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Extant literature has explored the relationship between weight bias (WB) attitudes and sexual assault scenarios on perceptions of survivor and perpetrator responsibility, sympathy, and negative affect. While some studies support negative attitudes toward survivors of sexual assault as a result of having thin body types, other research displays a contradicting effect of victim-blaming attitudes toward heavier survivors. The current investigation examined the influences of survivor weight and sexual assault scenario ambiguity through four randomized vignettes. Further, the effect of participant gender and weight bias attitudes on perceptions of survivor and perpetrator responsibility, sympathy, and negative affect were evaluated. Participants (N = 396) were drawn from introductory psychology classes and received extra credit for participation. Participants completed measures of weight bias and answered questions related to their perceptions of a sexual assault vignette (i.e., thin vs. heavy survivor; ambiguous vs. unambiguous sexual assault scenario). Effects for participant gender, weight bias, and sexual assault ambiguity were evident. Interaction effects of participant gender with sexual assault ambiguity and weight bias with sexual assault ambiguity were also evident. These results indicate that as sexual assault scenarios increase in ambiguity, men (in comparison to women) and individuals high in weight bias tend to rate survivors more negatively and perpetrators more favorably.

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This study examined the impact of weight bias on heterosexual and sexual minority men and women’s dating and hiring preferences and personality trait attributions. The sample consisted of sexual minority and heterosexual men and women. Participants (N = 977) were drawn from introductory psychology classes and a variety of supplemental recruitment platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, MTurk, etc.). Because of modest numbers of bisexual men, pansexual individuals, and other sexualities, only lesbian women 7.9% (N = 77), gay men 7.8% (N = 76), bisexual women 15.3% (N = 146), heterosexual men 20.1% (N = 197), and heterosexual women 49.2% (N = 481) were examined. Participants completed questions online related to dating and hiring preferences and personality trait attributions after reading brief vignettes of a potential romantic interaction or hiring situation accompanied by a picture (thinner or heavier man or woman). Participants were randomly assigned to see one of each weight condition (thin or heavy dating or hiring scenario) by the end of the survey. Findings indicated that the impact of weight bias on potential dating and hiring preferences and personality trait attributions differed greatly by heterosexual and sexual minority group status. Group differences were more evident for dating than hiring scenarios. Weight bias was strongest among heterosexual participants and gay men and weakest or nonexistent among lesbian and bisexual women. These results indicate a potential significant negative impact of weight bias among gay men and a much lower potential effect among sexual minority women.