title: Positive comments, negative outcomes? The potential downsides of appearance-related commentary in ethnically diverse women.
abstract: Although research has shown that appearance-related commentary influences body dissatisfaction and disordered eating, limited research has studied such commentary among ethnically diverse women. The current study examined ethnic group differences in the frequency and impact of appearance-related commentary and associations with body dissatisfaction and eating disorder psychopathology. Participants included 280 undergraduate women aged 18-25 (56.1% European American, 28.6% African American, and 15.3% Latina American). Results indicated no ethnic group differences in frequencies of positive weight/shape, positive general appearance, or negative weight/shape commentary while controlling for BMI. However, African American and Latina American women reported stronger negative responses to positive weight/shape commentary than European American women. Negative responses to positive weight/shape commentary were correlated with more body dissatisfaction in African American women, after controlling for frequency of commentary. Findings suggest that positive weight/shape commentary may be associated with poor outcomes in a subgroup of ethnic minority college women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Loma Linda University, 11130 Anderson Street, Loma Linda, CA 92350, United States. Electronic address: sherbozo@llu.edu.
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Herbozo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Loma Linda University, 11130 Anderson Street, Loma Linda, CA 92350, United States.
authors.forename: Serena D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Loma Linda University, 11130 Anderson Street, Loma Linda, CA 92350, United States. Electronic address: cmoldovan@llu.edu.
authors.forename: Christina P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Moldovan
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Loma Linda University, 11130 Anderson Street, Loma Linda, CA 92350, United States. Electronic address: hmorrell@llu.edu.
authors.forename: Holly E R
authors.initials: HER
authors.lastname: Morrell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D000067029:Physical Appearance, Body; D015144:Southeastern United States; D015206:Southwestern United States; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014495:Universities; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Appearance commentary; Body image; Compliments; Eating disorder psychopathology; Ethnicity