title: It's not just a "woman thing:" the current state of normative discontent.
abstract: This study assessed "normative discontent," the concept that most women experience weight dissatisfaction, as an emerging societal stereotype for women and men (Rodin, Silberstein, & Streigel-Moore, 1984). Participants (N = 472) completed measures of stereotypes, eating disorders, and body image. Normative discontent stereotypes were pervasive for women and men. Endorsing stereotypes varied by sex and participants' own disturbance, with trends towards eating disorder symptomotology being positively correlated with stereotype endorsement. Individuals with higher levels of body image and eating disturbance may normalize their behavior by perceiving that most people share their experiences. Future research needs to test prevention and intervention strategies that incorporate the discrepancies between body image/eating-related stereotypes and reality with focus on preventing normalization of such experiences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Stacey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tantleff-Dunn
authors.forename: Rachel D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: Jessica Gokee
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Larose
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001828:Body Image; D001835:Body Weight; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012649:Self Concept; D013240:Stereotyping; D055815:Young Adult