Weight bias, weight bias internalization and weight discrimination. Assessment and practical implications
[eng] Weight discrimination (WD) has existed for decades, and it is well spread in our societies. However, it has received less attention from authorities and society than other forms of discrimination. Being different and not fitting into what is socially desirable, is not pain-free. Many harmful p...
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| Tipo de recurso: | tesis doctoral |
| Estado: | Versión publicada |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2023 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universidad de Barcelona |
| Repositorio: | Dipòsit Digital de la UB |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:diposit.ub.edu:2445/208005 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/2445/208005 http://hdl.handle.net/10803/690156 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Obesitat Discriminació Autoconcepte Psicometria Prejudicis Obesity Discrimination Self-perception Psychometrics Prejudices |
| Sumario: | [eng] Weight discrimination (WD) has existed for decades, and it is well spread in our societies. However, it has received less attention from authorities and society than other forms of discrimination. Being different and not fitting into what is socially desirable, is not pain-free. Many harmful physical, psychological and social outcomes were reported in the WD context. This sort of discrimination is usually sustained on an array of stereotypes that lead to bias and stigmatization of people with non-normative weights and body shapes. Although people living with obesity are the ones who are usually on target, this sort of discrimination is getting extensible to all the Body Mass Index (BMI) spectrum. It is also common that those who face this discrimination apply to themselves negative stereotypes about weight, what is called Weight Bias Internalization (WBI). WBI has been linked to important psychological and physical disturbances. Hence, it is crucial to still research the reduction of weight bias, as well as work on the improvement of psychological adjustment of those who face WD. One of the main aims of this doctoral dissertation was to adapt into Spanish population the Modified Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS-M) and to overcome some limitations of the previous Spanish adaptation of the Anti-Fat Attitudes scale (AFA). Another aim was to assess the most effective coping strategies to reduce the psychological distress associated with weight-based discrimination. Moreover, another aim of this dissertation was to research which was the best predictor for psychological distress and body dissatisfaction among BMI, WD and WBI. Finally, the last aim was to test the mediating effect of body dissatisfaction, fear of gaining weight and weight bias internalization between WD and psychological distress. At the same time, the moderation of BMI and sex were included in the mediation analysis as an approach to assess intersectionality. Five studies were designed to achieve the main aims. All the studies were conducted using large samples including participants from all weight categories. Results from study I and study II revealed that the validation of the WBIS-M and the AFA showed excellent psychometric properties. Hence, they are suitable scales for clinical and research settings. In general, women and people with obesity reported higher WBI and less weight bias. On the other hand, men and people without excess weight reported higher negative attitudes toward obesity. Results from study III showed that no coping strategies were linked to psychological adjustment in people who faced WD. Nevertheless, coping strategies were linked to WBI. Regarding the results from study IV, WBI was the strongest significantly positive predictor of psychological distress, after controlling for BMI and WD (past and current experiences). In terms of study V, results evinced that people with obesity and women reported higher body dissatisfaction, fear of gaining weight, WBI and psychological distress. The results confirmed the serial mediation effect of body dissatisfaction, fear of gaining weight and WBI between WD and psychological distress. Nevertheless, the mediated effect of WBI was the strongest. In terms of interaction, WD and higher BMI were linked to higher WBI and WD and lower BMI were linked to higher psychological distress with small differences in different BMI values. The results are consistent with previous studies conducted with different samples regarding sociocultural aspects. WBI has to be considered as a therapeutic target to improve the psychological distress of all those who experience WD. Hence, more research on coping strategies and effective interventions to reduce WBI is urgently needed. Especially professionals working in weight management must be aware of clients’ WBI to reduce it. Additionally, implementing actions to reduce weight bias in the general population is urgent. Overall, the results highlighted the discrimination in terms of weight that people with obesity and women are constantly exposed. This seems to reflect the thin body-ideal that especially women are pressured to assume. At the same, the results also stress the inclination in terms of body ideals to idealize slimmer bodies than normal-weight ones, which seems to prove that beauty, rather than health, is gaining the war. Hence, a redefinition of beauty ideals is urgently needed. |
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