Weight-Influenced Self-Esteem, Body Comparisons and Body Satisfaction: Findings among Women from The Netherlands and Curacao

Abstract

The present study examined young women’s weight-influenced self-esteem (WISE) in response to imagined weight gain and weight loss, and its relations to body satisfaction, body comparisons and global self-esteem. Young women from two different regions, that is, from the north of The Netherlands (n = 157) and from the Willemstad area (the capital of Curacao; n = 162), completed a questionnaire. It was expected that Dutch women would show lower self-esteem in response to imagined weight gain than women from Curacao, and that self-esteem in response to imagined weight gain would be negatively related to general self-esteem and body satisfaction, and more so among Dutch women than among Curacaoan women. Finally, it was expected that body comparisons would be predictive of lower self-esteem in response to imagined weight gain. As expected Dutch women showed lower self-esteem in response to imagined weight gain than Curacaoan women. Moreover, findings showed that among Curacaoan women self-esteem in response to imagined weight gain was not related to general self-esteem or body satisfaction and that body comparisons were less predictive of lowered self-esteem in response to imagined weight gain than among Dutch women. Findings are discussed in light of cultural differences in ideal body shape and the supportiveness of women’s social networks.