Facets of acculturation and their diverse relations to body shape concern in Fiji

Abstract

Objective: The present study examines the relation between acculturation and body shape concern in Fiji-a society undergoing rapid social change. Method: Data were from two cohorts of ethnic Fijian girls and women collected in 1998 (n = 115). A factor analysis was performed to identify dimensions of acculturation. The association of these with body shape concern was examined with linear regression. Results: Three dimensions of acculturation were identified. Multiple linear regression models demonstrated that each of these dimensions of acculturation had a unique relation to body shape concern. The adjusted R2 for the fully adjusted model relating acculturation to body concern was 0.63, indicating a substantial degree of shared variation between measures of body shape concern and measures of acculturation. Conclusion: Acculturation may have a strong impact on body shape concern in Fiji. However, acculturation is a multidimensional construct and does not likely have a monolithic relation to body shape concern. © 2006 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.