title: Social desirability and self-reported weight and height.
abstract: The present study examines the relationship between the desire to conform to perceived societal norms and the misreporting of weight and height. Self-reported and measured weights and heights for 56 young, healthy non-obese volunteers were assessed and compared to scores on the Marlowe Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MCSDS). Discrepancies between actual and self-reported weights for females were directly related to actual weight (r = 0.66, P<0.0001). The same was not true for males (r = 0.03). Height was significantly overreported, regardless of gender (P<0.004). Most importantly, for females, MCSDS scores were significantly correlated with the discrepancy between actual and self-reported weights after statistically adjusting for differences in actual weight (r = 0.51, P<0.0001). Results suggest that the misreporting of weight among young, non-obese women may be directly influenced by the desire to conform to perceived societal norms.
authors.affiliation: The Center for Psychoneuroimmunology Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. Mark_Larson@urmc.rochester.edu
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Larson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D012928:Social Desirability