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The Relationship between Direct and Indirect Contact and Weight Bias

Koball, Afton Marie
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1369329329

Abstract Details

2013, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, Psychology/Clinical.
Despite a current obesity epidemic in the U.S. (Ogden, Carroll, McDowell, & Flegal, 2007), negative attitudes toward overweight and obese individuals have been increasing (Brownell, Schwartz, Puhl, and Rudd, 2005). Interventions aimed at reducing anti-fat attitudes have produced mixed results. One approach that has successfully reduced prejudiced attitudes toward discriminated individuals is intergroup contact, which include direct contact, (i.e., actual contact between outgroup members), imagined contact (i.e., imagined contact between outgroup members), and vicarious contact (i.e., viewing of contact between members of different groups). Despite its success with other forms of bias reduction, intergroup contact has not been examined with regard to weight stigma. The current study examined whether and how various forms of intergroup contact can reduce explicit weight bias among normal weight participants (BMI > 18.5 and < 25). Results indicated that, in the direct contact condition, participants evidenced reduced explicit weight bias and increased behavioral intentions to engage with obese persons. In terms of mechanisms by which bias was reduced, intergroup anxiety and perception of ingroup norms (i.e., how one feels others in their ingroup view outgroup members) was found to differentially mediate the relationship between the direct contact condition and explicit weight, and behavioral intentions. This study highlights the potential importance of positive, meaningful contact between people of different body sizes in reducing negative attitudes and stereotypes about overweight.
Robert Carels, PhD (Advisor)
Dara Musher-Eizenman, PhD (Committee Member)
William OBrien, PhD (Committee Member)
Vipaport Phuntumart, PhD (Committee Member)
117 p.
Psychology
Weight Bias

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Koball, A. M. (2013). The Relationship between Direct and Indirect Contact and Weight Bias [Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1369329329

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Koball, Afton. The Relationship between Direct and Indirect Contact and Weight Bias. 2013. Bowling Green State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1369329329.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Koball, Afton. "The Relationship between Direct and Indirect Contact and Weight Bias." Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1369329329

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1369329329
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© 2013, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.