Are Contingencies of Self-Worth Associated with Body Image in Indian and British Women?

Abstract

This study examined the association between contingencies of self-worth and body image in British and Indian college women (N = 168, M age 19 years). It was expected that appearance contingent self-worth would be especially salient to British women’s body image, whereas self-worth contingent on family support, approval, competition, and academic performance would be more salient to Indian women’s body image. Also it was explored whether poor body image would be a stronger predictor of depression in British women (n = 107), relative to Indian women (n = 61). Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that indeed, body image affected depression in British women to a far greater extent than in Indian women. As expected, different domains of contingent self-worth were associated with body image in Indian and British women. For Indian women, self-worth contingent on academic performance uniquely undermined body image. For British women, self-worth contingent on appearance, approval, and family support were the most salient predictors of body image. Cross-cultural variation in the association between contingencies of self-worth and body image are discussed.