Weight-Related Teasing: Relationship to Body Image, Self-Esteem, and Relative Body Size of Adult Females
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WEIGHT-RELATED TEASING: RELATIONSHIP TO BODY IMAGE, SELF-ESTEEM, AND RELATIVE BODY SIZE OF ADULT FEMALES DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Betsy Covell Breseman, M.A. * * * * * The Ohio State University 2004 Dissertation Committee: Dr. Nancy Ann Rudd, Co-Adviser Approved by Dr. Patricia A. Cunningham, Co-Adviser _______________________________ Dr. Sharron J. Lennon Co-Adviser Dr. Terri Fisher _______________________________ Co-Adviser College of Human Ecology ABSTRACT Teasing related to weight may occur more often than many other types of teasing during childhood and adolescence. Because people tend to compare themselves with their peers, they may be inclined toward lower body image and self-esteem if they perceive they fail to compare favorably. When overweight or obese individuals compare themselves to their peers, they may discover that a stigma exists against the obese based on subjective cultural ideals of beauty and slenderness. The current study examined weight-related teasing phenomena based on the recollections of adult females with Body Mass Indices from underweight to morbidly obese. A mailed survey assessed respondents’ levels of body image, self-esteem, proneness to hurt feelings, and perceptions of teasing. Open-ended questions provided narratives of teasing incidents related to appearance and weight. The goal of the research was to explore the possibility of weight-related teasing as more pervasive than other types of appearance-related teasing, and that the impact on body image and self-esteem would be more negative among respondents in the overweight, obese, and morbidly obese categories. Results revealed moderate correlations between variables. Analyses of variance indicated differences between underweight and normal Body Mass Index categories and the overweight, obese, and morbidly obese categories. Narratives provided support for the statistical evidence and revealed a greater understanding of the experience of teasing about weight. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I wish to thank my advisors, Dr. Nancy A. Rudd and Dr. Patricia A. Cunningham, not only for their expertise and support, but also for the friendship they have shown me. I could never have completed this project without their patience and determination to see me through to the end. I am grateful to my committee members, Dr. Sharron J. Lennon, for sharing her extensive knowledge and the gift of many professional opportunities, and Dr. Terri Fisher, for her commitment, concern, and unique insights. Thank you to Dr. Susan K. Frazier for her cooperation and thoughtful suggestions. I extend a special thank you to Dr. Gwendolyn O’ Neal for her honesty and trust in me. I give my heartfelt thanks to all the special people in my life and for experiences that I shall never forget. I am indebted to my husband, Michael Breseman, and my parents, Alice and David Holcomb, for their love and belief in me, and for all the exceptional treats just when they were needed most. I owe deep appreciation to my dear friend Seung-Hee Lee for her generosity and charm, to Lucy Bailey for her compassion and genius, and to my dong saeng, Jeong Hee Han, for being the best friend anyone could hope for. Several people deserve special mention for their encouragement, kindness, and loyalty: Peggy Strow, Dr. Mary Lynn Kiacz, Dr. Genevieve Schroeder, Cindy Giles, Penny Winkle, Erik Eklund, and Cody Buchmann. Each of them contributed in their own unique way and I am thankful that they all found their way into my life. I wish to extend my gratitude for their assistance in helping fund this research, in part, to the Graduate College at The Ohio State University for awarding me a Graduate Student Alumni Research Award (2001) and to the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences for awarding me the Jewell L. Taylor Fellowship (2000). iii VITA 1986………………………………………..…B.S. in Textile & Apparel Technology/Fine Arts Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 1992…………………………………… ….. M.A. in Textiles and Clothing Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 1991.............................................Guest Instructor, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo 1992 – 1993................................ Operations Manager/Co-Manager, Lane Bryant, Inc. Kalamazoo, MI 1993.............................................Graduate Teaching Assistant, Western Michigan University Kalamazoo 1994............................................. Lecturer, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo 1994 – 1997..................................Graduate Teaching & Research Associate The Ohio State University, Columbus 1997 – 1998……………………… Managing Editor Human Ecology Newsletter The Ohio State University, Columbus 1999………………………..............College Representative to Committee on Academic Misconduct University College (UVC), The Ohio State University, Columbus 1997 – 2000………………………. Academic Adviser for University College (UVC) – Business/Engineering/Human Ecology Curricular Areas The Ohio State University, Columbus PUBLICATIONS 1. Breseman, B. C. Lee, S. H., Dickson, M. A. (2001). Impulsive and compulsive buying behaviors: Relationship to self-esteem. In KSCT (Eds.), Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles/International Textile and Apparel Association Proceedings (p. 196). Seoul, Korea: KSCT/ITAA. 2. Lee, S. H., Burns, L., Workman, J., Rucker, M., & Breseman, B. C. (2001). Making a difference: Expanding the horizons of textiles and apparel to policy issues. In KSCT (Eds.), Korean Clothing and Textiles Society/International Textiles and Apparel Association Proceedings (pp. 53-55). Seoul, Korea: KSCT/ITAA. 3. Breseman, B. C., Lennon, S. J., & Schulz, T. L. (1999). Obesity and Powerlessness. In K. P. Johnson and S. J. Lennon (Eds.). Appearance and Power (pp. 173-197). (Book Chapter). London: Berg Publications. iv 4. Breseman, B. C., & Lennon, S. J. (1996). Marketing to diverse cultural groups. In C. M. Ladisch (Ed.), International Textiles and Apparel Association Proceedings (p. 46). Monument, CO: ITAA. 5. Breseman, B. C., & Steinhaus, N. H. (1996). Fashionability and attractiveness perceptions of large-sized African-American and Caucasian women. In C. M. Ladisch (Ed.), International Textiles and Apparel Association Proceedings (p. 76). Monument, CO: ITAA. 6. Breseman, B. C., & Rudd, N. A. (1995). A qualitative look at the stigma of obesity. In C. M. Ladisch (Ed.), International Textiles and Apparel Association Proceedings (p. 101). Monument, CO: ITAA. 7. Breseman, B. C., & Steinhaus, N. H. (1993). Women of size: A comparison of self-esteem and body cathexis on race. In C. M. Ladisch (Ed.), International Textiles and Apparel Association Proceedings (p. 129). Monument, CO: ITAA. FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field: Textiles and Clothing Minor Fields: Psychology v TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ii Acknowledgments-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- iii Vita---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- iv Publications----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- iv Fields of Study------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- v List of Tables--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- xii CHAPTERS Chapter 1: Introduction ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Definition of Related Terms ----------------------------------------------------------------- 4 Purpose of the Study-------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 Justification of the Research----------------------------------------------------------------- 5 Potential Limitations of the Study----------------------------------------------------------- 6 Hypotheses--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 Research Questions--------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8 Open-Ended Questions----------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 Chapter 2: Review of Literature -------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 Teasing-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 Definitions and Descriptions of Teasing------------------------------------------- 10 Teasing Involving Physical Appearance or Attributes------------------------- 11 Teasing Involving Weight-Related Appearance and Body Image-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 Obesity------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 13 vi Definitions and Descriptions of Obesity------------------------------------------ 13 Etiology and Development of Obesity-------------------------------------------- 13 Measurement and Assessment of Obesity------------------------------------- 15 Prevalence and Presence of Obesity--------------------------------------------- 16 Stigma of Obesity---------------------------------------------------------------------- 17 Body Image------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 21 Definitions and Descriptions of Body Image------------------------------------- 21