Body size perceptions in racially/ethnically diverse men and women: Implications for body image and self-esteem.

From the first glance in the mirror in the morning, to a first date in the evening, many young people evaluate their appearance and question how others will perceive them. Interpersonal factors are important in the development of body image (Tantleff-Dunn & Gokee, 2002; Thompson, Heinberg, Altabe, & Tantleff-Dunn, 1999), suggesting that discrepancies between views of one's own appearance and the views held by others may be critical for understanding body image. US society considers a thin body to be ideal for women (Thompson et al., 1999) and a lean and muscular figure ideal for men (Olivardia, 2002). Individuals may not only worry about achieving these ideals for their own satisfaction but also, and perhaps more importantly, they may be concerned over how others will evaluate them if they fall short. Because these body ideals are difficult to achieve, individuals may feel that others are negatively evaluating them. It is important to examine body size perceptions because of their link to mental health (Tantleff-Dunn & Thompson, 1995). In the current study, we examined body size perceptions in a sample of men and women from different racial/ethnic groups. The present study contributes to the literature in several ways. We examined body size perception in three racial/ethnic groups. Specifically, we examined individuals' perceptions of their own body size, the size they see as ideal for themselves, and the size they believe peers (both same- and other-sex) see as most attractive. Others have studied similar concepts, but in predominantly European American samples (e.g., Forbes, Adams-Curtis, Rade, & Jaberg, 2001; Tantleff-Dunn & Thompson, 1995), or in similar samples but without questions about same-sex peers (Demarest & Allen, 2000). Although a few studies have examined how race/ethnicity influences perception of ideal body sizes in European Americans and African Americans (e.g., Aruguete, Nickleberry, & Yates, 2004; Freedman, Carter, Sbrocco, & Gray, 2004), few studies have also included Latino Americans. Cultural context plays an important role in individuals' ideas of what body sizes are most attractive (Markey, 2004). Individuals who grow up in cultures that are more accepting of larger body sizes may develop more flexible body size ideals which are more achievable. We also examined the degree to which individuals accurately estimate their own body size. This question has been addressed in samples of women with eating disorders (Smeets, 1997), but we know very little about the accuracy with which non-clinical individuals rate their own body size. In the present study, we used figure drawings to capture this idea, by comparing self-ratings of body size to ratings made by independent observers. Figure drawings are typically used for assessing self-perceptions of body size and various ideals (e.g., own ideal, perceived others' ideals), but are rarely utilized for body size estimation purposes. Perceptions of the Body We drew on two theories commonly used in the body image literature to support our hypotheses. Social comparison theory (Festinger, 1954) argues that individuals frequently evaluate themselves by making comparisons to others. There is evidence that both tendencies toward social comparison and making upward comparisons (comparisons to those perceived to be better off than oneself) in particular are associated with poorer body image (see Tantleff-Dunn & Gokee, 2002; Thompson et al., 1999). Also relevant to our hypotheses is self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). Comparison to others is at the crux of this theory as well, but with a different target--a cognitive representation of an ideal self (Thompson et al., 1999). Specifically, self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987) argues that individuals have several ideal selves, including individuals' own ideal self, as well as their perception of others' ideal self. Those who experience a discrepancy between actual and ideal selves are at risk for "dejection-related emotions" (p. …