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. 2008 Jul;4(3):220-31.
doi: 10.1111/j.1740-8709.2007.00133.x.

Body image perceptions in Western and post-communist countries: a cross-cultural pilot study of children and parents

Lenka Humenikova  1 , Gail E Gates
Affiliations

Body image perceptions in Western and post-communist countries: a cross-cultural pilot study of children and parents

Lenka Humenikova et al. Matern Child Nutr. 2008 Jul.

Abstract

The development of an unrealistic ideal body image and body size dissatisfaction among children is common in Western countries, including the USA and many European nations. However, little is known about children's body image perceptions in post-communist countries. This pilot study evaluated body image perceptions in a sample of Czech school-aged children and their parents and compared them with the perceptions of American children and parents. Ninety-seven Czech and 45 American 4th-6th graders and their parents from eight urban schools participated in this study. A previously developed silhouette body image instrument was utilized in a parent questionnaire and during child interviews to measure perceived and ideal body image perceptions of children and parents. Descriptive statistics, independent t-tests and paired t-tests were used to compare differences between children's and parents' perceived and ideal body image perceptions. Associations between body image perceptions and other variables were explored using bivariate correlations. American children had a thinner ideal body image compared with Czech children (P < 0.05). However, a larger proportion of Czech boys desired to be thinner compared with American boys (34.2% vs. 20%). Parent's ideal body image for their children did not differ by nationality (P = 0.858). While the pressure on children to look thinner was apparent among both American and Czech children, Czech children considered a larger body size as more ideal. A future study should evaluate body image perceptions and factors influencing these perceptions in a representative sample of Czech children and parents.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Silhouette body image instrument for boys and girls taken from Collins (1991). Source: Collins (1991) Copyright© 1991 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Reprinted with permission of John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Perceived and ideal body image perceptions of boys by nationality (mean ± standard deviation).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Perceived and ideal body image perceptions of girls by nationality (mean ± standard deviation).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Perceived and ideal body image perceptions of parents by nationality (mean ± standard deviation).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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