Weight bias internalization (WBI) refers to self- stigma based on negative weight-based stereotypes ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"spt9clj2","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Durso & Latner, 2008; Pearl & Puhl, 2014; Puhl et al., 2018)","plainCitation":"(Durso & Latner, 2008; Pearl & Puhl, 2014; Puhl et al., 2018)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":9709,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/1598140/items/NXTW9SHD"],"itemData":{"id":9709,"type":"article-journal","abstract":"
Objective: The present study developed the Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS), an 11-item measure assessing internalized weight bias among the overweight and obese. Methods and Procedures: An Internet sample was recruited through online community discussion groups and snowball sampling via e-mail. Women (n = 164) and men (n = 34) with a BMI >25 kg/m2 completed the WBIS and the Antifat Attitudes Questionnaire (AAQ), as well as measures of self-esteem, body image, mood disturbance, drive for thinness, and binge eating.
Results: Results indicate that the WBIS had high internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.90) and correlated significantly with antifat attitudes but was not a completely overlapping construct (r = 0.31). The scale showed strong partial correlations with self-esteem (r = −0.67), drive for thinness (r = 0.47), and body image concern (r = 0.75), controlling for BMI. Internalized weight bias was also significantly correlated with measures of mood and eating disturbance. Multiple regression analyses were conducted using WBIS scores, antifat attitudes, and BMI as predictor variables of body image, mood, self-esteem, and binge eating. WBIS scores were found to significantly predict scores on each of these measures.
Discussion: The WBIS showed excellent psychometric properties and construct validity. The study highlights the importance of distinguishing antifat attitudes toward others from internalized weight bias, a construct that may be closely linked with psychopathology.","container-title":"Obesity","DOI":"10.1038/oby.2008.448","ISSN":"1930-739X","issue":"S2","language":"en","note":"_eprint: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1038/oby.2008.448","page":"S80-S86","source":"Wiley Online Library","title":"Understanding Self-directed Stigma: Development of the Weight Bias Internalization Scale","title-short":"Understanding Self-directed Stigma","volume":"16","author":[{"family":"Durso","given":"Laura E."},{"family":"Latner","given":"Janet D."}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2008"]]}}},{"id":2115,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/1598140/items/BHC3H2CN"],"itemData":{"id":2115,"type":"article-journal","abstract":"The purpose of this research was to validate a modified version of the Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS-M) that is applicable to individuals across different body weight statuses. One hundred forty-eight men and women completed an online survey that included the WBIS-M and relevant measures of psychopathology. Results indicated that the WBIS-M had high internal consistency and strong construct validity. The WBIS-M also demonstrated significant correlations with body image, eating pathology, self-esteem, and symptoms of anxiety and depression, and was associated with these outcomes distinctly from antifat attitudes and body mass index. Implications for the use of this scale in diverse samples are discussed.","container-title":"Body Image","DOI":"10.1016/j.bodyim.2013.09.005","ISSN":"1740-1445","issue":"1","journalAbbreviation":"Body Image","language":"en","page":"89-92","source":"ScienceDirect","title":"Measuring internalized weight attitudes across body weight categories: Validation of the Modified Weight Bias Internalization Scale","title-short":"Measuring internalized weight attitudes across body weight categories","volume":"11","author":[{"family":"Pearl","given":"Rebecca L."},{"family":"Puhl","given":"Rebecca M."}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2014",1,1]]}}},{"id":9712,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/1598140/items/8XVH5FQR"],"itemData":{"id":9712,"type":"article-journal","abstract":"Objective This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the presence, severity, and sociodemographic correlates of weight bias internalization (WBI) across three distinct samples of US adults. Methods Levels of WBI were compared in (1) a sample of adults with obesity and heightened risk of weight stigma (N = 456), (2) an online community sample (N = 519), and (3) a national online panel (N = 2,529). Samples 2 and 3 comprised adults with and without obesity. Participants completed identical self-report measures, including demographic variables and weight-related factors, to determine their relationship with low, mean, and high levels of WBI. Results At least 44% of adults across samples endorsed mean levels of WBI (as determined by sample 3). The highest levels of WBI were endorsed by approximately one in five adults in the general population samples and by 52% in the sample of adults with obesity. Individuals with the highest WBI were white, had less education and income, were currently trying to lose weight, and had higher BMIs, higher self-perceived weight, and previous experiences of weight stigma (especially teasing). Conclusions Internalized weight bias is prevalent among women and men and across body weight categories. Findings provide a foundation to better understand characteristics of individuals who are at risk for internalizing weight bias.","container-title":"Obesity","DOI":"10.1002/oby.22029","ISSN":"1930-739X","issue":"1","language":"en","note":"_eprint: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/oby.22029","page":"167-175","source":"Wiley Online Library","title":"Internalizing Weight Stigma: Prevalence and Sociodemographic Considerations in US Adults","title-short":"Internalizing Weight Stigma","volume":"26","author":[{"family":"Puhl","given":"Rebecca M."},{"family":"Himmelstein","given":"Mary S."},{"family":"Quinn","given":"Diane M."}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2018"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Durso & Latner, 2008; Pearl & Puhl, 2014; Puhl et al., 2018). A growing body of literature supports the association between WBI and poorer mental health. In a systematic review of 74 studies evaluating the relationship between internalized weight stigma and health outcomes, WBI was associated with depression and anxiety across body sizes and above and beyond BMI. However, few studies have examined the relation between WBI and sleep and there has been variability in populations studied, sleep parameters, and study design. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between weight bias internalization (WBI) and insomnia symptom severity. Young women with disordered eating (N = 173, Mage = 20.21, SD = 1.70, range = 18-25) completed questionnaires measuring insomnia symptom severity, WBI, dysphoria, and demographic variables. A hierarchical linear regression was used to examine associations of WBI, after adjusting for demographic variables and dysphoria. WBI (B = 0.08, SE = 0.03, p = .02, 95% CI = 0.02, 0.15)and dysphoria (B = 0.31, SE = 0.06, p < .001, 95% CI = 0.09, 0.34) were significantly positively associated with insomnia symptom severity above and beyond demographic variables. Although the effect size was small, higher WBI was associated with increased insomnia symptom severity, suggesting that weight stigma is associated with poorer sleep. Results add to the growing literature examining the associations of stigma and sleep health.
