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. 2016 Mar 1:63:69-76.
doi: 10.1016/j.jesp.2015.12.003.

Unpacking the psychological weight of weight stigma: A rejection-expectation pathway

Alison Blodorn  1 , Brenda Major  1 , Jeffrey Hunger  1 , Carol Miller  2
Affiliations

Unpacking the psychological weight of weight stigma: A rejection-expectation pathway

Alison Blodorn et al. J Exp Soc Psychol. .

Abstract

The present research tested the hypothesis that the negative effects of weight stigma among higher body-weight individuals are mediated by expectations of social rejection. Women and men who varied in objective body-weight (body mass index; BMI) gave a speech describing why they would make a good date. Half believed that a potential dating partner would see a videotape of their speech (weight seen) and half believed that a potential dating partner would listen to an audiotape of their speech (weight unseen). Among women, but not men, higher body-weight predicted increased expectations of social rejection, decreased executive control resources, decreased self-esteem, increased self-conscious emotions and behavioral displays of self-consciousness when weight was seen but not when weight was unseen. As predicted, higher body-weight women reported increased expectations of social rejection when weight was seen (versus unseen), which in turn predicted decreased self-esteem, increased self-conscious emotions, and increased stress. In contrast, lower body-weight women reported decreased expectations of social rejection when weight was seen (versus unseen), which in turn predicted increased self-esteem, decreased self-conscious emotions, and decreased stress. Men's responses were largely unaffected by body-weight or visibility, suggesting that a dating context may not be identity threatening for higher body-weight men. Overall, the present research illuminates a rejection-expectation pathway by which weight stigma undermines higher body-weight women's health.

Keywords: gender; obesity; social identity threat; social rejection; weight stigma.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Interaction between condition and BMI predicting rejection expectations among women.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Interaction between condition and BMI predicting Stroop performance among women. Note that higher scores indicate greater Stroop interference (i.e., reduced executive functioning).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Interaction between condition and BMI predicting state self-esteem among women.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Interaction between condition and BMI predicting self-conscious emotions among women.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Interaction between condition and BMI predicting ratings of self-consciousness among women.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Interaction between condition and BMI predicting ratings of anxiety among women and men.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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