Cultural perceptions of weight in African American and Caucasian women

Am J Health Behav. 2013 Jan;37(1):3-13. doi: 10.5993/AJHB.37.1.1.

Abstract

Objective: To determine if African American (AA) and Caucasian women grouped variables related to race and weight into discrete clusters and if there were discernable response patterns with unique subgroup characteristics.

Methods: Women (N=277, 48% AA) completed a card sorting task, ranking 28 variables. We used multidimensional scaling to determine perceived similarities and differences between variables, and latent class analysis to identify subgroups responding similarly.

Results: We identified 5 clusters of variables and 4 response patterns, which were demographically and anthropometrically distinct.

Conclusions: These results can be used for empirical cultural tailoring of behavioral weight loss interventions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Black or African American / psychology*
  • Body Height
  • Body Mass Index
  • Body Weight*
  • Cross-Cultural Comparison*
  • Cultural Characteristics*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Psychomotor Performance
  • Social Perception*
  • White People / psychology*
  • Women / psychology*