Virginia Commonwealth University VCU Scholars Compass Theses and Dissertations Graduate School 2018 Investigating the Presence and Correlates of Anti-Thin Bias in Adults Alexandria Davies Virginia Commonwealth University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd Part of the Counseling Psychology Commons © The Author Downloaded from https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/5292 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at VCU Scholars Compass. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of VCU Scholars Compass. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INVESTIGATING THE PRESENCE AND CORRELATES OF ANTI-THIN BIAS IN ADULTS A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at Virginia Commonwealth University. by Alexandria Davies Bachelor of Arts, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, December 2012 Major Director: Suzanne E. Mazzeo, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, Virginia April 2018 ii Acknowledgement I would like to thank my research mentor and thesis committee chair, Dr. Suzanne Mazzeo, for her support and guidance throughout this project. I also would like to thank my other committee members, Dr. Robin Everhart and Dr. Jacqueline Corcoran, for their feedback and insights. I am also grateful for my friend and lab mate, Blair Burnette, for her ongoing advice and support. I also wish to thank my other lab mates for their encouragement throughout my graduate school experience. Finally, I am appreciative of my family and my partner for their ongoing love and support. iii Table of Contents List of Tables ...................................................................................................................................v List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ vi Abstract ......................................................................................................................................... vii Overview ..........................................................................................................................................1 Thin Ideal .....................................................................................................................................3 Weight Stigma ..............................................................................................................................5 Weight-related teasing ..............................................................................................................6 Anti-Thin Bias ..............................................................................................................................8 Anti-thin bias and ethnicity ....................................................................................................12 Social Comparison Theory .........................................................................................................14 Summary and Purpose of the Current Study ..............................................................................15 Method ...........................................................................................................................................17 Power Analysis ...........................................................................................................................17 Participants .................................................................................................................................18 Vignette Selection ......................................................................................................................18 Measures .....................................................................................................................................19 Demographic information ......................................................................................................19 Validation questions ...............................................................................................................19 Personality characteristics ......................................................................................................19 Etiology of weight ..................................................................................................................20 Social desirability ...................................................................................................................21 General social comparison .....................................................................................................21 Physical social comparison.....................................................................................................22 Body image .............................................................................................................................22 Self-esteem .............................................................................................................................22 Disordered eating....................................................................................................................23 Procedure ....................................................................................................................................23 Data Preparation .........................................................................................................................24 Data Analyses .............................................................................................................................24 Results ............................................................................................................................................27 iv Descriptive Statistics ..................................................................................................................27 Personality Characteristics of the Vignette Character ................................................................29 Perceived Etiology of Weight ....................................................................................................33 Associations with Anti-Thin Bias ..............................................................................................37 Correlates of Anti-Thin Bias ......................................................................................................37 Discussion ......................................................................................................................................37 Perceived Personality Attributes Based on Weight and Race ....................................................38 Perceived Etiology of Weight ....................................................................................................40 Associations and Correlates of Anti-Thin Bias ..........................................................................42 Implications ................................................................................................................................42 Strengths and Limitations ...........................................................................................................43 Future Directions ........................................................................................................................44 References ......................................................................................................................................46 Appendices .....................................................................................................................................70 Appendix A: Vignettes ...............................................................................................................71 Appendix B: Demographic Questionnaire .................................................................................72 Appendix C: Validation Questions ............................................................................................73 Appendix D: Fat Phobia Scale (FPS) .........................................................................................74 Appendix E: Causes of Weight ..................................................................................................76 Appendix F: Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MCSD) ...........................................77 Appendix G: Iowa-Netherlands Comparison Orientation Measure (INCOM) ..........................78 Appendix H: Physical Appearance Comparison Scale-Revised (PACS-R) ..............................79 Appendix I: Broad Conceptualization of Beauty Scale (BCBS) ................................................81 Appendix J: Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) ...................................................................82 Appendix K: Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire ........................................................83 v List of Tables Table 1. Descriptive Statistics (by Group) ...........................................................................28 Table 2. Descriptive Statistics on Adjectives.......................................................................32 Table 3. Descriptive Statistics on Etiology of Weight Subscales ........................................33 Table 4. Descriptive Statistics on Etiology of Weight Items ...............................................34 Table 5. Etiology of Weight