Abstract
This experimental study examined the effect of skin-based appearance compliments on cognitive performance as well as its moderator and mediator. Participants were 213 adolescent girls (Mage = 14.24, SD = 0.45) who were randomly assigned to one of the three experimental conditions: (a) appearance compliment, (b) character compliment, and (c) no compliment conditions. The appearance compliment group, compared with the other groups, showed higher levels of state self-objectification and poorer cognitive performance in a Stroop task after receiving positive feedback on their skin tone. Individual differences in appearance contingent self-worth exacerbated the effects of appearance compliment. The conditional indirect effect of appearance compliment on cognitive performance occurred via an increase in state self-objectification. These findings suggest that skin tone is a concern of body image for Chinese adolescent girls, particularly among those who stake their self-worth on physical appearance. We have also provided direct evidence for the mediating role of state self-objectification in the adverse impact of appearance compliment on cognitive performance.
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The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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Ching, B.HH., Wu, H.X. Compliments on skin tone hamper cognitive performance of Chinese adolescent girls with stronger appearance contingent self-worth. Curr Psychol 42, 18982–18996 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03061-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03061-7