EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COMPETITIVENESS AND BODY DISSATISFACTION IN AFRICAN AMERICAN AND CAUCASIAN WOMEN

To investigate the relationship between body dissatisfaction and dieting peer competitiveness, general competitiveness, and ethnic identity among African American and Caucasian women, online survey data from 165 African American and 178 Caucasian participants were analyzed. Two measures of body dissatisfaction were used, one focusing on the size and shape of specific body parts and one broadening the definition of body dissatisfaction to include variables that have been found to be important in body image of African American women, such as skin complexion, hair texture, and body proportion. Analysis of covariance tests were conducted to assess the effect of race/ethnicity on body dissatisfaction scores while controlling for age, body mass index, household income, number of children, self-esteem, and depression. Caucasian participants had significantly higher adjusted mean scores for body dissatisfaction than African American participants on both measures (Caucasian adj M = 1.431, African American adj M = 1.065; adj M = 1.431, African American adj M = 1.00). Dieting peer competitiveness was a significant predictor of both types of body dissatisfaction for all participants (F(1, 282) = 35.846, p < .01); (F(1, 277) = 67.420, p < .01)). General competitiveness scores were not a significant predictor of either type of body dissatisfaction for all participants (F(1, 276) = .001, p > .05); (F(1, 272) = .485, p > .05)). Ethnic identity was a significant predictor of body dissatisfaction as measured by the broader construct ((F(1, 267) = 6.631, p < .05); (F(1, 257) = .5.140, p < .05)) but not for body dissatisfaction as defined as shape and size of particular body parts ((F(1, 261) = .443, p > .05); (F(1, 256) = .002, p > .05)). Racial/ethnic differences in body dissatisfaction were found among women ranging in age from 18 to 73 years old. Peer competitiveness focused on body image and eating behaviors was related to body dissatisfaction for African American and Caucasian women while general competitiveness scores were not, adding support to Social Comparison Theory. Ethnic Identity was also found to be related to a broader definition of body dissatisfaction, which included skin complexion and hair texture.