Preferences for Female Body Weight and Shape in Three European Countries

Swami, Viren; Neto, Félix; Tovée, Martin J.; Furnham, Adrian

doi:10.1027/1016-9040.12.3.220

Cited by 35 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 61 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Indeed, it was noticeable that in the present study, the mean preference across all 10 geographic regions when rural sites had been excluded was for Figure 3 in the CDFRS. Given that most of our research sites presented socioeconomically developed settings, our results would seem to corroborate the suggestion that the ideal in such societies is thin, and possibly underweight (e.g., Smith et al, 2007;Swami, Antonakopoulos, et al, 2006;Swami, Caprario, et al, 2006;Swami, Neto, et al, 2007;Swami & Tovée, 2005a).…”

Section: Body Weight Idealssupporting

confidence: 83%

The Attractive Female Body Weight and Female Body Dissatisfaction in 26 Countries Across 10 World Regions: Results of the International Body Project I

Swami

Frederick

Aavik

et al. 2010

Pers Soc Psychol Bull

Self Cite

587

349

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study reports results from the first International Body Project (IBP-I), which surveyed 7,434 individuals in 10 major world regions about body weight ideals and body dissatisfaction. Participants completed the female Contour Drawing Figure Rating Scale (CDFRS) and self-reported their exposure to Western and local media. Results indicated there were significant cross-regional differences in the ideal female figure and body dissatisfaction, but effect sizes were small across high-socioeconomic-status (SES) sites. Within cultures, heavier bodies were preferred in low-SES sites compared to high-SES sites in Malaysia and South Africa (ds = 1.94-2.49) but not in Austria. Participant age, body mass index (BMI), and Western media exposure predicted body weight ideals. BMI and Western media exposure predicted body dissatisfaction among women. Our results show that body dissatisfaction and desire for thinness is commonplace in high-SES settings across world regions, highlighting the need for international attention to this problem.

show abstract

Section: Body Weight Idealssupporting

confidence: 83%

The Attractive Female Body Weight and Female Body Dissatisfaction in 26 Countries Across 10 World Regions: Results of the International Body Project I

Swami

Frederick

Aavik

et al. 2010

Pers Soc Psychol Bull

Self Cite

587

349

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Figure 2 shows the corresponding relationship between the three sets of ratings and WHR, and Figure 3 shows the relationship between the three sets of ratings and WCR. As in previous studies (e.g., Swami, Neto, et al, 2007;Swami & Tovée, 2005), the relationship between shape cues as indexed by WHR and WCR and judgments of physical attractiveness, health, and fertility is comparatively weak as compared with their relationship with BMI. However, it does seem that for all four groups, the ratings are higher for the more curvy bodies, with the strongest effect being observed for the Rural-Chinese group.…”

Section: Multiple Regression Resultsmentioning

confidence: 80%

Perceptions of Female Body Size and Shape in China, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom

Cheung

Gledhill

et al. 2013

Cross-Cultural Research

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Photographs of 50 women were rated for attractiveness, health, and fertility recorded by four sets of participants-Rural-Chinese (n = 50), Chinese participants in Hong Kong (n = 50), Chinese participants living in the United Kingdom (n = 50), and participants self-identifying as "Caucasian" living in the United Kingdom. The results suggest that a polynomial function of Body Mass Index (kg/m 2 ) is the best predictor of all three judgments in all four observer groups. In contrast, shape cues, such as the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), seem to play a relatively small role. Shape cues do consistently account for a greater proportion of the variance in all three Chinese groups than for the Caucasian participants, implying a greater role for shape in the Chinese participants' judgments. This result may reflect the competing pressures between the healthy range for shape and body mass in the Chinese populations versus the role of visual diet in influencing body preferences in different cultural environments.

show abstract

“…Finally, the present research examined age differences in the relation between relationship quality and positive illusions about a partner's physical attractiveness. Those who study positive illusions have neglected the role of age: Previous studies examined couples in their 20s and 30s only (e.g., Murray & Holmes, 1997; Murray et al, 1996a; Murray, Holmes, & Griffin, 1996b; Swami, Furnham, et al, 2007). We therefore examined positive illusions about a partner's physical attractiveness in two samples that were highly heterogeneous with regard to age.…”

Section: Positive Illusions Relationship Quality and Agementioning

confidence: 99%

Positive illusions about a partner's physical attractiveness and relationship quality

Barelds

Dijkstra

2009

Personal Relationships

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The present research examined the existence of positive illusions about a partner's physical attractiveness and its relations to relationship quality. Positive illusions were assumed to exist when individuals rated their partner as more attractive than their partner rated him or herself. In two Dutch community samples of 117 and 203 married or cohabiting heterosexual couples, both partners rated their own and their partner's facial and bodily attractiveness. In Study 2, both partners completed three measures of relationship quality. Both studies found evidence for the existence of positive illusions about a partner's physical attractiveness. Moreover, Study 2 found clear positive illusion actor effects for relationship quality. This association differed by age of couples.

show abstract

Preferences for Female Body Weight and Shape in Three European Countries

Cited by 35 publications

References 61 publications

The Attractive Female Body Weight and Female Body Dissatisfaction in 26 Countries Across 10 World Regions: Results of the International Body Project I

The Attractive Female Body Weight and Female Body Dissatisfaction in 26 Countries Across 10 World Regions: Results of the International Body Project I

Perceptions of Female Body Size and Shape in China, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom

Positive illusions about a partner's physical attractiveness and relationship quality

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About