title: Understanding the role of gender in body image research settings: participant gender preferences for researchers and co-participants in interviews, focus groups and interventions.
abstract: Participant gender preferences for body image researchers, interventionists and focus group and intervention co-participants have been largely ignored, despite recognition that such characteristics can influence the nature and quality of data collected and intervention effects. To address this, Australian women (n=505) and men (n=220) completed a questionnaire about their preferences for interviewers and focus group facilitators, for teachers delivering school-based interventions, and for co-participants in these settings. Women predominantly preferred female interviewers and teachers, and mixed-sex co-participants, but most had no preference for focus group facilitators. Body dissatisfied women were more likely to prefer female researchers and single-sex co-participants. Most men did not have specific preferences, however, body dissatisfied men were more likely to report a gender preference for interviewers and teachers. Professional capabilities, personal qualities and appearance were regarded as important researcher characteristics. These findings have important implications for body image research, particularly among high-risk groups.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Education, La Trobe University, P.O. Box 199, Bendigo, Victoria 3552, Australia; Centre for Appearance Research, Department of Psychology, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, Bristol BS16 1QY, United Kingdom. Electronic address: z.yager@latrobe.edu.au.
authors.forename: Zali
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yager
authors.forename: Phillippa C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Diedrichs
authors.forename: Murray
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drummond
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups / Q000379:methods*; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012108:Research Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Body image; Focus groups; Gender; Interventions; Interviews; Researcher characteristics