AbstractsPsychology

Adjective Pairings with Female Body Shapes

by Lindsey Ann Ohler




Institution: Xavier University
Department: Psychology
Degree: Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.)
Year: 2013
Keywords: Social Psychology; physical-appearance-based bias; women
Record ID: 2006407
Full text PDF: http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1396368907


Abstract

As weight status and body shapes in the United States increase, it is important to understand the associations people make with particular body shapes. Undergraduate participants (N=131, M<sub>age</sub>=20.23) were recruited to complete a 15-minute online survey assessing the adjective pairings they made with thin, average, and overweight female body shapes. Results indicated that participants made a statistically significant adjective-body shape pairing for 15 of the 16 adjectives. Six negatively-valenced adjectives were paired with either the thin or overweight figure, while five positively-valenced adjectives were paired with the average figure. The results revealed that the undergraduate participants made positive associations with the average figure, but adjective pairings became more negative as body shapes moved away from the average figure in either direction. The discussion includes the interpretation and implications of these results, as well as future directions for adjective research.