Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2025

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design
Published on: May 31, 2021
Differences in Perceptual and Attitudinal Body Image Between White and African-American Adults Matched for Sex, Age,
Austin J Graybeal1, Caleb F Brandner2, Ryan Aultman2
1School of Kinesiology & Nutrition, College of Education and Human Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, 39406, USA. Austin.graybeal@usm.edu.
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences in perceptual and attitudinal body image between White and African-American males and females matched for sex, age, BMI, and other body composition components using a combination of 3-dimensional mobile digital imaging analysis (DIA) and the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire-Appearance Scale (MBSRQ-AS).
Methods:
One-hundred non-Hispanic White (n=50) and non-Hispanic African-American (n=50) adults (M=34, F=66) matched for sex, age, BMI, and body composition components completed this cross-sectional study. Participants underwent several anthropometric assessments, completed the MBSRQ-AS, and rated their perceived appearance, ideal appearance, and the appearance they believed a partner would find societally attractive using a state of the art mobile 3-dimensional DIA produced using broad developmental populations. Body image distortion was measured as the perceived minus actual appearance, and body image dissatisfaction was defined as the ideal appearance and appearance a partner would find attractive minus the perceived appearance.
Results:
Using the DIA, only African-American females demonstrated significant body image distortion (p<0.001); reporting perceived appearances significantly lower their than their actual. Further, AA females demonstrated significantly larger differences between their ideal and perceived appearance (p=0.009), perceived larger bodies as more attractive to a potential partner (p=0.009), and reported higher ratings of appearance evaluation (p=0.001) and body area satisfaction (p=0.011) compared to White females.
Conclusions:
After accounting for all anthropometric determinants of body image, perceptual and attitudinal body image differs between White and African-American adults with differences supporting larger body size acceptance for African-American individuals, particularly African-American females.
Related Concept Videos
Surveys
Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination
Self-Discrepancy Theory
Attitudes
Stereotype Content Model
Factors Affecting Perception
An illustrative example of a perceptual set is the scenario where an airline pilot told...

