minority reported bleaching due to a desire to be pretty, experiencing emotional distress and functional impairment related to body image.
Conclusions:
- Skin bleaching in Jamaica is not primarily driven by body image disturbance.
- Motivations for skin bleaching are multifaceted, including perceived social and economic advantages.
- While most users do not exhibit BID, a small subset does, linking bleaching to a desire for conventional attractiveness and associated distress.
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