Citation

Aghekyan, Marine; Ulrich, Pamela; & Connell, Lenda (2012). Using body scans in assessing perceptions of body attractiveness and size: cross-cultural study. International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education, 5(2), 81-89.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to cross-culturally investigate the effect of body mass index (BMI) and body shapes on the perception of female body attractiveness and body size. A convenience sample of 107 American and 102 Russian female students completed questionnaire coordinated with a stimulus of 27 images of female body scans used by respondents to rate body size and attractiveness. Body sizes were categorised according to BMI. Three body shapes (hourglass, rectangle and pear) were defined within the stimulus. Russian respondents reported lower scores on body attractiveness than American respondents for all 27 images. Body scans with underweight BMIs were perceived as being the most attractive in both cultures. There was a significant difference of perceptions of body sizes between the Americans and the Russians.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17543266.2011.636073

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2012

Journal Title

International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education

Author(s)

Aghekyan, Marine
Ulrich, Pamela
Connell, Lenda