Cross-cultural explanations of body image disturbance in western cultural samples

Objective: We replicated and extended the findings of S. M. Stormer and J. K. Thompson (1996), by comparing the relationships among body image disturb ance (BID) and teasing history, age of pubertal onset, societal pressures t o be thin, and appearance comparison, across three Western cultures. Method s: College females from the United States, Italy and England completed seve ral BID measures, as well as measures of the four predictors. Body mass lev els and self-esteem two known correlates of BID, were also examined. Data w ere analyzed using first standard, then hierarchical regression procedures. Results: This investigation essentially found no cultural differences in t he relationships among BID and its correlates for six of the seven criteria (BID) measures. Only one of the measures, the Figure Rating Scale (FRS), d istinguished across groups. Discussion: A lack of true cultural differences , or general similarities among university students, might explain these re sults. Nevertheless, these findings support the use of a Western cross-cult ural research model. (C) 2000 by JohnWiley & Sons, Inc.