Importance Of Physical Appearance Research Articles

Ideal Weight and Weight Discrepancy: A Study of Life Course Trajectories and Intercohort Change in the Netherlands.

Objective: This study examined how individuals' ideal weight and weight discrepancy (between ideal and actual weight) changed over the life course and across cohorts. Methods: The study used population-representative longitudinal data collected in the Netherlands (N = 61,431 observations between 2007 and 2018 among N = 13,409 individuals aged 16 to 80 and born 1927-2000). Results: Ideal weight increased linearly with age. Weight discrepancy showed a bell-shaped age pattern. Approximately half of the age-related increase in ideal weight was associated with concurrent increases in actual weight. Ideal weight and weight discrepancy increased slightly across cohorts. The cohort-related increase in ideal weight vanished after adjusting for change in actual weight. Analyses of population heterogeneity showed similar patterns of change in both outcomes across groups, although levels differed by gender, education, and migration status even after adjusting for differences in actual weight between these groups. Conclusion: These results show that ideal weight and weight discrepancy in the Netherlands change substantially with age and modestly across cohorts. Potential explanations include changes in physical appearance and in the importance of physical appearance.

Analysis of 'Beauty Bestie' Perceptions Built in Emina Beauty Bestie Day Campaign

Beauty has become a hot topic in public discussions, especially adolescent girls with various definitions of 'beautiful' that exist. However, the influence of technology has created specific beauty standards. In the transition process, adolescents begin to realize the importance of physical appearance to affect their self-confidence. This study analyzes the perception of 'Beauty Bestie' built in the Emina Beauty Bestie Day campaign by Emina Cosmetics as a support system for teenagers to overcome their skin problems, so that the object in this study is the perception of 'Beauty Bestie' and the subjects are campaign audiences as key informants and psychology experts as expert informants. This study used interpretive qualitative research methods with a phenomenological approach and research data obtained through in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation. Social cognitive theory was used as a foundation for reviewing this research and Van Kaam's phenomenological data analysis techniques were used to analyze data findings with data analysis units oriented to the stage of perception formation by Julia T. Wood and DeVito. The results showed that the perception of 'Beauty Bestie' built in the Emina Beauty Bestie Day campaign has been formed in the campaign audience to the stage of recall. This research is only limited to the formation of the perception of 'Beauty Bestie' in the Emina Beauty Bestie Day campaign, so that future research can further analyze the perception of 'Beauty Bestie' in the campaign audience in terms of brand positioning, brand image, or sales. 
 Keywords: Beauty Standards; Formation of perception; Beauty Bestie; Campaign

Abstract B107: Exploring patient-centered themes following diagnosis in a cohort of African American pediatric oncology patients

Abstract Introduction: Pediatric patients diagnosed with cancer report lower quality of life and increased psychological distress. Furthermore, African American pediatric oncology patients face unique and extensive obstacles upon diagnosis. The present study sought to identify patient-centered experiences following a cancer diagnosis in a sample of African American pediatric oncology patients. Methods: This study examined semi-structured interviews of pediatric African American oncology patients (N = 13; Mage = 13.54 years; 7-17 years). Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed. Response patterns examining patient perceptions of being diagnosed with cancer were derived through thematic analysis. Results: Four themes related to initial diagnosis emerged: negative emotions, quality of life, cognitions, and physical appearance. The majority of patients disclosed feeling fear, hurt, and sadness in relation to their cancer diagnosis. A myriad of cognitions surrounding initial diagnosis also emerged. Many patients reported being unaware of their diagnosis and reported a sense of confusion related to extended hospitalizations and taking medication. Patients disclosed worry and embarrassment regarding losing their hair (e.g., “my hair is my pride and joy,” and, “the first thing that did come to my mind was my hair. As a teenage girl, I was just like “my hair.”). Patients also expressed worries about quality of life and prognosis. Finally, a fear of the unknown, ability to attend school and activities, and possible death emerged as common themes. Conclusion: This study described perceptions of African American pediatric oncology patients during the initial diagnosis of cancer. Key themes included negative emotions, quality of life, cognitions, and physical appearance. A pattern between cognitions related to life changes due to diagnosis and resulting emotions such as fear emerged. This finding suggested a strong connection between the perceptual aspects of initial diagnosis and patient experiences through treatment, indicating that psychological interventions could serve as a tool to decrease negative emotions. The significant importance of patient-centered education delivered immediately at diagnosis emerged as a significant factor as many patients reported unawareness of their diagnosis (e.g., “I just didn’t know what was going to happen next, like all of the medicine, how they were going to treat it and all that”). Although level of patient education may differ based on family preferences, developmentally appropriate communication may enhance the treatment process for patients, and ultimately decrease psychological distress. These findings also indicate the cultural and historical importance of physical appearance with hair being an important piece of identity for African American patients. These findings highlight the relative importance of investigating patient-centered experiences and culturally appropriate interventions across the illness trajectory from new diagnosis to survivorship, especially among African American pediatric oncology patients. Citation Format: Irene Jacobs, Jennifer Rohan, Andrea Jewell, Kelly Tran, Jasmine Nguyen. Exploring patient-centered themes following diagnosis in a cohort of African American pediatric oncology patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 15th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2022 Sep 16-19; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr B107.

The importance of physical appearance and actual body figure of women in Serbia in the contemporary sociocultural environment

In a social environment that emphasizes the importance of physical appearance and women is valued based on body appearance and sexuality, it raises the question of the relationship it establishes towards its own body. The work was intended to determine the attitude of respondents towards the importance attached to the physical appearance of the female body in the modern socio-cultural context and the degree of (dis)satisfaction with its own body. The questionnaire consists of a Scala attitude towards ?good? physical appearance (DFI scale), a seven-point Liqueur-type scale, and the Photography Figure Rating Scale (PFRS), which contains ten figures with different body mass index (BMI), from skinny to obese female bodies, filled out is by 462 respondents. The attitude towards physical appearance was not directly reflected in body dissatisfaction (there is no connection between these two constructs), but social ideals of beauty (thin ideal), which are transmitted through numerous sociocultural channels, are internalized. Respondents show a tendency to choose a figure (ideal) from BMI categories with insufficient weight. In general, the results show that the importance attached to the physical appearance of a woman?s body is largely determined by the value and psychological component, and that respondents have internalized to some extent social standards that promote slender and thin bodies.

Longitudinal associations between appearance-related social media consciousness and adolescents' depressive symptoms.

Frequent social media use among adolescents is associated with depressive symptoms, though prior work has overwhelmingly used cross-sectional designs and focused on "screen time." Subjective social media experiences, such as the concern with one's physical appearance on social media, may be more relevant to adolescents' depressive symptoms than mere frequency of use. Appearance-related social media consciousness (ASMC) is the preoccupation with one's physical attractiveness in social media photos and has been associated with depressive symptoms above and beyond frequency of social media use in prior cross-sectional work. In this brief report, we assessed this association longitudinally over 1 year within a diverse sample of highschool adolescents in the Southeastern US (n = 163, M age = 16.19; 55.8% girls; 44.8% White, 23.9% Black, 26.4% Hispanic/Latinx; 49.7% received free or reduced-price lunch). Baseline ASMC was associated with higher depressive symptoms 1 year later, even when controlling for time spent on social media. Although girls reported higher levels of ASMC, associations were similar for adolescent boys and girls. No evidence was found that heightened depressive symptoms at baseline were associated with higher ASMC 1 year later. The findings highlight the importance of physical appearance concerns on social media-above and beyond the frequency of use-in the development of depressive symptoms among adolescents. Implications for future research to examine the role of subjective social media experiences in adolescents' depressive symptoms are discussed.

Beyond Performance? The Importance of Physical Appearance in Award Nominations and Receptions in Football

Beyond Performance? The Importance of Physical Appearance in Award Nominations and Receptions in Football

Reconstruction of midfacial defects

: Defects of the maxilla and midfacial structures following trauma, benignant or malignant tumor ablation are a challenge for the reconstructive surgeon because of the importance of physical appearance and speech, swallowing and visual functions in which this anatomical area is involved. The bony and soft tissues constituting the midface provide much of the facial contour and profile giving each person its personal appearance. The aim of this paper is to review the methods of reconstruction after oncological resection of the middle third of the face and to present our reconstructive protocol. Reconstructive methods available to restore the defect after oncologic resection in this area can include: (I) obturators; (II) local or regional pedicled flaps; (III) microvascular flaps (forearm, rectus abdominis, fibula, iliac crest, scapula flap, etc.). Repair of a midfacial defect should be based on the size, location and type of tissues involved. It is important to understand the complex three-dimensional anatomy of the maxilla so as the interrelation to adjacent structures of the midface prior to approach the decision-making plan. Indications and disadvantages of the different techniques are reviewed. New technological developments including virtual planning, 3D printing and navigation can contribute to increase safety and accuracy in oncologic resection and reconstruction of the midface.

Social Representations of the Body and Bodily Care Practices of Older Adults

Abstract This study analyzed the relations between social representations of the body and the body care practices of older adults. Forty older adults, with ages varying from 60 to 84 years (M = 69; SD = 7), matched by sex, took part in the study. The data were collected by means of in-depth thematic interviews, with the corpus analyzed using the IRaMuTeQ software. Differences between men and women were verified in representational contents and body practices. The male participants’ social representations of the body were associated with biological functionality and health concerns, while the women emphasized the importance of physical appearance in their social relationships. Regarding body care practices, there was a higher incidence of food concerns in the men and the performance of physical activities in the women. Therefore, the results indicated that the body care practices vary according to the socials representations of the body and the sex of the participant.

Barriers to Prisoners’ Re-Entry into Formal and Informal Labour Market

Aside from academics suggesting that low-physical-attractive prisoners may face difficulty reentering the labour market: permitting employers to access criminal history records aggravates the situation. The current study aims to alleviate this discrimination by generating more beauty premiums to prisoners through cosmetic surgery. The choice experiments (CEs) on hypothetical cosmetic surgery faces of 18 Thai male prisoners were conducted. In which every choice set, the respondents were required to make a tradeoff between beauty and criminal history records. The results show that cosmetic surgery generates beauty premiums to prisoners in both the formal and informal sectors with the odds ratio or increase of the utility of 1.75 and 1.754, respectively. Contrarily, the criminal history records result in discrimination to prisoners’ employments: decreasing job opportunities by 82.8% and 51% in the formal and informal sectors, respectively. The MWTP values show an additional salary to the cosmetic surgery groups for 2,600 baht approximately in both sectors. Besides contributing to the literature, the current study sheds light on the importance of physical appearance and criminal history records as one of the main barriers to prisoners’ re-entry. The findings could serve as new knowledge for policymakers to improve the success rate of prisoners’ reintegration.

Perceptions and experiences of female burn survivors with facial disfigurement

PurposeThis study aimed at exploring the perceptions and experiences of female burn survivors with facial disfigurement in Pakistan. MethodsTwo different quantitative and qualitative studies were conducted, of which the data were collected from 100 burn patients. A pilot interview protocol was developed. An indepth interview of five female burn survivors with facial disfigurement was taken in Lahore, Pakistan. The transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis and four major themes were identified, respectively physical appearance, posttraumatic growth, relationships and coping strategies. ResultsThematic analysis reflected differences in attributional style, perceptions and individual experiences of female burn survivors with facial disfigurement. The study showed the importance of physical appearance for different burn survivors and how their life had changed after suffering from a burn injury. ConclusionIt could be easy to have a positive outlook towards life and accept visible differences post injury for the burn survivors, who are grateful for life, get a strong family support and have available resources. On the contrary, with low self-esteem, lack of a family support and available resources, patients would be dissatisfied with their life.

Does dental appearance impact on employability in adults? A scoping review of quantitative and qualitative evidence.

Background The importance of physical appearance in social and professional situations has been well studied. It has been suggested that improving dental appearance may increase employment prospects. This scoping review aims to map the current literature regarding the impact of dental appearance on employability.Methods A scoping review was carried out in accordance with guidance from the Joanna Briggs Institute. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were developed iteratively, databases were searched and decisions on inclusion made in duplicate. Data were charted in Excel and synthesised using a visual map, study summary table and narrative description.Results We identified 16 relevant articles: ten experimental simulation studies, two qualitative studies, one cross-sectional survey, one pre-/post-dental treatment survey, one retrospective cohort study and one narrative systematic review. Experimental simulations support the notion that visible dental conditions can negatively impact appraisals of employment-related personal characteristics. Negative impacts on job-seeking self-efficacy and willingness to apply for jobs have also been documented.Conclusions The applicability of this evidence base to the UK health system context is uncertain and demonstration of real-life impact on employment is lacking. Further research is needed before programmes to improve dental appearance could be justified on the basis of improving employment outcomes.

BEYOND REPRODUCTION: EXPLORING DETERMINANTS OF FUNCTIONAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IN AGING WOMEN

The goal of this symposium is to explore the various factors that influence functional health and general well-being in women during late life. We will explore 1) the role of depression on functional impairment in a group of diverse community dwelling women; 2) the relationship between chronic pain and depression, as well as strategies for intervention; 3) the desire for sexual intimacy among older women and it’s relationship to wellbeing and 4) the importance of physical appearance in older women and its association with self confidence and wellbeing.

The Importance of Physical Appearance during the Ageing Process in Spain. Interrelation between Body and Life Satisfaction during Maturity and the Old Age

ABSTRACT The present paper is aimed at investigating the levels of body and life satisfaction in healthy individuals over the age of 50 living in Spain. The main purpose of the research is to determine whether the concern about the physical appearance is strongly related to life satisfaction in mature and old individuals, as it may be observed in younger individuals. Gender, age, coexistence environment and the presence or absence of a partner are relevant variables taken into account for body and life satisfaction. Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ), adapted to Spanish and validated according to the Spanish population, and Corporal Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSC) are used to measure body satisfaction; similarly, Life Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSV) was employed to assess life satisfaction. Results show that body and life satisfaction have a significant correlation. Nevertheless, over the age of 65 years there is a significant decrease only in body satisfaction, regardless of gender, environment and the presence or absence of a partner.

Povezanost upotrebe društvenih mreža i slike o sopstvenom telu

Introduction. Body image represents person's perceptions, feelings and thoughts about his or her body appearance. Young people spend considerable time on social networks and they are exposed to different content, including modern standards of beauty and pressure to look in accordance with these standards. Therefore social networks can influence the creation of a negative image of one's own body. Objective. To determine the relationship between the usage of social networks and body image of young people. Method. Research data was obtained through an online survey designed for the purpose of this research. In this research 1139 people aged from 15 to 24 years participated. Results. Average BMI is 22,27 ± 3,58. The highest percentage of participants is normally nourished (74,6%), followed by participants who are overweight (14,6%), malnourished (6,7%), and obese (4,1%). Young women are more often malnourished comparing to young men, while young men are more often overweighted and obese comparing to young women. Average time spent on social networks is 183,3 ± 144,97 minutes per day. There is no difference in time spent using social networks between male and female participants and between differently nourished participants. Physical appearance is more significant to young women, but young men invest more effort in improving or maintaining it. There is no difference between differently nourished participants regarding the importance of physical appearance and investment in physical appearance. With the increase of BMI, dissatisfaction with physical appearance increases as well. The younger the participants are, the use of social networks is more intense, the importance of physical appereance is higher, the investment in it is more intense and dissatisfaction with their physical apperance is stronger. Conclusion. The usage of social networks is significantly associated with negative body image in young people, which is why their controlled and adequate use is very important.

Physical Attractiveness and the Female Life-Cycle in Seventeenth-Century England

ABSTRACTThis article draws on evidence from diaries and letters to discuss how women of the aristocracy, gentry and middling-sorts in seventeenth-century England conceptualised their own physical attractiveness and that of other women. Moving beyond histories of fashion and aesthetics, which have prioritised male opinions, the article demonstrates that women recognised the importance of maintaining an attractive appearance across the life-cycle. Particular attention was paid to the emergence of good looks during adolescence; the importance of physical appearance alongside other qualities in the marriage market; and the means by which physical changes and their psychological impacts were negotiated in later life.

Blue eyes and porcelain cheeks: Computational extraction of physical descriptions from Dutch chick lit and literary novels

Attentiveness to physical appearance is seen as an important motif in chick lit. However, this has never been researched in an actual comparison with literary novels. Our goal is to make a comparison between the two genres concerning the importance of physical appearance of characters. In this article, as a first step in researching this topic, we consider the task of identifying sentences that contain descriptions of a character’s physical appearance in a set of novels in both genres. We manually annotate sentences where the appearance of a character is described. We then apply a machine learning methodology and manually written lexical–syntactic queries to automate the extraction of these sentences. Contrary to our expectations, the queries outperform the classifier. When we use a combination of the two automated methods, the extraction of physical descriptions from chick lit is more successful. This suggests that such descriptions are more uniform in character.

The Mental Health Impact of Physical Appearance Concerns in the Context of Other Life Domains Among Australian Gay Men.

Previous studies have identified gay men as a high-risk population for body image disturbances. However, little research has examined the mental health impact of gay men's physical appearance concerns in the context of other major life domains. The present study addressed this gap by investigating how mental health outcomes (satisfaction with life, self-esteem, positive well-being, and psychological distress) were associated with satisfaction with and importance of physical appearance, work, family relationships, friendships, health and fitness, and sex life among Australian gay men aged 18-39. The possible moderating role of intimate relationship status was also examined. Results from an online survey revealed that greater satisfaction with physical appearance, work, family, and friendships all had similar positive associations with mental health. However, more importance placed on physical appearance was more consistently associated with poorer mental health compared with the subjective importance of other domains. Findings also indicated the associations between physical appearance satisfaction and life satisfaction, and between physical appearance importance and positive well-being, were weaker for those in relationships. Thus, physical appearance matters in gay men's lives, but was only one factor when considered in the broader context of other life areas that contributed to overall well-being. These findings suggest the need for a nuanced and contextualized understanding of how physical appearance concerns fit into gay men's lives.

Erotic Capital as Societal Elevator: Pursuing Feminine Attractiveness in the Contemporary Mongolian Global(ising) Economy

Abstract Inspired by Bourdieu’s forms of capital, theorists have utilized the additional category of erotic capital as a descriptor of the increasing importance of physical appearance to economic mobility. Although this phenomenon also exists in Mongolia, the pursuit of corporeal attractiveness only depicts one prevalent erotic field highly conceptually intertwined with values of market and modernity. Additionally, the prevalence of this belief in the emancipatory power of attractiveness also overlaps with indigenous concepts of fortune (hishig) and reputation (nerelkhuu), which most likely facilitated its integration in the Mongolian context. As a result, individuals from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds pursue a standard of beauty associated with the wealthy and successful. In particular, women, who have been particularly hard hit by the vagaries of the current Mongolian economy, have increasingly turned to physical appearance capitalization as a means to safeguard their economic and social standing.

“Does the voice in your head get kinder as you get older?” Women’s perceptions of body image in midlife

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to identify attitudes and reactions toward physical changes in midlife women. A Facebook thread, presenting a series of comments related to an initial statement, instigated by a radio program was analyzed. The thread contained 87 responses to the question “Does the voice in your head get kinder as you get older?” Content analysis revealed positive (56%) and negative (40%) comments and four themes: physical changes with aging, the decreased importance of physical appearance, the importance of sociocultural influences, and the invisibility of women in midlife. Findings revealed both positive and negative body image experiences in women related to midlife and have implications for prevention.

Self-Perceptions of Sexual Attractiveness: Satisfaction With Physical Appearance is Not of Primary Importance Across Gender and Sexual Orientation

Research on self-perceived sexual attractiveness has predominantly focused on the importance of physical appearance, overlooking nonphysical traits that may contribute to these self-perceptions. The present study examined and compared the importance of a variety of traits for self-perceived sexual attractiveness. Self-identified heterosexual, gay, and bisexual men (N = 1,801) and heterosexual, lesbian, and bisexual women (N = 1,092) completed an online questionnaire examining self-perceived sexual attractiveness, body esteem, sexual esteem, adherence to gender norms, and sexual experience. Body esteem and sexual esteem were significant predictors of self-perceived sexual attractiveness, regardless of gender and sexual orientation. Adhering to a masculine gender norm was a significant predictor among all groups (to varying extents) but heterosexual women. Adhering to a feminine gender norm was a significant predictor among heterosexual men and bisexual women. Finally, sexual experience was a significant predictor for all men and bisexual women. Furthermore, while body esteem was a predictor across all groups, for most individuals it did not appear to be of primary importance, with either sexual esteem or masculinity proving to be of greater importance. These findings suggest the need to consider traits related to both physical and nonphysical factors for improving an individual's self-perceived sexual attractiveness.