title: Weight-gain misperceptions and the third-person effect in Black and White college-bound females: potential implications for healthy weight management.
abstract: Elements of social norm theory and communication theory on the third-person effect may prove useful in efforts to prevent excessive weight gain among emerging adults entering college. The present study explored the associations of race/ethnicity and BMI status with these socio-cognitive factors that may affect first-year weight regulation in a sample of Black (N = 247) and White (N = 94) college-bound females. Participants completed an online survey assessing first-year weight-gain perceived norms along with weight-change expectations and concerns. Results provided evidence of the persistence of the myth of the "Freshman 15", belief in the typicality of gaining weight during the first year of college, and significant concern about first-year weight gain. Initial findings further revealed a robust third-person effect whereby despite nearly 90% of the sample endorsing that first-year weight gain was common, only 12% expected they would experience weight gain. Main effects of race/ethnicity, BMI status, and their interaction further uncovered distinct patterns of findings. Preliminary results highlight the need for college health officials at both predominantly White as well as minority-serving institutions to adequately address the significant concern over first-year weight gain in conjunction with the desire to lose weight expressed by an appreciable number of incoming college females. Findings also advocate the utility of evaluating social norm theory and the third-person perceptual bias in the context of first-year weight gain to potentially enhance the design and effectiveness of healthy weight management initiatives among ethnically-diverse young women entering college.
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Department of Psychology, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA. jennifer.webb@uncc.edu
authors.forename: Jennifer B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.forename: Phoebe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Butler-Ajibade
authors.forename: Seronda A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Shanique J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D010465:Perception; D011582:Psychological Theory; D015144:Southeastern United States; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014495:Universities; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000208:ethnology*; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: BMI status; College-bound females; First-year weight-related concerns and expectations; Race/ethnicity; Social norm theory; Third-person effect
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