Natalie J. Sabik

Do Feminist Identity Styles Moderate the Relation Between Perceived Sexist Events and Disordered Eating

Feminist consciousness is theorized to be a powerful resource against the detrimental effects of sexism. The present study examined whether feminist identity styles moderated the relation of perceived lifetime and recent sexist events to disordered eating for 256 college women. Using hierarchical moderated regression, we found two styles of feminist identity (i.e., synthesis and active commitment) buffered the relation between perceived sexist events and disordered eating; the three remaining styles of feminist identity did not moderate this relationship. For women low on synthesis and active commitment, both perceived lifetime and recent sexist events positively predicted disordered eating. In contrast, for women high on synthesis and active commitment, neither perceived lifetime nor recent sexist events predicted disordered eating. Our results substantiate extant theory that sexist events contribute more to the psychological distress of nonfeminist women than of feminist women.

ARE ALL MINORITY WOMEN EQUALLY BUFFERED FROM NEGATIVE BODY IMAGE? INTRA-ETHNIC MODERATORS OF THE BUFFERING HYPOTHESIS

Body dissatisfaction is normative among European American women, and involvement with predominant culture or linking self-worth to weight may intensify the association between body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness for women of color. Our study investigated whether orientation to other ethnic groups (Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure) and weight-based contingency of self-worth moderate the relationship between body satisfaction and drive for thinness (Eating Disorder Inventory) among college-age African American, Asian American, and European American women. Survey responses from undergraduates (N = 905) were collected, and multiple regression analyses showed that, for African Americans, appearance esteem was positively associated with drive for thinness among those who defined their self-worth as contingent on weight or who identified with ethnic outgroups. Appearance esteem was independently associated with drive for thinness among Asian Americans and European Americans, but no moderation was found. European American women who define self-worth as contingent on weight were higher in drive for thinness, regardless of their body mass index or appearance esteem. Identifying the mechanisms through which some women may be at risk for internalizing restrictive body ideals is key for understanding experiences of the body for diverse women.

Associations Between Femininity and Women's Political Behavior During Midlife

The contention that femininity makes women unsuited for political participation has roots in feminist theory and political science. This study investigated whether the desirable and undesirable dimensions of femininity, corresponding to Feminine Interpersonal Relations (FIR: warmth, nurturance, and interpersonal appeal) and Feminine Self-Doubt (FSD: submissiveness, self-doubt, anxiety, and passivity), have independent and interactive effects on Black and White womens political efficacy and participation. Using questionnaires administered to alumnae of the college classes of 1967–73 in 1992 and 2008, coders assessed femininity variables at Time 1 when participants were in their 40s using items from the California Q-Set. Political variables were assessed at Time 1 and when the participants were in their early 60s. In general, FIR was associated with greater participation and efficacy, both directly and in interaction with low FSD, and FSD was associated with lower efficacy scores. Specifically, at Time 1, women rated high on FIR and low in FSD were highest on political efficacy; those high in both types of femininity scored lowest. At Time 2, among women high in FIR, low FSD was associated with enhanced levels of participation; however, among those low in FIR, FSD was unrelated to participation. Results are discussed in light of womens midlife development and Black womens gender socialization. Recognition of the role of feminine qualities such as warmth, social skill, and compassion in political work could encourage women endorsing feminist beliefs to act politically.

Perceived Appearance Judgments Moderate the Biological Stress Effects of Social Exchanges

Social relationships are generally thought of as beneficial. However, the present study set out to test the hypothesis that for individuals who perceive others to judge their appearance negatively, daily social interactions can also be a source of stress. Indeed when assessing 38 young adults, we found that both more incidences of negative exchanges reported during the past month as well as perceived negative appearance judgments by others were associated with more self-reported stress. Interestingly, however, for individuals with low attribution body esteem, higher numbers of positive social exchanges during the past month were related to health-relevant changes in biological markers of chronic stress as well. The same was true for individuals with high attribution body esteem who reported to experience only very few positive exchanges. As such, these findings go beyond the initial focus on low body esteem and negative social exchanges and introduce high body esteem as well as daily positive exchanges as potential health risk factors.

Functional Limitations, Body Perceptions, and Health Outcomes Among Older African American Women.

OBJECTIVES African American women experience greater difficulties in physical function and disproportionately higher rates of obesity compared to other racial-ethnic gender groups; however, positive body perceptions may buffer against negative psychological and health-related outcomes associated with functional decline. METHOD Associations among satisfaction with and importance placed on body shape and function, body mass index (BMI), physical function, general health, pain, and emotional well-being were assessed among an urban-dwelling, community-based sample of African American women ages 65 and older (n = 111). RESULTS Higher BMI was associated with worse health and physical function and lower satisfaction with body shape and function. Body perceptions moderated the association between physical function and 2 health-relevant outcomes: pain and emotional well-being. Women who were functioning well and reported high importance of body shape and function demonstrated the lowest levels of pain and highest levels of emotional well-being, and women low in physical functioning who were low in satisfaction with body shape and function had the highest levels of pain. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide evidence that there is significant variation among African American women and risk for negative health outcomes, particularly for women with varying perceptions of body functionality and body satisfaction. (PsycINFO Database Record

What Aspects of Rural Life Contribute to Rural-Urban Health Disparities in Older Adults? Evidence From a National Survey: Rurality Measurements and Health Disparities

PURPOSE Rural-urban health disparities are well-documented and particularly problematic for older adults. However, determining which specific aspects of rural or urban living initiate these disparities remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to assess associations between place-based characteristics of rural-urban status and health among adults age 65+. METHODS Data from the 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were geographically linked to place-based characteristics from the American Community Survey. Self-reported health (SRH), obesity, and health checkup within the last year were modeled against rural-urban status (distance to nearest metropolitan area, population size, population density, percent urban, Urban Influence Codes [UIC], Rural-Urban Continuum Codes [RUCC], and Rural-Urban Commuting Area [RUCA]) using generalized linear models, accounting for covariates and complex sampling, overall, and stratified by area-level income. FINDINGS In general, increasing urbanicity was associated with a reduction in negative SRH for all 7 measures of rural-urban status. For low-income counties, this association held for all measures and characteristics of rural-urban status except population density. However, for high-income counties, the association was reversed-respondents living in areas of increasing urbanicity were more likely to report negative SRH for 4 of the 7 measures (RUCC, UIC, RUCA, and percent urban). Findings were mixed for the outcome of obesity, where rural areas had higher levels, except in low-income counties, where the association between rurality and obesity was reversed (OR 1.033, 95%CI: 1.002-1.064). CONCLUSION These results suggest that rural-urban status is both a continuum and multidimensional. Distinct elements of rural-urban status may influence health in nuanced ways that require additional exploration in future studies.

Is social engagement linked to body image and depression among aging women

ABSTRACT Maintaining an active and engaged social life is a critical component of aging well, and women are generally more socially active than men. However, as women age their self-perceptions of their bodies may reduce social behaviors and consequently, increase depressive symptoms. Because little is known about how body image is associated with social engagement and depressive symptoms among aging women, four aspects of body image: satisfaction with cosmetic features, body function, physical appearance, and weight were assessed among women aged 65 and older (n = 123). Regression analyses indicated that cosmetic appearance, body function, and physical appearance were associated with depressive symptoms, whereas satisfaction with weight was unrelated. Further, both greater satisfaction with cosmetic features and body function were associated with higher levels of social engagement, and social engagement mediated the association between these aspects of body satisfaction and depressive symptoms. The findings indicate that specific age-relevant aspects of body satisfaction are linked to social behavior and depression among aging women, and reduced body satisfaction may lead to lower social engagement, and consequently aging women’s health and well-being may be diminished.

Digging Deeper: Research Practices and Recommendations for Exploring Intersectionality and Social and Cultural Influences on Personality, Identity, and Well-Being

This chapter integrates theoretical and empirical feminist work in order to assist personality researchers in exploring the psychosocial processes that shape personality, identity, and experience. First, I suggest that researchers theorize why patterns specific to particular social groups may occur. Second, I suggest that researchers must carefully consider who is included in the population they are studying and should attend to heterogeneity within these groups. Drawing on intersectionality as a theoretical framework, I suggest exploring individual, structural, and cultural factors that may account for variation both between individuals within a social group as well as between groups. This approach provides rich and detailed information that may be otherwise overlooked. I highlight three strategies that have the potential to assist psychologists in examining patterns of gender and identity among diverse groups and I illustrate these suggestions by drawing on examples from the literatures on aging, race/ethnicity, body image, and biopsychology. Together, these approaches can assist personality psychologists in fully articulating and investigating differences in their own right and emphasize the need to investigate how experiences of gender and other social categories shape and influence individual’s personality and well-being.