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Comparing internalization of appearance ideals and appearance-related pressures among women from the United States, Italy, England, and Australia

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Abstract

Researchers have observed variation in levels of body image disturbance and eating pathology among women from different Western countries. Examination of cross-cultural differences in the established risk factors (i.e., thin-ideal internalization, muscular-ideal internalization, and appearance pressures from family, peers, and media) for negative outcomes may help to elucidate the prominence of specific risk factors within a given Western society and guide associated interventions. Women from the United States (US), Italy, England, and Australia completed the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-4 (SATAQ-4). Analysis of covariance controlling for age and BMI indicated significant cross-country differences for all SATAQ-4 subscales. Results typically indicated higher levels of appearance-ideal internalization and appearance pressures in the US and lower levels in Italy; however, associated effect sizes were generally small. A medium effect of country was observed for peer-appearance pressures, which were highest in the US compared with all other countries. Repeated-measures analysis of variance and paired samples t tests conducted within each country identified thin-ideal internalization and media appearance pressures as the predominant risk factors for all four countries. Overall, findings suggest more cross-country similarities than differences, and highlight the importance of delivering interventions to address thin-ideal internalization and media appearance pressures among women from Western backgrounds.

Level of evidence Descriptive study, Level V.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (grant number T32 MH082761). The opinions and assertions expressed herein are those of the authors and are not to be construed as reflecting the views of the USUHS or the US Department of Defense.

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Correspondence to Lauren M. Schaefer.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee, and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Schaefer, L.M., Burke, N.L., Anderson, L.M. et al. Comparing internalization of appearance ideals and appearance-related pressures among women from the United States, Italy, England, and Australia. Eat Weight Disord 24, 947–951 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-018-0544-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-018-0544-8

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