Development And Validation Of The Fat Microaggressions Scale, Megan Lindloff

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Much of the discrimination that higher-weight people face takes the form of microaggressions, which have yet to be quantitatively measured. Across five studies, I describe the development and validation of the Fat Microaggressions Scale (FMS). In Study 1, I created the initial item pool through examining previously published measures of experienced weight stigma, qualitative studies, and tweets using the #FatMicroaggressions hashtag. In Study 2, I conducted a Delphi review with fat activists and scholars to receive feedback on the scale. In Study 3, I provided initial evidence for a four-factor structure of the FMS through an exploratory factor analysis. In …

The Effect Of Feminist Identity On Women's Conceptualizations Of Beauty And Body-Based Stigma: A Conceptual Replication And Extension, Courtney C. Hillier

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Research in the area of feminist identity and body image has produced mixed results. Some evidence suggests that feminist identity may be protective against negative body image in women. The current study was an independent partial conceptual replication and extension of Roy et al. (2007) and examines the experimental effect of feminist self-identification on forms of internalized body stigma. After completion of baseline measures, undergraduate women (N = 149) were assigned to one of three experimental conditions and read about either a positive portrayal of feminists, negative portrayal of feminists, or non-feminist-related topic. Participants then completed measures of feminist …

The Intersectionality Of Anti-Fat Prejudice, Lily Moerschel

Senior Projects Spring 2021

Abstract

Anti-fat prejudice has received little to no attention in social justice discourse. Fat Americans are discriminated against in healthcare, education and in the workplace. This discrimination includes, but is not limited to, lowered salary, unexplained termination from a job, unsolicited medical advice, body scrutiny, bullying, social exclusion, and being denied in vitro fertilization. Situating anti-fat prejudice in an intersectional framework will facilitate the dismantling of weight-normative doctrines. In the present study, participants completed a race IAT and a weight IAT, as well as a demographic questionnaire and the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM). Implicit racial bias was positively correlated …

(In)Visible: An Examination Of Eating Disorder Detection In Marginalized Women As A Function Of Weight Status And Ethnic Group Membership, Margaret Head

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Women with eating disorders (EDs) from marginalized groups (e.g., higher weight women; Women of Colour) are under-treated compared to non-marginalized women. A reason for these disparities may be that women from marginalized groups do not fit the stereotype of a person with an ED (e.g., thin, White), and therefore ED symptoms are not recognized. The present study tested the impact of weight status and ethnic group on layperson detection of ED symptomology. Undergraduate students (N = 194) read a personal disclosure from a female target describing eating pathology. The target was described as “underweight”, “average weight” or “overweight” and …

The Relationships Between Weight Stigma, Ethnic Identity, And Acculturation In Latinas, Catherine Rodrí­Guez Torres

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Weight stigma has negative psychological and physical consequences including anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, eating disorders, and lower quality of life. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to explore the relationships between weight stigma, ethnic identity, and acculturation in Latinas. The intersectional theory provided the framework for this study. A sample of 154 Latinas over the age of 18 living in the United States or 1 of its territories was gathered through social media, a fat acceptance organization, and a research participant pool. The online survey consisted of 3 psychometric tools-Modified Weight Bias Internalization Scale, Multi-Group Ethnic Identity Measure-Revised, and …

Weight Beliefs And Messages: Mindsets Predict Body-Shame And Anti-Fat Attitudes Via Attributions, Jeni L. Burnette, Crystal L. Hoyt, Carol S. Dweck, Lisa Auster-Gussman

Jepson School of Leadership Studies articles, book chapters and other publications

In two samples (N=247, N= 291), we examined the link between beliefs and messages about the changeable (incremental theory) vs. fixed (entity theory) nature of weight, attributions for weight, and body shame. We recruited participants using online sampling, employing a correlational design in Study 1 and an experimental design in Study 2. Across both studies, we found evidence for the stigma-asymmetry effect—incremental, relative to entity beliefs/messages of weight predicted both (a) stronger onset responsibility attributions, indirectly increasing body shame and (b) stronger offset efficacy attributions, indirectly decreasing body shame. Study 2 replicated the stigma-asymmetry effect with anti-fat …