Title
African American Male and Female Student Perceptions of Pulvers Body Images: Implications for Obesity, Health Care, and Prevention
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-2014
Abstract
Differences in male and female perception response to the Pulvers Body Image Scale (PBIS) were examined among 356 freshmen African American students attending an urban historically Black college/university (HBCU). Participants completed a questionnaire identifying images that best represented their current, healthy, and ideal body image. Compared with males, more females selected the normal body image as their ideal (63.3% vs. 15.3%) and healthy body shape (59.3% vs. 15.3%) (p<.001). Compared with females, more males selected the overweight body image as their ideal (44.6% vs. 30.2%) and healthy body shape (52.2% vs. 36.2%) (p<.01). Similarly, more males selected the obese body image as their ideal (40.1% vs. 6.5%) and healthy body shape (32.5% vs. 4.5%) compared with females (p<.001). Male freshmen at an HBCU perceive a larger body image as healthy and ideal more often than their female counterparts, thereby increasing the potential for their weight-related health risks.
Journal Title
Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
Volume
25
Issue
3
First Page
1328
Last Page
1340
Recommended Citation
Brown, Sherine R.; Hossain, Mian Bazle; and Bonner, Yvonne, "African American Male and Female Student Perceptions of Pulvers Body Images: Implications for Obesity, Health Care, and Prevention" (2014). Faculty Publications. 2.
https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/publichealth-pubs/2
