Public Health Messages and Weight-Related Beliefs: Implications for Well-Being and Stigma

Abstract

Across two studies, we examined the double-edged sword hypothesis, which outlines effects of weight-related beliefs and public health messages on physical and mental health. The double-edged sword hypothesis proposes that growth mindsets and messages (weight is changeable) predict reduced well-being and stigma via an increase in blame, but also predict greater well-being via an increase in efficacy and less stigma via a reduction in essentialist thinking. We tested this model in a correlational study (N = 311) and in an experimental study, randomly assigning participants (N = 392) to different weight-based public health messages. In Study 1, growth mindsets predicted greater onset blame and more offset efficacy. Blame did not predict any of the outcomes. However, offset efficacy predicted reduced risk for eating disorders, fewer unhealthy weight control behaviors, and less psychological distress. And, growth mindsets had a negative indirect effect on outcomes. In Study 2, we experimentally demonstrated that a changeable message about the nature of weight, designed to also reduce blame, indirectly decreased eating disorder risk, unhealthy weight control behaviors, body shame, and prejudice through increased offset efficacy and decreased social essentialism. This work contributes to our theoretical understanding of the psychological consequences of weight beliefs and messages on well-being and stigma.

Stigmatization of ‘gay‐sounding’ voices: The role of heterosexual, lesbian, and gay individuals’ essentialist beliefs

“…LG individuals may be aware that being perceived to sound LG can result in avoidance and discrimination (Fasoli et al, 2017), and thus expect to face stigma. Also, essentialist beliefs are related to stigma and self-efficacy (Hoyt, Burnette, Thomas, & Orvidas, 2019;, suggesting that beliefs could influence stigma management in the form of vigilance. Study 2 examined associations between LG expectations of rejection and vigilance on the one hand and their endorsement of voice essentialist beliefs and vocal self-perceptions on the other.…”

Growth Mindset Messaging in Stigma-Relevant Contexts: Harnessing Benefits Without Costs

“…A correlational study associated growth mindsets with both greater body shame through onset blame and less body shame through offset self-efficacy (Burnette et al, 2017). Additional studies showed weight-related indirect effects of efficacy on other outcomes including improving mental and physical health (Hoyt et al, 2019).…”

“…A compensatory message demonstrably can manipulate mindsets about the malleability of weight, without the harmful effect of blame on both body shame and antifat prejudice. Next, the scope of the investigation expanded to include physical and mental health as outcomes (Hoyt et al, 2019). Furthermore, to enhance ecological validity, the public health messages about weight focused on those often seen in the media.…”

Harnessing growth mindsets to help individuals flourish

“…Research in the domains of weight and addiction have demonstrated that compensatory growth mindset messaging can be effective. For example, compensatory messaging decreased eating disorder risk and unhealthy weight control behaviors (Hoyt et al, 2019) and improved intentions to engage in effective addiction therapies (Burnette et al, 2019). Similar work shows how coupling a growth mindset message with an understanding of situational constraints, rather than tethering it to the belief that failure is a result of languidness, can elicit empathy and support (Tullett & Plaks, 2016).…”

“…For example, individuals with stronger growth mindsets about the nature of people tend to attribute depression and anxiety not to their own nature but to situational factors (Seo et al, 2021). Overall, reducing blame-ridden attributions along with signaling an opportunity for future development and success can help to improve health (Hoyt et al, 2019).…”