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Exploring Responses to Body Weight Criticism: Defensive Avoidance When Weight Is Seen as Controllable
Susanne Täuber1, Stuart W Flint2,3, Nicolay Gausel4
1Department of Human Resource Management and Organizational Behavior, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands.
Frontiers in Psychology
|December 28, 2020
Summary
Beliefs about weight controllability impact self-perception differently based on body mass index (BMI). Low BMI individuals experience positive self-relations, while high BMI individuals face negative self-relations and defensive avoidance.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Public Health
Background:
- Western societies often moralize weight, promoting a belief in weight controllability.
- The psychological impact of weight controllability beliefs, particularly concerning self-perception and coping, remains unclear.
- Individual differences, such as body mass index (BMI), may moderate the effects of these beliefs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how weight controllability beliefs influence self-to-self relations (reassured, inadequate, hated self) across different BMI levels.
- To examine the association between weight controllability beliefs, self-to-self relations, and defensive avoidance.
- To explore social settings that may negatively impact individuals' sense of belonging due to weight.
Main Methods:
- A quantitative online survey was conducted with 348 adult participants.
- Participants' beliefs about weight controllability, self-to-self relations, and defensive avoidance were assessed.
- Statistical analyses were used to test the mediating role of self-to-self relations in the association between weight controllability beliefs and defensive avoidance, moderated by BMI.
Main Results:
- Weight controllability beliefs were linked to increased defensive avoidance in individuals with high BMI and decreased defensive avoidance in those with low BMI.
- Positive self-to-self relations were associated with low BMI, while negative self-to-self relations were linked to high BMI, fully mediating the effects.
- Seven social settings were identified where individuals felt deprived of belonging and acceptance due to their weight.
Conclusions:
- Weight controllability beliefs have differential psychological effects based on BMI, fostering positive self-perceptions in lower BMI individuals and negative self-perceptions and avoidance in higher BMI individuals.
- The findings highlight the detrimental impact of weight moralization and suggest a need for a less judgmental public discourse on weight.
- Addressing social exclusion and promoting acceptance are crucial, especially in light of public health challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic.
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