Examining effects of race and ethnic identity on body dissatisfaction following media exposure of thin and curvy body ideals.

Abstract

This study examined moderating effects of race and ethnic identity on associations between thin and curvy media exposure and body dissatisfaction in a community sample of Black and white women. Participants (n = 200 white, n = 199 Black) completed a pre-exposure measure of ethnic identity and pre-post measure of body satisfaction (where lower scores indicate dissatisfaction) after randomization to thin or curvy body ideal conditions. Black women endorsed higher pre-exposure ethnic identity than white women but did not differ in level of body dissatisfaction. Moderated-moderation analysis indicated no effect of race nor a conditional effect of ethnic identity on race. Only the thin but not curvy condition was related to greater body dissatisfaction from pre-exposure (M = 3.00, SD =.78) to post-exposure (M = 2.96, SD =.79), t(199) = 2.67, p =.008, d = .19. Findings support growing research suggesting differences in body ideal pressures and associated body dissatisfaction may be less pronounced between Black and white women than in previous decades. Findings have implications for sociocultural models of body dissatisfaction across racial groups and the hypothesis that ethnic identity may prime or buffer certain body ideals.