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Weight-Influenced Self-Esteem, Body Comparisons and Body Satisfaction: Findings among Women from The Netherlands and Curacao

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Abstract

The present study examined young women’s weight-influenced self-esteem (WISE) in response to imagined weight gain and weight loss, and its relations to body satisfaction, body comparisons and global self-esteem. Young women from two different regions, that is, from the north of The Netherlands (n = 157) and from the Willemstad area (the capital of Curacao; n = 162), completed a questionnaire. It was expected that Dutch women would show lower self-esteem in response to imagined weight gain than women from Curacao, and that self-esteem in response to imagined weight gain would be negatively related to general self-esteem and body satisfaction, and more so among Dutch women than among Curacaoan women. Finally, it was expected that body comparisons would be predictive of lower self-esteem in response to imagined weight gain. As expected Dutch women showed lower self-esteem in response to imagined weight gain than Curacaoan women. Moreover, findings showed that among Curacaoan women self-esteem in response to imagined weight gain was not related to general self-esteem or body satisfaction and that body comparisons were less predictive of lowered self-esteem in response to imagined weight gain than among Dutch women. Findings are discussed in light of cultural differences in ideal body shape and the supportiveness of women’s social networks.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Social Psychology Private Practice, Schildwolde, The Netherlands

    Pieternel Dijkstra

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Groningen, Grote Kruisstraat 2/I, 9712TS, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Pieternel Dijkstra & Dick. P.H. Barelds

  3. Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Curacao, dr Moises da Costa Gomez, Curacao, Willemstad, Curacao

    Odette van Brummen-Girigori

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  1. Pieternel Dijkstra
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  2. Dick. P.H. Barelds
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  3. Odette van Brummen-Girigori
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Correspondence to Pieternel Dijkstra.

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Dijkstra, P., Barelds, D.P. & van Brummen-Girigori, O. Weight-Influenced Self-Esteem, Body Comparisons and Body Satisfaction: Findings among Women from The Netherlands and Curacao. Sex Roles 73, 355–369 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-015-0528-3

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