Perceived partner’s dissatisfaction with physical appearance and body image dissatisfaction : the moderating role of traditional attitudes toward gender role

Abstract

Body image dissatisfaction has become a major problem in recent years, with the dissatisfaction being associated with disturbances in normal psychological functioning and eating disorders including bulimia (Birbeck & Drummond, 2003). With the pervasiveness of body image dissatisfaction and the costs associated, our study examined variables potentially linked to body image dissatisfaction in Thai female adolescents. Specifically, whether perceived partner perception was associated with body image dissatisfaction and whether this examination was moderated by attitude towards traditional gender role was examined. One hundred Thai female undergraduates completed measuring set of measures of body image dissatisfaction, perceived partner perception and attitudes toward gender roles. Results revealed that the participants’ perception of their partner dissatisfaction with their physical appearance and their endorsement towards traditional gender role were significantly and positively associated with body image dissatisfaction (r = .25, p < .01 and r = .17, p =. 05, respectively). However, attitudes toward gender roles was not significant in moderating the association between perceived partner perception and body image dissatisfaction (β =-.84, p =. 395). Possible explanations for the findings were outlined in relation to the Thai collectivistic culture and methodological consideration.