Body Size Stigmatization in Preschool Children: The Role of Control Attributions

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1-2004

Journal / Book Title

Journal of Pediatric Psychology

Abstract

Objective: The current study assessed preschool-age children's control attributions for weight and the relationship of these attributions to attitudes and behavioral intentions toward children of different body sizes. Methods: Forty-two children (mean age = 5.2 years) were interviewed about the adjectives they attributed to figures of different sizes, their preference for size in playmates, and their beliefs about children's ability to control their own weight. Results: Adjective ratings for obese figures were the most negative, with no differences found for thin and average figures; the heaviest figure was also chosen less often than other figures to be a playmate. Internal attributions of control for weight were related to less positive adjective ratings for the heavier figure but not to children's friendship selections. Conclusion: Results suggest that the relationship between body size stigmatization and control attributions are consistent with attribution theory for young children. Practical implications of these results and possible interventions are discussed.

DOI

10.1093/jpepsy/jsh063

Published Citation

Dara R. Musher-Eizenman, Shayla C. Holub, Amy Barnhart Miller, Sara E. Goldstein, Laura Edwards-Leeper, Body Size Stigmatization in Preschool Children: The Role of Control Attributions, Journal of Pediatric Psychology, Volume 29, Issue 8, December 2004, Pages 613–620, https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsh063

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