Developing the racialised body image disturbance scale

Abstract

Many studies have shown that a negative evaluation of the physical body can lead to the development of body image disturbance. No instruments however, differentiate the body image disturbance that might be experienced following a negative evaluation of the black physical body, (i.e., the black person), from that which might be experienced as a member of a stigmatised group, (i.e., the Black group). Therefore, a cross-sectional study was designed to determine which aspects of the black physical body black people believe cause others concern and the consequences of their preoccupation with the concerns of others. Two hundred and fifty-seven self-defined black members of a research panel completed a web-based questionnaire using the ‘Racialised Body Image Disturbance Scale (RBIDS)’. Exploratory factor analysis indicated that the RBIDS measured two dimensions: (1) perceived race-related concerns, preoccupations and emotional distress and (2) social dysfunction. Perceived race-related concerns and preoccupations were race-related weight/body shape, skin tone, hair texture and facial features. The effects of respondents' preoccupation with other people's race-related concerns was low self-confidence, frustration, anxiety and depression, identity insecurity and confusion, excessive wariness of others, desire to fix concerns and fear of interference with their life chances. Further research should examine the relation between race-based rejection sensitivity and RBIDS.

Keywords:

• race
• ethnicity
• racialised body image disturbance
• racial differences