How perspective taking influences obesity stereotypes: The mediating effect of intergroup contact

Abstract

Obesity is stigmatised and associated with adverse health, psychological, and social consequences. This study examined contact influences on the relationship between perspective taking and obesity stereotypes in young adults. The sample comprised 411 Chinese university students (female = 73.97%; mean age = 21.65 years, SD = 2.04). Structural equation modelling was used to test the association between perspective taking and obesity stereotypes via contact intention and contact behaviour. The results indicated a sequential mediation path of perspective taking → contact intention → contact behaviour → obesity stereotypes. Through the sequential mediating roles of contact intention and contact behaviour, perspective taking could not only reduce the negative stereotypes, but also enhance the positive stereotypes. The findings suggest that contact is an important resource for reducing obesity stereotypes with perspective taking.

Keywords:

• intergroup interaction
• interpersonal reactivity
• sequential mediation
• social prejudice
• stigmatisation

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Philosophy and Social Science Planning Project of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (2022NDB154) and Fundamental Research Funds for the Inner Mongolia Normal University (2023JBYJ023).

Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author.