Predictors of obesity bias among exercise science students.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate particular psychosocial predictors of obesity bias in prehealth professionals, which include the internalization of athletic and general body ideals, perceived media pressure and information, and achievement goal orientations. Exercise science undergraduate students (n= 242) filled out a survey containing questions of demographic characteristics, achievement goals, social-cultural attitudes toward appearance (using Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-3), and obesity bias measurements (using the antifat attitudes test and fat phobia scale). The results indicated that students were explicitly biased toward overweight and obese individuals, held had high task and ego goals, and had high internalization of an athletic body type ideal, as determined by mean scores being above the median values for each scale. Internalization of the athletic body type predicted obesity bias for fat phobia, weight control blame, and physical/romantic attractiveness. In conclusion, exercise science students may enter programs socialized from society and sport, and, potentially, these psychosocial attitudes and beliefs may have implications to working with future clients, especially for those of the general population and those whose body shape and size are different than themselves.

Validación argentina del Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-3 / Argentine validation of the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-3

En este estudio se presenta la adaptación y validación del Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-3 (SATAQ-3) en mujeres con y sin trastorno alimentario. La muestra incluyó 58 pacientes mujeres con trastorno alimentario y 237 mujeres estudiantes universitarias de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires (Argentina) de entre 18 y 34 años. En función de la presencia o ausencia de trastorno alimentario se formaron 2 grupos de comparación. Se halló que en ambos grupos la solución de 4 factores propuesta en la versión original de la escala es la más adecuada, excluyendo los ítems 19 y 20. La solución de 4 factores explica el 58% (mujeres con trastorno alimentario) y el 61% (mujeres sin trastorno alimentario) de la varianza total. El α de Cronbach de la escala total fue de 0.91 (mujeres con trastorno alimentario) y de 0.94 (mujeres sin trastorno alimentario). Asimismo, se observaron indicadores de validez concurrente y de constructo. En conclusión, la versión argentina del SATAQ-3 presentó indicadores adecuados de validez y consistencia interna, resultando un instrumento promisorio para la evaluación de diferentes dimensiones de las influencias socioculturales sobre la imagen corporal en mujeres con y sin trastorno alimentario.

In this study is presented the adaptation and validation of the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-3 (SATAQ-3) in women with and without eating disorders. The sample included 58 patients with eating disorders and 237 university students from Ciudad de Buenos Aires (Argentina), aged between 18 and 34. Two comparison groups were formed according to the presence or absence of eating disorders. In both groups, the four-factor solution proposed in the original version of the scale is the most appropriate (excluding items 19 and 20). This four-factor solution explained 58% (women with eating disorders) and 61% (women without eating disorders) of the total variance. Cronbach's α for the total scale was .91 (women with eating disorders) and .94 (women without eating disorders). Concurrent and construct validity were also evidenced. This study shows appropriate indicators of validity and internal consistency for the Argentine version of SATAQ-3. Therefore, it is a promising instrument for the assessment of different dimensions of sociocultural influence towards appearance among women with and without eating disorders.