Perceptual Discrepancies of Body Sizes in Japanese Female College Students: Using a 3-D Silhouette Scale

Abstract

Body image comprises a perceptual evaluation of one's body. We examined perceptual discrepancies of own and others' body sizes in young Japanese women. Moreover, we investigated if thin-ideal internalization and appearance-comparison tendency were associated with the discrepancies. A sample of 173 young Japanese women (Mage = 20.11 years, SD = 1.50 years) completed a figural/silhouette scale questionnaire created based on the national anthropometric data and measures of thin-ideal internalization and appearance-comparison tendency. Results indicated that the participants selected a larger figure for themselves than their body mass index (BMI) represented, while they selected a slimmer figure for their ideal body than their ideal BMI represented. In addition, the extent of the perceptual discrepancies was correlated with thin-ideal internalization and appearance-comparison tendency. Moreover, participants expressed body dissatisfaction to a greater extent when using a silhouette scale than when using BMI. Findings are discussed in relation to abundant visual images of attractive bodies in society, which may lead to body-size perceptual discrepancies and misjudgments, body dissatisfaction, and eventual weight-loss behaviors. Implications for intervention are also discussed.