Exploring cultural differences in women's body weight perception: The impact of self-construal on perceived overweight and engagement in health activities.
We examined the cultural influence on perceived body weight and the level of health practices at a national and individual level. At a national level, we found that Japanese women (n = 80) overestimate body weight more than Korean (n = 82) and American (n = 63) women. At an individual level, individuals with interdependent self-construal were more prone to overestimate weight than those with independent self-construal (N = 182; American women). Based on the data, we identify that the relationship is mediated by self-criticism, and, importantly, it is self-criticism rather than perceived overweight that predicts the level of health activities. Health practitioners and campaign designers across cultures are recommended to concentrate on promoting positive body esteem instead of encouraging engagement in corrective health behaviors for weight loss.
a Department of Communication , University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee , Milwaukee , Wisconsin , USA.
Sang-Yeon
SY
Kim
b Communication and Media Studies, St. Norbert College , De Pere , Wisconsin , USA.
Anna
A
Herrman
a Department of Communication , University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee , Milwaukee , Wisconsin , USA.
Hayeon
H
Song
a Department of Communication , University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee , Milwaukee , Wisconsin , USA.
Tae-Seop
TS
Lim
c Department of Communication , North Central College , Naperville , Illinois , USA.
Emily
E
Cramer
a Department of Communication , University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee , Milwaukee , Wisconsin , USA.
Seokhoon
S
Ahn
d School of Communication Studies, Kent State University , Kent , Ohio , USA.
Jihyun
J
Kim
e Department of Global Culture and Communication , Aichi Shukutoku University , Nagoya , Japan.
Hiroshi
H
Ota
f School of Communications, Kwangwoon University , Seoul , South Korea.
Hyun-Joo
HJ
Kim
g College of Business and Economics, Chung-Ang University , Seoul , South Korea.
Junghyun
J
Kim
D044466:Asian People; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000208:ethnology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012649:Self Concept; D012647:Self-Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014892:Weight Perception