The interaction between BMI, weight criticism, weight bias, and psychological and relational outcomes within marriage.

Reid Hlavka,Robert A Carels,J Caroline Miller,Abigail M T Shonrock

doi:10.1007/s40519-021-01324-z

Abstract

To examine (1) whether a wife's BMI interacts with either her husband's weight stigma or (2) her perceived weight criticisms from her husband predict husbands' and wives' psychological and relational outcomes. The study sample consisted of 209 currently married men and women in a heterosexual relationship. Participants were drawn from an online survey platform (Qualtrics, Inc. Provo, UT) designed to approximate the US population on age, race, and region of the country. Online measures assessed husbands' weight stigma, wives' perceived weight criticisms from husband, and husbands' and wives': (1) relationship satisfaction, (2) sexual intimacy, (3) self-esteem, (4) depressive symptoms, and (5) perceptions of a desirable or ideal mate. Wives' BMI interacted with husbands' weight stigma to predict (1) mate value for husbands and wives and (2) marital satisfaction for husbands. The same pattern was noted with interaction of wives' BMI and perceptions of husbands' weight related criticisms. The interaction reflected that higher wife BMI and higher husband weight stigma or wife perceived weight-related criticism predicted lower marital satisfaction, greater depression, and lower perceptions of a desirable or an ideal mate. Lower BMI was not associated with outcomes regardless of the husbands' weight stigma or wives' perceived weight-related criticisms. To understand the impact of weight stigma and weight related criticisms on perceptions of a desirable or ideal mate and marital outcomes, it is important to examine the interaction with partner's BMI. III: Evidence obtained from cohort or case-control analytic studies.

Highlights

The harmful consequences of weight stigma, defined as discrimination or stereotyping based on a person's weight or negative attitudes about a person because of their weight, have been well-documented [1]
The interaction reflected that higher wife BMI and higher husband weight stigma or wife perceived weight-related criticism predicted lower marital satisfaction, greater depression, and lower perceptions of a desirable or an ideal mate
Lower BMI was not associated with outcomes regardless of the husbands’ weight stigma or wives’ perceived weightrelated criticisms

Summary

Introduction

The harmful consequences of weight stigma, defined as discrimination or stereotyping based on a person's weight or negative attitudes about a person because of their weight, have been well-documented [1]. In prior research examining wives using structural equation modelling, analyses revealed that wives’ internalized weight bias and other weight-related concerns, as well as perceived husbands’ weight-related suggestions or criticisms had both direct and indirect effects through perceived mate value on wives’ psychological distress, relationship satisfaction, and sexual intimacy [6]. In a related study examining husbands, structural equation modeling analyses revealed that husbands’ weight stigma and IWB were indirectly linked to husbands’ and wives’ relationship satisfaction and sexual intimacy through weight-related concerns/criticisms and, to a lesser extent, perceptions of a desirable or ideal mate [7]. A husband’s IWB and weight stigma had a direct effect on his depressive symptoms and self-esteem These studies highlight the prominent role that weight stigma and weight related comments and criticisms have in perceptions of a desirable or ideal mate as well as psychological and relationship well-being

Methods

Results

Conclusion