Weight-Influenced Self-Esteem, Body Comparisons and Body Satisfaction: Findings among Women from The Netherlands and Curacao

Abstract

The present study examined young women's weight-influenced self-esteem (WISE) in response to imagined weight gain and weight loss, and its relations to body satisfaction, body comparisons and global self-esteem. Young women from two different regions, that is, from the north of The Netherlands (n=157) and from the Willemstad area (the capital of Curacao; n=162), completed a questionnaire. It was expected that Dutch women would show lower self-esteem in response to imagined weight gain than women from Curacao, and that self-esteem in response to imagined weight gain would be negatively related to general self-esteem and body satisfaction, and more so among Dutch women than among Curacaoan women. Finally, it was expected that body comparisons would be predictive of lower self-esteem in response to imagined weight gain. As expected Dutch women showed lower self-esteem in response to imagined weight gain than Curacaoan women. Moreover, findings showed that among Curacaoan women self-esteem in response to imagined weight gain was not related to general self-esteem or body satisfaction and that body comparisons were less predictive of lowered self-esteem in response to imagined weight gain than among Dutch women. Findings are discussed in light of cultural differences in ideal body shape and the supportiveness of women's social networks.

Influence of obesity prevalence on social norms and weight control motivation: a cross-sectional comparison of the Netherlands and the UK

“…However, both are high-income, Westernised countries with a cultural preference for slim body sizes (Dijkstra, Barelds, & van Brummen-Girigori, 2015), which would inform…”