Asian Body Image Satisfaction: Ethnic and Gender Differences across Chinese, Indo-Asian, and European-Descent Students

Abstract

This study extends previous research on ethnocultural differences in body image satisfaction by comparing two distinct Asian groups with a European descent group (N = 1471). Canadian undergraduates completed self-report body image measures. Participants descended from China reported the lowest levels of body satisfaction. Body satisfaction of participants descended from Indo-Asia was the next lowest, significantly lower than their European descent counterparts. The body satisfaction of women was lower than that of men across all groups and all participants expressed a desire to be thinner. The results suggest that one cannot generalize across Asian populations, as there may be significant differences between various ethnic minority groups.

A Cross-Cultural Study Investigating Body Features Associated With Male Adolescents’ Body Dissatisfaction in Australia, China, and Malaysia

“…Evidence of dissatisfaction with facial attractiveness has been reported for young adult Asian males in one study conducted in Canada by Kennedy et al (2004). In this study, male and female Chinese undergraduate students both reported lower satisfaction with facial attractiveness than with other parts of the body as measured by the body image subscale of the Derogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory (Derogatis, 1978).…”

Body dissatisfaction among Iranian youth and adults

“…Women are more prone to experiencing body dissatisfaction than men 6 . Researches have been conducted that suggest that the majority of women are dissatisfied with their body 6 . In this study, their body dissatisfaction had significant difference in relation to men's.…”

“…In recent years, however, the emphasis on fitness has become more prevalent among other societies as well as Western cultures 6,7,8,9,10 . Messages in Western media regarding attractive and ideal body types may be a cause of body dissatisfaction 11 .…”

The clinical profile of patients with anorexia nervosa in Singapore: a follow‑up descriptive study

“…(4,7) This is supported by the increasing number of reports on eating disorders occurring in Asia, a region where eating disorders were previously thought to be rare. (8) Although the prevalence rate of eating disorders in Asia is still lower than that in the West, (8,9) studies have found that Southeast Asian individuals exhibit lower levels of body satisfaction, (10) greater eating disorder psychopathology and greater concerns about their weight as compared to their Western counterparts. (11,12) Kok and Tian reported that Singaporean adolescents exhibited greater levels of body dissatisfaction and a higher drive for thinness as compared to American undergraduate students.…”