BODY IMAGE

Body image results from attaching cultural vocabulary to physical features. Much of the body image literature includes body esteem correlates of body image analyses.




Abell, S. C. (1988). The relationship between body image and self-esteem among undergraduates. Unpublished master's thesis, Loyola University of Chicago.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Self-esteem; Body image; Self-perception


Altabe, M., & Thompson, J. K. (1993). Body image changes during early adulthood. The International Journal of Eating Disorders, 13(3), 323-328.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body; Body image


Anderson, J. (1979). The thinking woman beauty book. New York: Avon.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Health and hygiene; Beauty-personal


Anderson, M. (1992). Correlates of body image in university women. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of North Texas.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Self-perception; Puberty


Anonymous. (1972). Different shapes. (Filmstrip and Cassette recording). Chicago: Society for Visual Education.

ABSTRACT: The presentation was designed to help develop a better understanding of the relationship between size and ability and the importance of a good self-concept.

KEYWORDS: Body image; Self-perception


Anonymous. (1978). Size 10. (Videotape). Iris Films.

ABSTRACT: A discussion of body image among four women on topics such as shopping for clothes, swimming, and examining their reflections in a fun-house mirror.

KEYWORDS: Body size; Body image; Self-perception


Anonymous. (1981). Body image and aging. (Videocassette). Chicago: CED.

ABSTRACT: In this program, body image is characterized in terms of appearance, function, mobility and sensory impression. Three older people, aged 68, 67, and 55 described how they felt about themselves and being older, how they react and respond to the inevitable changes that accompany aging; sensory inputs, individuality, and change in appearance.

KEYWORDS: Body image; Aging


Anonymous. (1985). The female gaze: Women as viewers of popular culture. Seattle: Real Comet Press.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Women in popular culture


Anonymous. (1991). Your ideal silhouette: Body proportion style and figure analysis. (Computer disk). Bloomington, Illinois: Meridian Education Corp.

ABSTRACT: Title on disk label: Your ideal silhouette: personal analysis program. Title on guide: Your ideal silhouette: body proportion analysis; the computer program helps students learn how to accurately measure their figures, enter data into the computer, analyze their printouts, and select clothing styles to compliment their body proportions

KEYWORDS: Ideal body; Clothing and dress


Anonymous. (1993). Height-weight charts that work. (Videocassette). Alexandria: PBS Video.

ABSTRACT: The presentation discusses why you should throw away the traditional height/weight charts and learn how to use a body fat test to calculate your ideal weight. It discusses how your body type helps you to set realistic goals for weight loss and predict how quickly you can lose weight.

KEYWORDS: Ideal body; Stature; Body weight; Body height; Body composition; Body type


Anonymous. (1993). Nothing to lose: Woman's body image through time. (Videocassette). Glen Ellyn, Illinois: College of DuPage.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Feminine beauty


Anonymous. (1993, October). Quiz: What's your body image. 'Teen, 37, 56.

ABSTRACT: Find out if you are your own worst critic

KEYWORDS: Body; Body image


Arms, D. J. (1989). Attitudes toward physical activity and body image between exercising and non-exercising spouses. Unpublished master's thesis, Texas Woman's University.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Physical activity


Auer, J. (1994). Body image 101. Liguorian, 82(9), 38.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body; Body image


Bailey, L. F. (1988). Body image and self-esteem during pregnancy. Unpublished master's thesis, University of California.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Self-esteem; Body image; Self-concept


Barcus, S. M. (1990). Body cathexis and the ideal female figure of Black and White college females. Unpublished master's thesis, Ball State University.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Ideal body ; Body image; Self-perception


Ben-Tovim, D. I., Walker, M. K., Murray, H., & Chin, G. (1990). Body size estimates: Body image or body attitude measures. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 9(1), 57-67.

ABSTRACT: Estimates of body width and depth did not correlate significantly with the measured sizes of the body parts. Body estimates, untransformed by real sizes, were found to be closely related to certain attitudes towards the body, especially to feelings that the body was too fat and a source of stigma. Estimates were also significantly influenced by the posture adopted during the measuring process.

KEYWORDS: Body size; Body measurements; Self-esteem; Body image


Ben-Tovim, D. I., & Walker, M. K. (1995). Body image, disfigurement and disability. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 39(3), 283.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body; Body image


Bender, P. R. (1972). The estimate of body dimensions battery: An objective assessment of perceived body size. Unpublished master's thesis, McGill University.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body size; Body dimension


Bennet, K. (1991). Adult body image. Nottingham: Department of Adult Education, University of Nottingham.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image


Berk, B. (1993). Body image and pregnancy: Bridging the mind-body connection, a guide for a health care professionals. Journal of Perinatology: Official Journal of The California Perinatal Association, 13(4), 300-304.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body; Body image; Pregnancy


Bond, S., & Cash, T. F. (1992). Black beauty: Skin color and body images among African-American college women. Journal of Applied Socio-Psychology, 22(11), 874-888.

ABSTRACT: The study examined the role of color as it pertained to various body image measures among 66 light, medium, and dark-skinned Black college females (aged 18-37 yrs). Those who desired a different skin tone favored being lighter more than being darker. Black females and medium-toned Black females held personal ideals that were significantly lighter than their self-perceived color. The majority of subjects believed that Black men found light skin most attractive.

KEYWORDS: Body image; Skin anatomy; Social-perception; Self-perception


Brodie, D. A., Slade, P. D., & Rose, H. (1989). Reliability measures in distorting body image. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 69(3, Pt 1), 723-732.

ABSTRACT: Using the distorting mirror (DM) and the distorting video camera (DV) with 29 healthy, normal-weight women indicates that perceived body-image is consistently overestimated and ideal body-image is consistently underestimated by both techniques.

KEYWORDS: Body weight; Body image


Brodie, D. A., Slade, P. D., & Riley, V. J. (1991). Sex differences in body image perceptions. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 72(1), 73-74.

ABSTRACT: Sex differences in the estimation of body image in 30 male and 30 female healthy university students were examined using a distorting mirror. Results suggest that men and women show similar characteristics in body-image perception, and that subjects without any form of eating disorder or psychological instability overestimate body size to a certain extent.

KEYWORDS: Body size; Body image


Brousil, P. A. (1976). The relationship of body build, ideal body image, and clothing conformity. University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Ideal body; Body image; Clothing and dress; Body build


Carr-Nangle, R. E., Johnson, W. G., Bergeron, K. C., & Nangle, D. W. (1994). Body image changes over the menstrual cycle in normal women. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 16(3), 267-273.

ABSTRACT: The study investigated changes in body image across the menstrual cycle and the relationship between these changes and menstrual distress to identify determinants of body dissatisfaction. The subjects include 26 normally cycling women, aged 22-39 yrs, with 90-115% of ideal body weight and no history of eating disorder, completed a series of body image measures and a measure of menstrual distress during 3 menstrual cycle phases. Findings suggest that menstrual cycle changes play a significant role in body image.

KEYWORDS: Body image; Body weight


Cash, T. F. (1985). Your body image. (Cassette Recording). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Self-esteem; Body image


Cash, T. F. (1990). Body images: Development, deviance, and change. New York: Guilford Press.

ABSTRACT: The book reviews and elucidates diverse concepts of body image, body-image development, psychosocially dysfunctional deviations from normal appearance, and methods of facilitating body-image change.

KEYWORDS: Body image; Physical appearance; Plastic surgery


Cash, T. F. (1994). Body image and weight changes in a multisite comprehensive very-low-calorie diet program. Behavior Therapy, 25(2), 239.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body; Body image


Cash, T. F., & Henry, P. E. (1995). Women's body images: The results of a national survey in the USA. Sex Roles, 33(1-2), 19-28.

ABSTRACT: Body image of 803 women (aged 18-70 yrs) in the US was examined using selected subscales from the standardized Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire, designed by T.F. Cash (1985). Results indicate substantial levels of body dissatisfaction, possibly surpassing levels observed in the 1985 survey. The majority subjects indicated having negative evaluations of their appearance and a preoccupation with being or becoming overweight. Compared to age, race/ethnicity appeared significantly influencing positive body image to African-American than to Anglo or Hispanic women.

KEYWORDS: Body image; Body satisfaction


Chesters, L. (1994). Women's talk: Food, weight and body image.
Special feature: Doing it by degrees: Feminist undergraduate dissertation. Feminism and Psychology, 4(3), 449-457.

ABSTRACT: The study analyzed the discourses of 10 female British college students with or without anorexia as they discussed food, weight, and body shape. The discourses of both anorexic and normal women were constructed from images of dissatisfaction concerning their bodies. The discourse also showed how losing weight was an attempt to gain control. Both groups also felt that women measure themselves against one another.

KEYWORDS: Body weight; Body image


Chrisler, J. C., & Ghiz, L. (1993). Body image issues of older women. Women and Therapy, 14(1-2), 67.

ABSTRACT: Contends that body image concerns are not restricted to eating disordered clients and can occur in women of any age. Physical changes that affect body image as women age include slowing of the metabolic rate, menopause, facial structure, use of devices, and increased health problems. Feminist therapists can be aware of their own attitudes toward aging, encourage clients to celebrate aging and share research findings (i.e. good effect of self-help groups, dance therapy, and regular exercise) that help work against aging and sexist oppression.

KEYWORDS: Body; Body image


Coovert, D. L., Thompson, J. k., & Kinder, B. N. (1988). Interrelationships among multiple aspects of body image and eating disturbance. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 7(4), 495-502.

ABSTRACT: The study investigated the relationship among several indices of body size estimation and eating disturbance in college females. Findings indicate that measures of absolute size and estimated size had stronger correlations and eating disturbance than degree of perceptual size overestimation. Actual size was negatively correlated with degree of overestimation, indicating that small-sized individuals overestimate to a greater degree than large subjects.

KEYWORDS: Body size; Body image; Eating disturbance


Counts, C. R., & Adams, H. E. (1985). Body image in bulimic, dieting, and normal females. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 7(3), 289-300.

ABSTRACT: The study examined body size estimation and overvaluation of a thin shape in eleven bulimic females (mean age 21 years), twelve females having been obese as adults who later lost weight (mean age 22.25 years), and twelve females with no history of obesity who were dieting (mean age 20.33 years), and twelve females with no history of obesity as adults and not currently dieting (mean 22.10 years). Each subject was presented a set of seven silhouettes, one having been drawn from the subject's actual photograph and the remaining silhouettes representing 2.5%, 5%, and 7.5% increases and decreases in the size of certain body areas of the original figure. Results suggest that a history of childhood obesity influences significantly body size overestimation. As the three groups currently dieting appeared equally dissatisfied with their shape, the study was not able to confirm the hypothesis that bulimics would appear more dissatisfied with their body image.

KEYWORDS: Body size; Body image; Bulimia; Dieting


Craig, C. C. (1970). The relationship between self-concept, sociometric status, and body weight in college women. Unpublished master's thesis, Texas Woman's University.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body size; Body weight; Self-evaluation


Cremer, A. G. (1970). Relationships between body size estimates, body image boundaries, and health practices in preadolescents. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Body size


Czerwinski, B. S. (1993). Relationship between feminine hygiene practices, body image and self-esteem. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Texas Woman's University.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Self-esteem; Body image


Darnell, E. A. (1989). In pursuit of the illusory ideal body. Unpublished master's thesis, Antioch University.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Ideal body; Body image; Movement education


Davis, C. (1992). Body image, dieting behaviors, and personality factors: A study of high-performance female. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 23(3), 179-192.

ABSTRACT: The study investigated the role of personality factors and body image in the weight preoccupation among 99 high-performance female athletes (aged 13-30 yrs) and 111 nonathlete controls (aged 18-30 yrs), using a self-report survey that indicated a measure of subjective body size. Results show that subjective body size was strongly related to weight and diet concerns. Comparisons with nonathletes indicated a greater number of athletes who were underweight wanted to lose weight and were frequently dieting.

KEYWORDS: Body size; Body image


Davis, C., Brewer, H., & Weinstein, M. (1993). A study of appearance in young men. Social Behavior and Personality, 21(1), 63-74.

ABSTRACT: A study of how and why men are becoming more concerned about matters of physical appearance and are reporting a greater degree of negative body image than in previous generations. The study uses a battery of psychological tests measuring appearance anxiety (AAX), situational trait anxiety, body esteem, and body dissatisfaction. The study indicates that AAX was used to predict self-reported distress during a body composition valuation.

KEYWORDS: Body-esteem; Physical appearance; Body image


Dowdney, L., Woodward, L., Pickles, A., & Skuse, D. (1995). The body image perception and attitude scale for children: Reliability in growth retarded and community comparison subjects. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, 5(1), 29-40.

ABSTRACT: The study examined issues relating to the Body Perception Scale (BPS) for 16 children with chronic nonorganic growth retardation (case sample/CAS), ages ranged from 10 and 11 years, together with, 16 age-matched normal comparisons (community sample/COS). The COS's choice of their perceived height and perceived body shape ranged across the scales. The CAS's choice of perceived height was biased towards the lower end of the scale, but their range of shape choices was greater than COS's choice. The salience of any given size measure is likely to be one of the factors that will influence precision of children's choice.

KEYWORDS: Body shape


Drake, S. K. (1994). Perceived influence of significant others on body shape of female and male college students. Unpublished master's thesis, Eastern Illinois University.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image


Drewnowski, A., Yee, D. (1987). Men and body image: are men satisfied with their body weight? Psychosomatic medicine, 49(6), 626-634.

ABSTRACT: Examined the desire for thinness or weight gain among 226 male and female freshmen students. Most women(85%) wished to lose weight. Men expressed conflicting views regarding desire for thinness and were almost evenly split between those who wanted to lose weight (40%) and those who wished to gain weight (45%). The proportion of men and women who expressed no desire for weight change was comparable. Men and women who wished to lose weight share negative body perceptions: both groups viewed themselves as overweight, and both expressed dissatisfaction with body shape. However, men used exercise for weight control while women resorted to calorie diets. It is suggested that key risk factor for eating disorders may be dieting itself.

KEYWORDS: Body image; Weight satisfaction


Duncan, M. C. (1994). The politics of women's body images and practices: Foucault, the panopticon, and shape magazine. Journal of sport and social issues, 18(1), 48.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body; Body image


Dworkin, S. H. (1984). A comparison of interventions for women experiencing body image problems. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Nebraska, Lincoln.

The study investigated the effects of three counseling interventions on women's body image and self-concept. Women experiencing body image problems (N=79) completed Secord and Jourard's (1953) Body-Cathexis and Self-Cathexis Scales and were classified into either moderate or severe body image disturbance groups. Results show that cognitive therapy techniques were most effective for body image, and cognitive behavior therapy techniques were most effective for self-concept. Participants in both classifications improved significantly on body image.

KEYWORDS: Body image; Body cathexis


Eade, R. L. (1995). Body image, self-concept, and the aging process. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Texas Tech University.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Self-perception; Aging


Eckhouse, R. E. (1994). The development of positive, realistic body image in college age women: A project based upon an independent investigation. Unpublished master's thesis, Smith College School for Social Work.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Self-esteem; Body image


Epstein, S. J. (1965). A critique of the body boundary hypothesis as related to apparent body-part size perception. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Kansas.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body size


Erickson, M. K. (1985). Clothing behavior of working women related to self-image/clothing-image congruity and achievement motivation. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Self-image; Clothing and dress


Evans, C., & Dolan, B. (1993). Body shape questionnaire: Derivation of shortened alternate forms. The International Journal of Eating Disorders, 13(3), 315-322.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body


Fallon, A. E., & Rozin, P. (1985). Sex differences in perceptions of desirable body shape. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 94(1), 102-105.

ABSTRACT: The study administered 248 male and 227 female undergraduates to indicate their current figure, their ideal figure, the figure that they felt would be most attractive to the opposite sex, and the opposite sex figure to which they would be most attracted, using a set of 9 figure drawings arranged from very thin to very heavy figures. Results indicate that both men and women erred in estimating what the opposite sex would find attractive. Results suggest that men's perceptions serve to keep them satisfied with their figures, whereas women's perceptions place pressure on them to lose weight.

KEYWORDS: Body shape


Fallon, A. E. (1994). Body image and the regulation of weight. Philadelphia: Taylor & Francis.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: body size


Fenning-Naisberg, S., Fenning, S., & Ganel, A. (1993). Body image of achondroplastic children before and after leg elongation. Israel Journal of Psychiatry and Related Sciences, 30(1), 33-39.

ABSTRACT: The study examined body image disturbance in six achondroplastic children (aged 9-16 yrs) before and after surgical leg elongation, and another six achondroplastic who had undergone the same procedure 3-6 yrs earlier. These groups were compared with twelve healthy control children. Subjects completed the Draw-a-Person Test and the Body Cathexis Test. Gross disturbance of body image was substantially improved after the procedure. However, a difference in body image still existed between the control-normal group and achondroplastic adolescents.

KEYWORDS: Body size; Body image; Body cathexis


Fernandez, F., Probst, M., Meermann, R., & Vandereycken, W. (1994). Body size estimation and body dissatisfaction in eating disorder patients and normal controls. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 16(3), 307-310.

ABSTRACT: The study was aimed to test the accuracy of body size estimation and to assess the ideal body image. Using the 20-item Body Attitudes Test and the video distortion technique to compare 41 eating disorder patients (aged 17-27 yrs) and 34 female controls (aged 19-24 yrs), the study found no difference in the estimation of actual body sizes. However, there were significant differences in the ideal body image between bulimics and anorexics. Findings also suggest that a distorted body size estimation was not a distinctive trait in these eating disorder patients.

KEYWORDS: Body size


Fischer, D. J. (1987). The relationship of body size distortion to percentage ideal body weight, negative self-schemata, scaling deviation and rigidity. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Long Island University, Brooklyn.

ABSTRACT: The study investigated the relationship between degree of Body Size Distortion and Percentage Ideal Body Weight, Negative Self-schemata, Scaling Deviations (standard believed to represent normal weight) and Rigidity. Subjects were 79 adult men with percentages of ideal body weight ranging from 86 to 177 percent. Results indicate that a significant positive relationship between Body Size Distortion and Scaling Deviation and Percentage of Ideal Body Weight. Body Size Distorters have an unusual standard to represent normal weight, one that is larger than that of nondistorters and a self-schemata which is not especially negative.

KEYWORDS: Body size; Body weight; Obesity


Fisher, S. (1986). Development and structure of the body image. Hillsdale, NJ: L. Erlbaum Associates.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image


Fleming, J. C. (1968). Body image boundaries and clothing preferences of young women with physical disabilities. Utah State University, Logan.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Clothing and dress


Florin, G. (1985). Achieving the illusion of your ideal silhouette: Your personalized wardrobe planner. Akron, Ohio: Your Image.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Clothing and dress


Florin, G. (1991). Your ideal silhouette: Body proportion analysis. (Computer disks). Bloomington, Illinois: Meridian Education Corporation.

ABSTRACT: Subtitle on disk label: Personal figure analysis program. Subtitle on guide: Body proportion analysis; teaches the principles of classic dressing following the limitations of a student's individual body proportions; instruction on taking accurate body measurements.

KEYWORDS: Ideal body; Clothing and dress


Florin, G. (1991). Suit yourself: Your best-dressed image wardrobe planner. Bloomington, Illinois: Meridian Education.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Ideal body; Body image; Clothing and dress


Frankel, V. (1994, January). Body image: To thine own size be true. Mademoiselle, 100, 54.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body; Body image


Freeman, D. (1994). Investigation of the concept of a perfect body for the female dancer. Unpublished master's thesis, UCLA.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image


Frommelt, S. J. (1992). Body image distortion in normal college women and its relation to gender role, public self-consciousness and body esteem. Unpublished master's thesis, Marquette University.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Self-perception


Furnham, A., Titman, P., & Sleeman, E. (1994). Perception of female body shapes as a function of exercise. Journal of Social Behavior and Personality, 9(2), 335-352.

ABSTRACT: The effect of exercise on women's perceptions of body shapes and their own body image satisfaction were examined by comparing four groups of 15 women (mean age 22.96 yrs): female bodybuilders, rowers, netballers (British version of basketball), and a sedentary control group. The subjects rated nine detailed anatomical pictures on a series of semantic differential scales, based on the Repertory Grid Technique. Results indicate that women who exercise possess more positive perceptions of their own bodies and increased acceptance of muscular body shapes, despite divergence from cultural ideals.

KEYWORDS: Body size; Body shape


Galgan, R. J., & Mable, H. M. (1986). Body satisfaction in college women: A survey of facial and body size components. College Student Journal, 20(3), 326-328.

ABSTRACT: Subject group of 75 college women were asked to rate their degree of satisfaction with five facial and five body size components on a scale ranging from 1 (wish to change) to 5 (feel for fortunate), as well as to indicate their height, weight, build, and perception of the percentage overweight or underweight of their bodies. Subjects were significantly less satisfied with their body size than with their facial features and believed themselves to be approximately 15% fatter than they actually were.

KEYWORDS: Body size; Body satisfaction


Gardner, R. M., Morrell, J. A., Watson, D. N., & Sandoval, S. (1989). Subjective equality and just noticeable differences in body size judgments by obese persons. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 69(2), 595-604.

ABSTRACT: Body size perceptions of 40 obese people was compared to normal weight volunteers using two procedures with a television video methodology. In the continuous methods, a television image was presented as either too wide or narrow and subjects were asked to adjust the image to the actual size. The method of constants stimuli helped determine values corresponding to the point of subjective equality and difference threshold. Either method appears appropriate for investigating body image, although the continuous methods offer the advantage of fewer trials. No significant differences were found in either method between obese and normal weight subjects' judgments.

KEYWORDS: Body size


Gendebien, M. L., & Smith, M. O. (1992). Field dependence and perceptual, cognitive, and affective measures of body image in asymptomatic college students. Personality and Individual Differences, 13(8), 937-943.

ABSTRACT: The relationship of field dependence/independence (FD/FI) and gender to perceptual, cognitive, and affective measures of body image distortion (BID) was investigated in 69 undergraduates. Results suggest that men generally possess a flattering body image and women an unflattering one. FD men judged the upper torso to be smaller, and FD, and to a lesser extent FI, women judged the lower torso to be larger than normal.

KEYWORDS: Body size


George, A. A. (1989). Body size estimation in college students: Correlation of misestimation. Unpublished master's thesis, Auburn University.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Self-perception


Gideon, T. M. (1979). Perception of body image persons after total hip replacement. Unpublished master's thesis, University of Arizona.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Artificial hip joints


Gill, M. (1989). Image of the body: Aspects of the nude. (1st ed.). New York: Doubleday.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Aesthetics; Nude in art


Gorchynski, S. A. (1990). Body weight and perception of the weight of others. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Boston University.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body weight; Body image


Gupta, M. A., Schork, N. J., & Dhaliwal, J. S. (1993). Stature, drive for thinness, and body dissatisfaction: A study of males and females from a non clinical sample. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 38(1), 59-61.

ABSTRACT: The study examined the relationship between height and body image parameters related to dieting, body weight, and shape among 174 Subjects. Data show an inverse correlation among the males but not among females between body stature and body image parameters related to dieting, body weight, and shape.

KEYWORDS: Body height; Body image; Body weight


Gurney, V. W. (1994). Body image and eating disturbance in distinct groups of female exercisers. Unpublished master's thesis, Ohio University.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Eating disorders


Guy, J. W. (1988). Body image among college women: A comparison of measures. Unpublished master's thesis, University of Mississippi.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image


Guy, J. W. (1992). Body image: Effecting change. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Mississipi.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image


Hallinan, C. J., F., P. E., & Evans, J. E. (1991). Perceptions of current and ideal body shape of athletes and nonathletes. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 72(1), 123-130.

ABSTRACT: The relationship between sex and perception of body image was examined among 58 male and 65 female athletic and 36 male and 56 female nonathletic undergraduates, aged 17-30 years. Study participants completed a questionnaire that asked them to identify, from a 9-figure body-silhouette scale, their current image and the image that they thought was most ideal. Significant differences were found for women athletes and nonathletes when comparing current and ideal image. Results support women's dissatisfaction with their body images and show that athletic participation is not associated with this perception.

KEYWORDS: Body shape


Hallinan, C. J. (1993). Body shape perceptions of elderly women exercisers and nonexercisers. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 77(2), 451-456.

ABSTRACT: Perceptions of current and ideal body shape for 78 women (49 exercisers and 29 nonexercisers, aged 60-88 years) were measured using a 9-figure silhouette scale. Exercisers showed greater difference between current and ideal shape than nonexercisers. Among the oldest subjects there was a trend toward a diminished difference between current and ideal body shape.

KEYWORDS: Body shape


Harris, R. J. (1979). Body image change during pregnancy in Black, White, and Cuban women. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Goodwin Watson Institute for Research and Development, Union Graduate School.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image


Hartley, P. (1989). Body image and self-image in anorexia nervosa. British Review of Bulimia and Anorexia Nervosa, 3(2), 61-70.

ABSTRACT: The study examined the relationship between body image and self-image in anorexia nervosa (AN), using one male and nine female AN inpatients and ten college student controls matched for age, sex, and educational attainment. A comparison of body size estimates with real size measurements revealed a significantly greater perceptual error in the AN subjects than in the controls. A clear relationship was found between attitudes to the body, estimates of body size, and attitudes to the self, suggesting that recovery must include improvement in all these interrelated areas.

KEYWORDS: Body size; Body cathexis; Body image


Hassan, I. N. (1967). The body image and personality correlates of body type stereotypes. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Indiana University.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Body type


Hearns, J. F., Broida, J. P., & Gayton, W. F. (1988). Accuracy of estimations of body frame size as a function of sex and actual frame size. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 66(1), 144-146.

ABSTRACT: The study investigated the accuracy of estimation of body frame size as a function of sex and actual frame size, using 66 men and 52 women from a community adult fitness program. Data indicate that medium-frame subjects were the most likely to be accurate in their estimations of body frame size. Women were twice as likely to be accurate in their estimations as men.

KEYWORDS: Body weight; Body frame size


Higbee, C. M. (1952). A study of the body image in male college students. Unpublished master's thesis, State College of Washington.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Physical anthropology


Hoppe, C. M. (1990). Gender differences in body image and its effect on self-esteem and lifestyle wellness. (Undergraduate research papers). Albion College.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Self-esteem; Body image


Horner, C., & Gayton, W. F. (1986). Accuracy of body frame size estimations using the 1983 Metropolitan Height and Weight Tables. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 63(1), 26.

ABSTRACT: The study examined the accuracy with which 43 women (mean age 32 years) and 29 men (mean age 27 years) estimate their body frame-size when using instructions from the 1983 Metropolitan Height and Weight Tables. Results show that only seven subjects (two women, five men) understood the tables' directions well enough to estimate their own body frame-size.

KEYWORDS: Body size; Body weight


Howe, M. C. (1975). A comparison of the self-esteem, body image and movement-concept of adults in different age groups. Boston University.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Self-esteem


Huddy, D. C., Nieman, D. C., & Johnson, R. L. (1993). Relationship between body image and percent body fat among college male varsity athletes and nonathletes. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 77(3, Pt 1), 851-857.

ABSTRACT: Three groups of male university students (15 varsity swimmers, 15 varsity football players, and 15 nonathletes) were administered a 20-item questionnaire concerned with body image and subsequently underwent skinfold measurements to assess percent body fat. Scores obtained were correlated to estimate the relationship between body image and adiposity. For the 3 groups combined the relationship was significant and inverse. For the nonathletic group a significant and inverse relationship was found; no relationship was found for either of the 2 groups of athletes.

KEYWORDS: Body image


Hundleby, J. D., & Bourgouin, N. C. (1993). Generality in the errors of estimation of body image. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 13(1), 85-92.

ABSTRACT: The study selected 100 female undergraduates to estimate the width of their own bodies (head, shoulders, waist, and hips), of another person's body (waist and hips) of four commercial packages, and of a cylinder. Results support the notion of a broad general tendency to enhance or diminish estimation of the width of familiar objects, including estimations of the width of own body parts.

KEYWORDS: Body size; Body image


Hutchinson, M. G. (1990). Body image reshaping. (Cassette Recording No. F820). Everett: Audio Productions.

ABSTRACT: The speaker discusses body image, what it is, how it develops, how it affects people's lives, and how she works with body image.

KEYWORDS: Body image


Jackson, L. A., Sullivan, L. A., & Rostker, R. (1988). Gender, gender role, and body image. Sex Roles, 19(7-8), 429-443.

ABSTRACT: Study subjects consisted of 60 male and 106 female undergraduates who differed in gender roles. Participants were asked to complete a body-self relations questionnaire and a measure of self-esteem. Results indicate that feminine females evaluated their physical appearance less favorably than androgynous females, although physical appearance was equally important to both groups. The importance of the masculine component of gender role was reflected in favorable body image ratings of androgynous and masculine females in all domains (physical appearance, physical fitness, and physical health) and in the unfavorable ratings of feminine males in the physical fitness domain. Analyses indicated that self-esteem did not account for the relationships between gender, gender role, and body image.

KEYWORDS: Self-esteem; Gender role ; Body image


Jacobi, L., & Cash, T. F. (1994). In pursuit of the perfect appearance: Discrepancies among self-ideal percepts of multiple physical attributes. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 24(5), 379-396.

ABSTRACT: The study examined self-perceived and idealized physical attributes among 66 male and 69 female White, heterosexual college students. Physical attributes included body size, weight, height, muscularity, hair color and length, eye color, and female breast size. Both sexes expressed significant self-ideal discrepancies on most attributes, whether ideals were assessed from personal or perceived other-sex standpoints. Results also indicate that women overestimated the extent to which men prefer women who are thin and have muscular definitions, larger breasts, blue eyes, and long blonde hair.

KEYWORDS: Body size


Janelli, L. M. (1986). The realities of body image. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 12(10), 23-27.

ABSTRACT: The study examined 25 women aged 30-49 years and 25 women aged 65-87 years to discover whether differences in body perception exist between older and younger adult females as assessed by the Draw-a-Person test, Body-Cathexis Scale, and a body perception interview. Results confirm the hypothesis that older subjects possess a less positive perception of their body images. Factors contributing to such perceptions may include cultural background, religious beliefs, and roles and recreational activities.

KEYWORDS: Body cathexis; Body image


Janelli, L. M. (1993). Are there body image differences between older men and women. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 15(3), 327-339.

ABSTRACT: The study explored the relationship between gender and body image perception among 39 men (63-93 years) and 50 women (aged 60-98 years) residing in long-term care facilities. The Body-Cathexis-Self-Cathexis Scale (BC-SE) and Draw-A-Person technique (DAP) were used to measure body image perception. There was no significant indication that men were more dissatisfied than women with their body parts, as measured by the BC portion of the scale. Women were significantly more satisfied with aspects of self as measured by the SE portion. Results support the premise that cultural values and gender influence how older men and women view their bodies.

KEYWORDS: Body cathexis; Body image; Elderly


Jasper, C. R., & Klassen, M. L. (1990). Stereotypical beliefs about appearance: Implications for retailing and consumer issues. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 71(2), 519-528.

ABSTRACT: The study investigated 40 male and 40 female undergraduates' attitudes about weight and appearance by exploring subjects' stereotypical beliefs concerning obese people, personal consumption habits, perception of their own body build, and desire to lose and gain weight. Subjects reported negative beliefs about obese people, and sex differences were found in each area measured. Women seemed to be more concerned about weight loss and gain than men.

KEYWORDS: Body build


Jean, P. J. (1981). The effect of male presence on female self-consciousness, body image and mood. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Nebraska, Lincoln.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Self-consciousness


Jerome, L. (1993). Perception of body image. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 38(9).

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body; Body image


Johnson, R. C. (1993). The influence of age and gender on the elderly's actual and perceived body image. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Kentucky.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image


Johnson, D. R. (1995). Attitudinal body image in overweight, formerly overweight, and normal weight women. Unpublished master's thesis, University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body weight; Body image; Obesity


Jordan, J. A. (1977). Self-confrontation: The effects of body image, frequency of exposure and favorability of photographic portrait on self-esteem. Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Self-esteem; Body image


Judisch-Berg, K. M. (1995). The relationship of body image to body composition in women fifty and older. Unpublished master's thesis, University of Wisconsin, La Crosse.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Body compositions; Self-perceptions in women


Kao, J. (1981). Body image: A survey of the literature. Unpublished master's thesis, Goucher College.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Dance therapy


Karhoff, N. I. (1979). Clothing-related attitudes and the body image as perceived and expressed by business and professional women. Ohio State University.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Clothing and dress


Kaufmann, B. E. (1991). The impact of "winning weights" weight control program on perceived body image. Unpublished master's thesis, University of Wisconsin, La Crosse.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Self-perception; Obesity; Body weight


Kautzman, J. B. (1991). The early identification of body build stereotypes and body image. Unpublished master's thesis, University of South Dakota.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Somatotypes; Body build


Keeton, W. P. (1986). The multidimensional assessment of body image among college students. Unpublished master's thesis, Western Carolina University, Norfolk, Virginia.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Psychological aspects


Keeton, W. P., Cash, T. F., & Brown, T. A. (1990). Body image or body images: Comparative, multidimensional assessment among college students. Journal of Personality Assessment, 54(1-2), 213-230.

ABSTRACT: A comparison of multiple measurement methods in body image (BIM) perceptual and attitudinal (affect and cognition) between 47 male and 78 female college students indicated the distinction between attitudinal and perceptual modalities of BIM.

KEYWORDS: Body size; Body image


Korth-Duncan, M. (1983). Body image as a factor in weight control. Unpublished master's thesis, University of Wisconsin, Oskosh.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Obesity; Weight control


Kovar, P. K. (1992). Differences in perception of body image between genders in college students. Unpublished master's thesis, University of Houston-Victoria.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Self-acceptance


Kreitler, S., & Kreitler, H. (1988). Body image: The dimension of size. Genetic, Social, and Psychology Monographs, 114(1), 5-32.

ABSTRACT: The study developed a kinesthetically based body size estimation method for investigating size estimations of ten body parts. A total of 40 male and 40 female Israeli subjects in each of three age groups (4-6, 10-12, and 28-30 years) were administered estimation of body and object, figure drawing, and questionnaires. Results show over-estimation of body size in all groups, decreasing regularly with age. Difference scores were negatively correlated with body cathexis and satisfaction, bodily sophistication, and the richness of the self-concept, and positively correlated with exercise, field dependence, and figure drawing distortions.

KEYWORDS: Body size; Body image


Kreitler, S., & Chemerinski, A. (1990). Body image disturbance in obesity. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 9(4), 409-418.

ABSTRACT: The study tested the hypotheses that (1) distorted size estimations are a characteristic body image (BI) disturbance in the obese, (2) that the BI is on a developmentally lower level than in controls, (3) that in the obese there would be less differentiation between kinesthetically and graphically expressed BI and between BI and personality variables. The obese subjects indicated that their body size estimations were correlated more with the width, and their pathological signs in the drawings, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality inventory (MMPI) scales.

KEYWORDS: Body size; Body image


Krejci, J. A. (1993). A phenomenological investigation of body image among normal weight college-age females. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of New Mexico.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image


Kunis, B. (1969). The influence of body image on weight loss maintenance. Unpublished master's thesis, Northern Illinois University.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body weight; Body image; Obesity


Kupfermann, J. (1981). The mistaken body. New York: St. Martin's Press.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Self-perception


Lang, S. (1993). Shape up your body image! New Woman, XXIII (23)(3), 68.

ABSTRACT: Learn to love your body? It is possible!

KEYWORDS: Body; Image


Lautenbacher, S., Roscher, S., Strian, F., & Pirke, K. M. (1993). Theoretical and empirical considerations on the relation between "body image," body scheme and somatosensation. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 37(5), 447-454.

ABSTRACT: The relation between body size perception (using the video distortion technique, image marking procedure, and kinesthetic size estimation apparatus) and somatosensation (thermal, pain, and vibration thresholds) was administered in 41 normal-weight young German women. Subjects completed questionnaires on eating behavior and motivation, body attitude or body satisfaction, and depressive mood and thoughts. Neither the somatosensory nor the questionnaire variables explained the difference between overestimators and underestimators of body size. However, these variables did explain the difference between good perceivers and poor perceivers (degree of deviation from actual body size) in somatosensory variables.

KEYWORDS: Body size; Body satisfaction; Body image; Body scheme; Somatosensation


Lemoncheck, L., Chapkis, W., Richards, J. R., Dworkin, A., Schmidt, C., Wolf, N., Galler, R., Morgan, K. P., & Walker, A. (1994). Presenting women: Fashion and beauty. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.

ABSTRACT: Book section covering several chapters: Dehumanizing women: Treating persons as sex objects; Beauty secrets; The skeptical feminist; The unadorned feminist; The beauty myth: How images of beauty are used against women; etc.

KEYWORDS: Body image; Fad and fashion; Feminism; Physical attractiveness


Lerner, R. (1971). Body build stereotypes and self-identification in three are groups of males. Doctoral dissertation, City university of New York, New York.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body build; Body type; Age


Li, G. S. (1994). Self-perceptions of female dancers, athletes, exercisers, and non-exercisers. Springfield College.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Self-perception


Lichtendorf, S. S. (1988). Body image in the 21st century. New York: Plenum Press.

ABSTRACT: A discussion of the concept of body image relating it to the normal pattern of change in women's lives, the potential for disturbance and distortion, the role of the media, and the cosmetic surgery phenomenon as a case in point.

KEYWORDS: Body image


Liscomb, J. M. (1995). Athletic women and aerobically involved women and their body image. Undergraduate research paper. California Polytechnic State University.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image


Lucas, J. (1994). The effects of a strength training program on the body image, self-concept, and dynamic strength of seventh grade girls. Unpublished master's thesis, Bringham Young University.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body weight; Body image ; Self-perception; Teenage girls


Lynch, S. M. (1994). Male body image: A research thesis. Unpublished master's thesis, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, Shippensburg.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Men


Mable, H. M., Balance, W. D., & Galgan, R. J. (1986). Body image distortion and dissatisfaction in university students. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 63(2, Pt 2), 907-911.

ABSTRACT: The study investigated body image distortion and body image dissatisfaction for 75 male and 75 female university students in relation to sex-role orientation, self-esteem, locus-of-control, and depression. Body dissatisfaction was significantly associated with low self-esteem, externality, depression, and distortion. The relationship between body image distortion and dissatisfaction, although significant, was small.

KEYWORDS: Self-esteem; Body image


Machdanz, R. W. (1969). Body awareness: Athletes and non-athletes. Unpublished master's thesis, California State College, Long Beach.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image


Mandel, D. (1988). The effects of body image perception, task, instructions, and weight salient cues on accuracy of body size estimation in undergraduate women. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Maine, Orono.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body weight; Body image; Body size


Maximin, A. (1989). Body image, depression and self-esteem in an aging population. Norfolk: Maximin.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Self-esteem; Body image; Self-concept


Mayer, L. (1991). Being a person and having a body: The role of language in body image among women with eating disorders. Unpublished master's thesis, Washington State University, Pullman.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Self-esteem; Body image


McClellan, M. A. (1993). Weight, body image, and physical ability: An exploration of gender differences in psychosocial development. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body weight


McWhirter, R. M. (1985). Body image and anorexia. Southern Psychologist, 2(3), 22-25.

ABSTRACT: The study examined the commonly reported body image distortion feature of anorexia to see if hard evidence exists to support the anecdotal evidence of such a distortion. Research suggests that anorexics overestimate their body size.

KEYWORDS: Body size; Body image


Menges, E. E. (1990). Body figure ratings and associated factors among college students. Unpublished master's thesis, University of Indianapolis.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image


Nuccio, S. A. (1981). Visible and nonvisible body alterations: Their relationship to body image and self-concept. Unpublished master's thesis, Marquette University.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Self-perception; Surgery


Oseen, M. A. M. (1994). Strength, body composition, image and performance capacity of women soldiers. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Alberta, Ottawa.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image


Ostrom, N. C. (1982). A study of perceived and ideal body build of preschool children. Unpublished master's thesis, Washington State University, Pullman.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Ideal body; Body image; Self-perception in children; Body build


Park, J. O. (1990). Clothing style preference of working women related to self-image/clothing-image congruity and public self-consciousness. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Self-image; Clothing and dress


Pasman, L., & Thompson, J. K. (1988). Body image and eating disturbance in obligatory runners, obligatory weightlifters, and sedentary individuals. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 7(6), 759-769.

ABSTRACT: The study evaluated body image and eating disturbance in 30 obligatory runners (ORs), 30 obligatory weightlifters (OWs), and 30 sedentary controls (SCs), aged 18-60 years and evenly divided by gender. Results indicate that OWs were significantly more accurate in estimating body size than ORs or SCs, although the latter two groups did not differ from one another. Females were more dissatisfied with their bodies than males, with the exception that male and female OWs were equivalent on body dissatisfaction indices. It is concluded that type of physical activity may be related to size estimation accuracy and body satisfaction.

KEYWORDS: Body size; Body image; Eating disturbance


Payne, L. J. (1994). Body image perception versus actual body measurements of female collegiate athletes. Unpublished master's thesis, Central Michigan University.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body weight; Anthropometry; Self-perception; Women athletes; Body image


Pearlson, G. D., Flournoy, L. H., Simonson, M., & Slavney, P. R. (1981). Body image in obese adults. Psychological Medical, 11(1), 147-154.

ABSTRACT: Data was gathered on 38 obese women and 16 obese men attending a weight-reduction program, as well as on an equal number of normal weight controls, regarding accuracy of perception of body width in four regions, as well as attitudes toward body size. Obese subjects, particularly women, tended to overestimate body width and to dislike their bodies; however, neither of these factors predicted success in losing weight. Age of onset of obesity was not related to degree of adult obesity or to accuracy of estimation of body width.

KEYWORDS: Body size; Body image; Obesity


Penner, L. A., Thompson, J. K., & Coovert, D. L. (1991). Size overestimation among anorexics: Much ado about very little. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 100(1), 90-93.

ABSTRACT: Research size overestimation among anorexics has failed to control for the effects of actual body size on estimated size. Findings illustrate the need for appropriate control procedures when considering body image disturbances among persons with eating disorders.

KEYWORDS: Body size


Polivy, J., Herman, C. P., & Pliner, P. (1990). Perception and evaluation of body image: The meaning of body shape and size. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Association, Inc.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body size


Potts, N. W. (1993). Body image dissatisfaction, self-esteem, and sex-role identity in mid-life women. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Texas Women's University.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Self-esteem; Body image; Sex role


Powers, P. D. (1983). The development of body image in women and its relationship to self-image and body satisfaction. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Virginia Commonwealth University.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Self-perception


Rackley, J. V. (1988). Determinants of body image in women at mid-life. Psychological Reports, 62(1), 9-10.

ABSTRACT: The study investigated the relationship between satisfaction with body image (BI), importance of BI, self-esteem, and mastery in 40 middle-aged women (35-55 years). Findings show that subjects with higher satisfaction with BI placed more importance on BI. These same subjects also reported higher self-esteem and mastery of life events.

KEYWORDS: Self-esteem; Body image


Raddysh, J. A. (1985). Body image of adult female participants in selected recreational programs. Unpublished master's thesis, University of Victoria, Ottawa.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image


Rand, C. S. W., & Macgregor, A. M. C. (1995). Body size preferences and desired weight of patients who have received obesity surgery and of comparison adults. Obesity Research, 3(5), 427-434.

ABSTRACT: Patients who had received obesity surgery (n=144) and comparison adults (n=72) selected the most attractive male and female size and the same-sex size they most wanted to look like from an array of 15 outline drawings. Subjects reported their height, and current and desired weights (transformed into Body Mass Index units/BMI). Results indicated that patients and comparison adults select the same desired size. Female patients desired significantly larger BMIs than comparison women. There was a large variation of desired BMIs associated with each desired size; the correlation between desired BMI and desired size was significant for women but not for men.

KEYWORDS: Body shape; Body size; Body composition; Body weight


Reaby, L. L., Hort, L. K., & Vandervord, J. (1994). Body image, self-concept, and self-esteem in women who had a mastectomy and either wore an external breast prosthesis or had breast reconstruction and women who had not experienced mastectomy. Health Care for Women International, 15(5), 361.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body; Body image; Self-concept; Self-esteem; Mastectomy


Redfearn, J. W. T. (1994). Movements of the I in relation to the body image. Journal of Analytical Psychology, 39(3), 311.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body; Body image


Rosen, J. C., Srebnik, D., Saltzberg, E., & Wendt, S. (1991). Development of a body image avoidance questionnaire. Psychological Assessment, 3(1), 32-37.

ABSTRACT: A self-report measure of behavioral tendencies that frequently accompany body image disturbance was designed on the 19-item questionnaire that dealt with avoidance of situations that provoke concern about physical appearance, such as avoidance of tight-fitting clothes, social outings, and physical intimacy. The measure correlated highly with negative attitudes about weight and shape and with perceptual distortion of size.

KEYWORDS: Body size


Rosenthal, M. M., & Beutell, N. J. (1981). Movement and body image: A preliminary study. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 53(3), 758.

ABSTRACT: The study investigated body image for 9 chronic schizophrenics (22-55 years), as measured by human figure drawings, before and after eleven weeks of movement exercises. Postmovement scores were significantly higher than premovement scores. Results suggest that movement does influence body image.

KEYWORDS: Body image; Movement


Rozin, P., & Fallon, A. (1988). Body image, attitudes to weight, and misperceptions of figure preferences of the opposite sex: A comparison of men and women in two generations. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 97(3), 342-345.

ABSTRACT: The study explores some possible causes of the recent increase in dieting and eating disorders among American women. Measures of body image, attitudes to eating and weight, and eating behaviors were collected from male (sons) and female (daughters) college students and their biological parents. Mothers and daughters believed that men (of their own generation) prefer much thinner women than these men actually prefer. Although fathers resembled mothers and daughters in their perception of being overweight, they were more similar to their sons in being relatively unconcerned about weight and eating.

KEYWORDS: Body weight; Body image


Rubenstein, R. S. (1987). Body image in obesity and weight loss. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Obesity


Rubin, T. I. (1978). Alive and fat and thinning in America. New York: Coward, McCann & Geoghegan.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Obesity


Rucker, C. E. (1990). Body image and perceptions of body size among Black and White college women. Unpublished master's thesis, Old Dominion University, Norfolk.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Mind and body; Self-perception


Ruff, G. A., & Barrios, B. A. (1986). Realistic assessment of body image. Behavioral Assessment, 8(3), 237-251.

ABSTRACT: The study examined psychometric properties of a procedure for assessing body image among 20 bulimic and 20 normal-control females (aged 18-26 years). Subjects estimated the size of five body parts by regulating the width of a band of light projected onto a wall. Along with each estimate an attitudinal measure was obtained, a rating of width on a continuum from grossly underweight to grossly overweight. Results indicate that subjects were significantly less accurate (i.e. perceived themselves as wider) in their width estimations and rated themselves as larger than normal controls.

KEYWORDS: Body size; Body image


Santoro, A. J. (1972). Appearance and its effect on self-image. Unpublished master's thesis, San Francisco State College, San Francisco.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Self-image; Body image Self-perception


Sartore, R. L. (1996). Body shaping: trends, fashions, and rebellions. Commack, New York: Nova Science Publishers.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image


Schellinger, M. M. (1992). Relationship of perceived and objective weight status to body image and perceived interference of social relationships in the adolescent population: A research study. Unpublished master's thesis, La Salle University.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Body weight


Segal, N. J. (1975). A study of the relationship between movement/exercise, body posture, body image and self-image. Unpublished master's thesis, Ohio State University.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Mind and body; Self-perception


Seid, R. P. (1991). Never too thin: Why women are at war with their bodies. (1st ed.). New York: Prentice Hall Press.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body weight; Body image; Obesity; Social aspects; Health and hygiene


Sheer, K. K. (1993). The effect of body size pictures on body satisfaction: An examination of the contrast effect. Unpublished master's thesis, Northeast Missouri State University.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Body satisfaction; Body size


Shepard, J. S. (1989). Perceptions of body image: An exploratory study of participants in a fitness and image enhancement program for large women. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of San Francisco, Counseling and Educational Psychology.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Obesity


Shunk, T. L. (1993). The effect of experimenter weight on female subjects' body size estimation accuracy and body dissatisfaction. Unpublished master's thesis, Humboldt State University.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body weight; Body size; Size perception


Silberstein, L. R., Mishkind, M. E., Striegel-Moore, R. H., & Timko, C. (1989). Men and their bodies: A comparison of homosexual and heterosexual men. Psychosomatic Medicine, 51(3), 337-346.

ABSTRACT: The study examined influences on body self-satisfaction, disordered eating, and exercise behavior among 71 heterosexual and 71 homosexual male participants from a university community. Homosexuals showed more body dissatisfaction, as measured by a body esteem scale, and considered appearance more central to their sense of self, as measured by a self-roles inventory. Homosexuals who desired to be thinner showed more attitudes and behaviors associated with disordered eating than those who were thinner. Heterosexuals who wished to be heavier had lower self-esteem scores than those who were heavier than or equal to their desired size.

KEYWORDS: Self-esteem; Homosexual; Heterosexual


Silverman, D. (1984). Creativity and body image boundaries. Unpublished master's thesis, University of Detroit.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Creative ability


Sloan, B. M. (1995). Body image among African-American women: A comparison of two cultural contexts. Unpublished master's thesis, Ohio State University.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image


Small, A., Madero, J., Teagno, L., & Ebert, M. H. (1983). Intellect, perceptual characteristics, and weight gain in anorexia nervosa. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 39(5), 780-782.

ABSTRACT: (None)The study assessed weight gain in a group of primary anorexics by examining responses to the WAIS (or WISC) and Rorschach for indices that may predict improvement. A total of 27 successively admitted anorexics (mean age 20.9 years) to a behavior modification weight gain program completed both measures early in their hospitalization. Results indicated that perceptual-personality variables did not have any predictive power. The ability to attend and focus cognitively are conditions for improvement in this type of a program. The success of therapy may be due to an inability to sustain and organize a cognitive focus.

KEYWORDS: Body weight; Anorexia Nervosa


Steinberg, C. L., & Birk, J. M. (1983). Weight and compliance: Male-female differences. Journal of General Psychology, 109(1), 95-102.

ABSTRACT: (None)The study examined the willingness of 60 male and 60 female subjects (18-23 years) of varying weights to comply with requests for a favor made by 4 confederates-2 males (1 overweight, 1 normal weight) and 2 females (1 overweight, 1 normal weight). Both male and female subjects were less compliant to requests from an overweight than a normal weight confederate. Overweight subjects were more compliant to normal weight opposite-sex confederates than to overweight opposite-sex confederates.

KEYWORDS: Body weight


Stormer, S. M. (1992). A comparison of four theories of body image disturbance. Honors thesis, University of South Florida.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Self-acceptance


Storz, N. S. (1981). Desired body weight, body image, and perception of relative desirability of weight control methods of adolescent females. Dissertation Abstracts International, 42(05), 1827B, Temple University.

ABSTRACT: The study was aimed to determine the relationship of desired body weight, body image, and perceived desirability of weight control methods of adolescent girls. Subjects were 203 adolescent females in home economic classes in several high schools. Instrumentation included five outline drawings of the female figure, a spring-type scale, Witkin's Articulation of Body Concept (ABC) Scale, and a questionnaire. Results revealed that a significantly high percentage of the high school girls investigated wished to lose weight. No significant difference was found between the two groups in the number of negative, or uncomplimentary, adjectives used to describe present appearance or in articulation of body concept as measured by Witkin's ABC Scale.

KEYWORDS: Body weight; Body image; Weight control; Adolescence


Strait, J. G. (1992). The effect of garment size label manipulation on female body image. Unpublished master's thesis, Washington State University, Pullman.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Body size


Strauman, T. J., & Glenberg, A. M. (1994). Self-concept and body-image disturbance: Which self-beliefs predict body size overestimation. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 18(2), 105-125.

ABSTRACT: Two studies investigated the relation between self-concept and body-image disturbance in selected female undergraduates. Subjects completed a set of self-concept assessments, including both appearance-specific questions and a measure of general self-discrepancies. Results indicated that the groups differed significantly on the criterion for deciding that a silhouette was larger than their own bodies (bias) but not on the ability to accurately discriminate among silhouettes (sensitivity). Among self-concept measures, overall actual: ideal self-discrepancy was the best predictor of subjects' biases in estimating their own body sizes.

KEYWORDS: Body size; Body shape


Striegel-Moore, R. H., Tucker, N., & Hsu, J. (1990). Body image dissatisfaction and disordered eating in lesbian college students. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 9(5), 493-500.

ABSTRACT: The study employed 30 lesbian and 52 heterosexual female undergraduates to complete the Body Esteem Scale and the Eating Disorder Inventory. The results indicated that lesbians had lower self-esteem, more ineffectiveness, more interpersonal distrust, and more difficulties in identifying their own emotions than did heterosexuals.

KEYWORDS: Body esteem; Body image; Appetite-disorders; Lesbianism


Taylor-Grant, G. (1981). The female zone and problems of pelvic floor sag. London: Roberts.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Generative organs


Thomas, C. D. (1991). Stable vs unstable weight history, body image, and weight concern in women of average body weight. Psychological Reports, 68(2), 491-499.

ABSTRACT: The study examined the effect of unstable weight history (WH) on current body image perceptions among 15 female undergraduates with stable WHs, 15 whose lowest weights were 15% or more below their current weight, and 15 whose highest weights were 15% or more above current weight. Compared with subjects who had stable WHs, subjects with unstable WHs indicated greater dissatisfaction with the size and shape of their bodies, expressed more negative body attitudes, and reported increased concern about weight.

KEYWORDS: Body image; Body weight


Thomas, C. D., & Freeman, R. J. (1991). Body image marking: Validity of body width estimates as operational measures of body image. Behavior Modification, 15(2), 261-270.

ABSTRACT: The study examined the relation of image marking estimates of body width (IM) to actual widths, to other indices of body size perception, and to measures of body satisfaction using data obtained in a nonclinical sample of 200 women. Findings indicated that the variance in IM estimates remaining after actual width was accounted for was not meaningfully related to other body-image indices. Thus, the study concluded that most of the variance in IM estimates is error variance.

KEYWORDS: Body size; Body image; Body satisfaction


Thompson, J. K. (1986, April). Larger than life. Psychology Today, 20, 38-39.

ABSTRACT: A total of 100 women free of eating disorders were asked to approximate the size of at least 4 parts of their own bodies (cheeks, waist, hips, and thighs). Results show that more than 95% overestimated their body size on average one-fourth larger than actuality. When 30 men and 30 women were studied, it was found that women overestimated more than men on overall measurements.

KEYWORDS: Body size


Thompson, J. K. (1986, April). Larger than life. Psychology Today, 20, 38-39.

ABSTRACT: A total of 100 women free of eating disorders were asked to approximate the size of at least 4 parts of their own bodies (cheeks, waist, hips, and thighs). Results show that more than 95% overestimated their body size on average one-fourth larger than actuality. When 30 men and 30 women were studied, it was found that women overestimated more than men on overall measurements.

KEYWORDS: Body size


Thompson, J. K. (1995). Assessment of body image. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications, Inc.

ABSTRACT: The content representation focuses on the assessment of the multiple forms of body image to provide an overview of delineation of assessment methodologies, including an exploration of specific measures for each component of body image disturbance and information for obtaining many of the measures of size, shape, weight, and appearance satisfaction; etc.

KEYWORDS: Body image


Thompson, M. A., & Gray, J. J. (1995). Development and validation of a new body image assessment scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 64(2), 258-269.

ABSTRACT: The study explored the development and validation of the Contour Drawing Rating Scale (CDRS) as a new body image assessment tool consisting of nine male and nine female contour drawings. The drawings were designed with detailed features of precisely graduated sizes at the waist for accurate upper and lower body comparisons. 51 female undergraduates (aged 18-23 yrs) were recruited to select the contour drawings they perceived as depicting their current body size. Results support the continued use of the CDRS as a measure of body size perception.

KEYWORDS: Body size


Tonguch, I. (1992). The female body image in North American literature. Senior honors thesis. Waltham, Massachusetts: Brandeis University.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image


Torreta, D. M. (1968). Somesthetic perception of clothing fabrics in relation to body image and psychological security. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Utah State University.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Clothing and dress


Tucker, L. A. (1985). Dimensionality and factor satisfaction of the body image construct: A gender comparison. Sex Roles, 12(9-10), 931-937.

ABSTRACT: The study administered the Body Cathexis Scale to 160 undergraduate females. Analysis extracted four orthogonal factors: (1) Physical Skills and Fitness, (2) Face and Overall Appearance, (3) Miscellaneous Items, and (4) Weight and Lower Body. Subjects reported the most satisfaction on the second dimension and the least satisfaction on the fourth axis. Gender differences using previous results from male subjects indicated that females perceived facial features and lower bodies as more significant than did males.

KEYWORDS: Body cathexis; Body image


Tufnell, M. (1990). Body space image: Notes towards improvisation and performance. London: Virago.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Improvisation (acting); Experimental performing arts


Tung, M. P.-m. (1979). Symbolic meaning of the body in Chinese culture: A psycholinguistic inquiry. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of California, Berkeley.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Psycholinguistics


Ujiki, J. E. (1981). Weight, body image, and restraint. Unpublished master's thesis, California State University, Chico.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Self-perception; Obesity


Van-Kampen, J., & Hundleby, J. D. (1994). An investigation of the associations between augmenting-reducing, reactivity, sensation seeking and body image. Personality and Individual Differences, 16(3), 373-377.

ABSTRACT: This study replicated previous research (C. Davis, et al.) in the areas of augmenting-reducing, sensation seeking, and reactivity and examined the relation between these constructs and errors in body size estimation. A total of 80 female undergraduates estimated the width of their body parts (head, shoulders, waist, and hips), completed the Sensation Seeking and Reactivity Scales, and performed a series of measurements on the kinaesthetic after effect task. Correlations revealed no association between the measures, with the exception of one significant negative relationship between errors in waist estimations and the Reactivity Scale.

KEYWORDS: Body size; Body image


Wallace, K. M. (1978). Body image of women athletes and non-athletes. Unpublished master's thesis, Colorado State University, Fort Collins.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Women athletes


Wardle, J., & Foley, E. (1989). Body image: Stability and sensitivity of body satisfaction and body size estimation. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 8(1), 55-62.

ABSTRACT: The study assessed body size estimation, body satisfaction, and feeling fat before and after meals on 2 occasions, in a repeated measures design, among 20 normal weight. A consistently negative self-appraisal was identified, including low satisfaction, feeling fat, and overestimation of body size. Body image was more negative in restrained than unrestrained eaters and become more negative after eating.

KEYWORDS: Body weight; Body image; Body satisfaction; Body size estimation


Warsh, A. (1989). Body image disturbance in anorexia nervosa: Beyond body image. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 34(9), 898-905.

ABSTRACT: The study tested the hypotheses that body size estimation (BSO) in anorexia nervosa (AN) may be related to the presence of different subgroups among anorexia and different types of body image (BI) disturbance. Results indicated that not all anorexics overestimate their body size. BSO is more likely known as a function of a general perceptual/cognitive disorder.

KEYWORDS: Body size; Body image


Watts, R. H. J. (1995). Self-image disparities and extroversion: A comparison of idiographic and uniform measures of self-concept. College of William and Mary.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Self-image; Self-concept


Wiles, R. (1994). I'm not fat, I'm pregnant: The impact of pregnancy on fat women's body image. London: Taylor & Francis.

ABSTRACT: The research focuses on women's physical appearance changes during pregnancy, and that they are viewed differently during the time. The research was designed to discover how women experience being fat and the impact of pregnancy and childbirth; focusing on women's subjective feelings and experiences about their weight

KEYWORDS: Body image; Weight perception; Obesity


Williams, A. A. (1974). Fit of clothing related to body image, body build, and selected clothing attitudes. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of North Carolina, Greensboro.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Somatotypes; Clothing and dress


Williamson, D. A., Davis, C. J., Bennett, S. M., & Goreczny, A. J. (1989). Development of a simple procedure for assessing body image disturbances. Behavioral Assessment, 11(4), 433-446.

ABSTRACT: The study evaluated the reliability and validity of the Body Image Assessment (BIA), a measure designed to assess body image disturbances. Normative data were presented as a function of actual body size so that raw scores could be interpreted in terms of standardized scores.

KEYWORDS: Body size


Williamson, D. A., Davis, C. J., & Goreczny, A. J. (1989). Body image disturbances in bulimia nervosa: Influences of actual body size. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 98(1), 97-99.

ABSTRACT: The study evaluated body image distortion and ideal body size preferences in 423 nonbulimic women and 108 bulimics. Weight was used as a covariate to evaluate the influence of actual body size on perception of current body size and selection of ideal body size. Results suggest that body image distortion and extreme preference for thinness are fundamental characteristic of bulimia nervosa.

KEYWORDS: Body size; Body image; Bulimia Nervosa


Zelandais, L. I. (1994). Body craft: Creating the body you want while loving the body you have. Sacramento, California: Anti-Gravity Press.

ABSTRACT: (None)

KEYWORDS: Body image; Weight loss; Physical fitness