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Investigating the Linkages between BMI, Body Image, and SATAQ among Young Asian Females

Author

Listed:
  • Jane Lu Hsu

    (Department of Marketing, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402204, Taiwan)

  • Rainbow Tsai-Ling Hung

    (Department of Marketing, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402204, Taiwan)

  • Melchior Antoine

    (Department of Marketing, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402204, Taiwan)

Abstract

Sociocultural attitudes toward appearance and its linkage to body mass index (BMI) and body image is a relationship worth studying, especially in Asia, where the idealization of thinness can be prominent. The Sociocultural Attitudes Toward Appearance Questionnaire (SATAQ) developed by Heinberg et al. in 1995 was used in this study to examine whether these beliefs have been internalized. Furthermore, the Body Esteem Scale (BES) was used to quantify body image. The formal in-person survey was administered in Taipei, Taiwan. There were 301 valid samples out of 330 surveyed respondents. To enhance the representativeness of the samples, a stratified sampling technique was applied to generate survey data with valid samples following gender and age distributions of the population between the ages of 14 and 28. The internalization dimension represented how strongly the respondents considered the importance of the socially accepted concept of appearance based on personal perceived social norms. The other dimension, awareness, represented the sociocultural pressures from the outside world, such as from the image of slimness illustrated in the media or group, in comparison to personal beliefs. Our results demonstrated that respondents with above-normal BMIs internalized the socially preferred standards of thinness more than respondents with normal or under-normal BMIs. Furthermore, results also revealed, overall, a negative relationship between SATAQ and body image and between body image and BMI. The study highlights the need to emphasize “fitness over thinness” to help improve negative body image among young Asian females.

Suggested Citation

  • Jane Lu Hsu & Rainbow Tsai-Ling Hung & Melchior Antoine, 2021. "Investigating the Linkages between BMI, Body Image, and SATAQ among Young Asian Females," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-11, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:14:p:7460-:d:593287
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pilar Aparicio-Martinez & Alberto-Jesus Perea-Moreno & María Pilar Martinez-Jimenez & María Dolores Redel-Macías & Claudia Pagliari & Manuel Vaquero-Abellan, 2019. "Social Media, Thin-Ideal, Body Dissatisfaction and Disordered Eating Attitudes: An Exploratory Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-16, October.
    2. Mohammad Ahmadpanah & Mona Arji & Jaleh Arji & Mohammad Haghighi & Leila Jahangard & Dena Sadeghi Bahmani & Serge Brand, 2019. "Sociocultural Attitudes towards Appearance, Self-Esteem and Symptoms of Body-Dysmorphic Disorders among Young Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-13, October.
    3. Barbara Jiotsa & Benjamin Naccache & Mélanie Duval & Bruno Rocher & Marie Grall-Bronnec, 2021. "Social Media Use and Body Image Disorders: Association between Frequency of Comparing One’s Own Physical Appearance to That of People Being Followed on Social Media and Body Dissatisfaction and Drive ," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-14, March.
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