Year: 2008
Type: article
Abstract: support if family and friends follow society's lead and view weight as controllable.This dissertation seeks to assess the impact of weight-related stigma on mental health and the buffering properties of perceived emotional social support for perceived stigma.Further, the meditational effects of instrumental social support in the relationship between stigma and health, as well as the impact of weight controllability on perceived social support, will be examined.In the introduction that follows, I will define stigma, review the literature pertaining to stigma's impact on mental and physical health, discuss the potential moderators of this relationship, and introduce the concept of weight controllability.I will review the literature pertaining to the impact of weight controllability perceptions on hypothetical support provided, and discuss its potential generalizability with family and friends.Finally, all hypotheses and a brief description of sample characteristics and statistics utilized will be presented. Definition of StigmaA stigmatized individual possesses, or is perceived to possess an attribute, or set of attributes that marks them as different and leads them to be devalued by others through the use of negative evaluations and stereotypes (Crocker, Major & Steele, 1999;Major & O'Brien, 2005).In other words, the stigmatized individual has a "mark" that distinguishes them from "normal" society and the person is seen as less than human (Dovidio, Major & Crocker, 2000).Goffman (1963) states a person with a stigmatizing mark is seen as "spoiled" or flawed.Each stigma carries with it a set of stereotypes and characteristics thought to be associated with the stigma.For example, skin color is an attribute that, for some, carries
Author: Melanie Ann Tabak
Institution: Kent State University
Language: English
Topic: Obesity and Health Practices
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W380749400