Socio-Cultural Pressure, Social Comparison and the Notion of Obesity

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Fatemeh Golabi ¹
• Mohammad Bagher Alizadeh Aghdam ²
• Tavakkol Aghayari ³
• Akram Hobbi ⁴

¹ Associate Professor in Sociology. Department of Sociology, Faculty of law and Social Science, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

² Professor in Sociology, Department of Sociology, Faculty of law and Social Science, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

³ Associate Proffesor in Demography, Department of Sociology, Faculty of law and Social Science, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

⁴ PhD in Sociology of Economic ad Development, Department of Sociology, Faculty of law and Social Science, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

10.30495/jzvj.2021.4565

Abstract

The concept of obesity is the image that a person has of his body as obese and thin. In today's society, culturally and socially, there is a lot of emphasis on attractiveness and physical fitness. Social comparison and socio-cultural pressure to reach women and well-being in men have led to an increase in the perception of obesity and dissatisfaction among individuals. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between socio-cultural pressure and social comparison with the concept of obesity. The research is a cross-sectional study and the research method of this study is survey and its statistical population consists of men and women aged 64-20 years in Tabriz. Using Cochran's formula, the sample size is estimated to be 400 people. Sampling method is multi-stage cluster sampling.
Findings of research show that the variables of social comparison and social pressure are directly related to imagination. Also, the results of multivariate regression show that the variables of social comparison, socio-cultural pressure and gender can explain 38.5% of the imaginary variance. For Conclusion, Social and cultural factors affect the type of perception of people from their body and can affect their perception of their appearance.

Keywords

• Social Comparison
• Socio-Cultural Pressures
• Imagination of Obesity
• Gender

20.1001.1.20088566.1400.12.45.6.5

---

References

1. Richetin J, Xaiz, A, Maravitam A, Perugino M. Self-Body Recognition Depends on Implicit and Explicit Self-esteem. Body Image. 2012; 9(2): 253-260. [ Doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2011.11.002].
2. Momeni M, Ghorbani A, Hasandoost F. Predictors of Body image dissatisfaction among students of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences. Iranian Journal of Psychiatric Nursing. 2016;4, 1, 28-37. https://www.sid.ir/fa/journal/ViewPaper.aspx?id=268367
3. Brewis A, Hruchka  D.J , Wutich A. "Vulnerability to Fat-Stigma in Women’s Everyday Relationship", Journal of Social Science & Medicine.2011; 73,491-497. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.05.048]
4. Ghanee Ezzabadi F, Ghasemi V. Investigating the Phenomenon of Obesity Stigma among 15-44 Year old women in Yazd. Journal of Applied Sociology. 2017; 28( 3) (67), 41-60 . [Doi / 10.22108/JAS.2017.21439]
5. Schafer M.H, Feraro F.K. "The Stigma Of Obesity: Does Perceived Weight Discrimination Affect Identity And Physical Health?", Journal Of Social Psychology Quarterly. 2011; 74(1),76-97. [https://doi.org/10.1177/0190272511398197]
6. Haghighatian M, Kavezadeh A, KeyvanaraM. Social Factors Influencing Women’s Body Image (Case Study: Isfahan City. Journal of Applied Sociology. 2013;, 23(4), 53-66 .https://www.sid.ir/fa/journal/ViewPaper.aspx?id=189716
7. Zeighami Moradi Sh, Mojdeh, F. Correlation between Body Mass Index, Mental Image of Self Body and Depression among Women Visiting a Hospital Clinic in Karaj. Modern Care . 2012; 9(1), 40-48. https://www.sid.ir/fa/journal/ViewPaper.aspx?id=180362
8. Mohammadpour N, Pourmohammad R, Alizadeh Aghdam M,Abbaszadeh M. Sociological study The Effect of Western Values and Mass Media on the Body Image Studied: Women over 15 years of age in Tabriz. Applied Sociology. 2015; 25(1), 85-100. https://www.sid.ir/fa/journal/ViewPaper.aspx?id=258082
9. Khajenouri B, Rohani A, Hashemi S. Lifestyle and Body Management. Journal of Women's Sociology. 2011; 2(4), 21-48. http://journals.miau.ac.ir/article_1182.html
10. Damari B,Nasehi A,Vosough MoghaddamA. What Can We Do to Improve the Health of Iranians? Journal of the School of Health and the Institute of Health Research. 2013, 11(1), 45-58.

 http://sjsph.tums.ac.ir/article-1-5014-fa.html

1. Mokhtari M, Enayat H. The Role of Gender Attitudes in the Emergence of Women's Physical Perception. Women in Development and Politics .2013; 9(3), 67-87. https://jwdp.ut.ac.ir/article_23650.html-
2. CashT.F." Gender Attitudes, Feminist Identity, and Body Images Among College Women", Journal of Sex Roles.1997; 36(7/8),433-447. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02766682
3. Abazari Y; Hamidi N. (2008). Sociology of Body and Some Controversy.Women's research.2008; 6(4), 127-160. https://www.sid.ir/fa/journal/ViewPaper.aspx?id=85157
4. Sparhawk M.J. (2003) Body Image and The Media: The Media’s Influence on Body Image. Master of Science Degree, University of Wisconsin. 2003; (pp. 1-43).

[ Doi=10.1.1.390.9884]

1. Morrison T, Kalin  R, Morrison M. Body-image evaluation and body -image investment among adolescents: A test of sociocultural and social comparison theories. Adolescence2004; 39(155), 571-592 .

[PMID: 15673231]

1. Wheeler L, Miyake K. (1992). Social Comparison in Everyday Life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.1992; 62, 760-773.

[DOI:10.1037/0022-3514.62.5.760]

1. Obrien K. "Upward and Downward Appearance Comparison: Development of Scales and Examination of Predictive Qualities. Journal of Body Image.2009; 6, 201206. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2009.03.003]
2. Ghasemi V, Adlipour S, Borandegi B. The Relationship between Using Facebook Social Network and Body Image among Male and Female Students of Isfahan University. Journal of Women's Studies Sociological and Psychological.2014; 2(3), 61-92. https://www.sid.ir/fa/journal/ViewPaper.aspx?id=201454
3. BottaR.A. "For Your Health? The relationship between magazine reading and adolescents’ body image and eating disturbances", Sex Roles. 2003; 48(9/10): 389-399. [https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023570326812]
4. Levinson R, Powell B,Steelman L.C. Social Location, Significant Others and Body Image among Adolescents. Social Psychology Quarterly.1986; 49(4), 330-337.

[ https://doi.org/10.2307/2786772]

1. 21.Garner D, Garfinkel P, Schwartz D, Thompson M. Cultural Expectations of Thinness in Women. Psychological Report.1980; 47, 483-491.  

[DOI: 10.2466/pr0.1980.47.2.483]

1. Detailed results of the Population and Housing Census 2016. Website Organization of Management and Planning of East Azerbaijan Province.

https://azsharghi.mporg.ir/FileSystem/View/File.aspx?FileId=9b2595ae-cd85-43c8-80fa-fdc2b1fc4d91&Mode=Preview

1. Omidvar N, Eghtesadi Sh, Ghazzi Tabatabaii M, Minaii S, Samareh S. (2002). Mental Image of the Body and Its Relationship with Body Mass Index and Food Consumption Pattern between Adolescents in Tehran. Research in Medicine. 2002; 26( 4), 257-264. http://pejouhesh.sbmu.ac.ir/article-1-239-fa.html
2. Annis N.M, Cash T,  Hrabosky J. "Body Image and Social Psychosocial among Stable Average Weight, Currently Overweight, and Formerly Overweight Women: the Role of Stigmatizing Experiences", Journal of Body Image. 2004;1,155.

[ DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2003.12.001]