Weight and social comparison: Does the weight of a stranger affect a person's perception of their own weight?

Vibeke Tornhøj Christensen; Mads Meier Jæger

doi:10.1177/2055102918819260

Weight and social comparison: Does the weight of a stranger affect a person's perception of their own weight?

Vibeke Tornhøj Christensen, Mads Meier Jæger

Sociologisk Institut

1 Citationer (Scopus)

29 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Research suggests that social context affects individuals’ perception of their own weight. Using face-to-face interviews as the social context, we analyze the effect of interviewers’ (N=90) body mass index on respondents’ (N=3068) selfperceived weight level. Respondents reported a higher weight level when the interviewer had a higher body mass index (absolute social comparison). Female respondents reported a lower weight level if interviewers had a higher body mass index than they did (relative social comparison). Results suggest that weight perception reflects both absolute and relative social comparison, especially among women. Future research should consider causation and self-selection when
studying social context and body image.

Originalsprog	Engelsk
Tidsskrift	Health Psychology Open
Vol/bind	July-December
Sider (fra-til)	1-9
ISSN	2055-1029
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1177/2055102918819260
Status	Udgivet - 1 jul. 2018

Emneord

Det Samfundsvidenskabelige Fakultet

Adgang til dokumentet

10.1177/2055102918819260Licens: CC BY-NC

2055102918819260Forlagets udgivne version, 126 KBLicens: CC BY-NC

Citationsformater

@article{0fd9404e1d9545b8943a56e20ce1aa76,

title = "Weight and social comparison: Does the weight of a stranger affect a person's perception of their own weight?",

abstract = "Research suggests that social context affects individuals{\textquoteright} perception of their own weight. Using face-to-face interviews as the social context, we analyze the effect of interviewers{\textquoteright} (N=90) body mass index on respondents{\textquoteright} (N=3068) selfperceived weight level. Respondents reported a higher weight level when the interviewer had a higher body mass index (absolute social comparison). Female respondents reported a lower weight level if interviewers had a higher body mass index than they did (relative social comparison). Results suggest that weight perception reflects both absolute and relative social comparison, especially among women. Future research should consider causation and self-selection whenstudying social context and body image.",

keywords = "Faculty of Social Sciences, body mass index, gender, social comparison, social context, weight perception",

author = "Christensen, {Vibeke Tornh{\o}j} and J{\ae}ger, {Mads Meier}",

year = "2018",

month = jul,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1177/2055102918819260",

language = "English",

volume = "July-December",

pages = "1--9",

journal = "Health Psychology Open",

issn = "2055-1029",

publisher = "SAGE Publications",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Weight and social comparison

T2 - Does the weight of a stranger affect a person's perception of their own weight?

AU - Christensen, Vibeke Tornhøj

AU - Jæger, Mads Meier

PY - 2018/7/1

Y1 - 2018/7/1

N2 - Research suggests that social context affects individuals’ perception of their own weight. Using face-to-face interviews as the social context, we analyze the effect of interviewers’ (N=90) body mass index on respondents’ (N=3068) selfperceived weight level. Respondents reported a higher weight level when the interviewer had a higher body mass index (absolute social comparison). Female respondents reported a lower weight level if interviewers had a higher body mass index than they did (relative social comparison). Results suggest that weight perception reflects both absolute and relative social comparison, especially among women. Future research should consider causation and self-selection whenstudying social context and body image.

AB - Research suggests that social context affects individuals’ perception of their own weight. Using face-to-face interviews as the social context, we analyze the effect of interviewers’ (N=90) body mass index on respondents’ (N=3068) selfperceived weight level. Respondents reported a higher weight level when the interviewer had a higher body mass index (absolute social comparison). Female respondents reported a lower weight level if interviewers had a higher body mass index than they did (relative social comparison). Results suggest that weight perception reflects both absolute and relative social comparison, especially among women. Future research should consider causation and self-selection whenstudying social context and body image.

KW - Faculty of Social Sciences

KW - body mass index

KW - gender

KW - social comparison

KW - social context

KW - weight perception

U2 - 10.1177/2055102918819260

DO - 10.1177/2055102918819260

M3 - Journal article

SN - 2055-1029

VL - July-December

SP - 1

EP - 9

JO - Health Psychology Open

JF - Health Psychology Open

ER -

Weight and social comparison: Does the weight of a stranger affect a person's perception of their own weight?

Abstract

Emneord

Adgang til dokumentet

Fingeraftryk

Citationsformater