Regional differences in physical appearance identity among young adult women in Thailand.
Physical appearance concerns lead to serious health compromising behaviors among women in Thailand. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in physical appearance identity among young women in four regions of Thailand based on 30 physical appearance characteristics generated and validated in two previous samples of young Thai women. Using Q methodology, 200 Thai young women sorted the physical appearance characteristics in terms of importance. Across-region differences exist for the most important physical appearance characteristics. Regional differences in physical appearance identity may explain the variety of behaviors used by Thai women to enhance their physical appearance. Further research should focus on regional factors that contribute to these aspects of physical appearance becoming a dominant source of self-definition so that effective prevention strategies can be developed and targeted to women at high risk.
Rongmuang
Daravan
D
University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Nursing, USA. drongm3@uic.edu
McElmurry
Beverly J
BJ
McCreary
Linda L
LL
Park
Chang G
CG
Miller
Arlene G
AG
Corte
Colleen
C
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D001504:Beauty; D001828:Body Image; D049628:Body Size; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011779:Q-Sort; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012649:Self Concept; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D012933:Social Identification; D012945:Social Values / Q000208:ethnology; D013785:Thailand; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*