Weight and social comparison: Does the weight of a stranger affect a person's perception of their own weight?
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Standard
Weight and social comparison : Does the weight of a stranger affect a person's perception of their own weight? / Christensen, Vibeke Tornhøj; Jæger, Mads Meier.
In: Health Psychology Open, Vol. July-December, 2018, p. 1-9.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Harvard
APA
Vancouver
Author
Bibtex
}
RIS
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
Y1 - 2018
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
VL - July-December
SP - 1
EP - 9
JO - Health Psychology Open
JF - Health Psychology Open
SN - 2055-1029
ER -
ID: 209835138