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Body Image: A Study in a Tri-Ethnic Sample of Low Income Women

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Abstract

This study was designed to examine the evaluative, affective, and behavioral components of body image among 1,217 low-income European American, African American, and Latina women. Participants completed a multidimensional body image questionnaire while awaiting an outpatient clinic appointment. Body mass index (BMI) was determined by medical chart review. Nearly all normal weight and a number of overweight and obese African Americans characterized their weight as normal. In contrast, nearly all overweight and obese European Americans and Latinas regarded themselves as overweight as did over 30% of those of normal weight. European Americans and Latinas with higher BMIs reported more appearance shame than their lower BMI peers did; this pattern was not observed among African Americans. Among Latinas, body image was influenced by length of residency in the U.S.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, USA

    Carmen Radecki Breitkopf, Heather Littleton & Abbey Berenson

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX, 77555-0587, USA

    Carmen Radecki Breitkopf

Authors
  1. Carmen Radecki Breitkopf
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  2. Heather Littleton
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  3. Abbey Berenson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carmen Radecki Breitkopf.

Additional information

Dr. Berenson is supported by Grant Number K24HD043659, a Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research, from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

Heather Littleton is now at Sam Houston State University.

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Breitkopf, C.R., Littleton, H. & Berenson, A. Body Image: A Study in a Tri-Ethnic Sample of Low Income Women. Sex Roles 56, 373–380 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-006-9177-x

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