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Abstract
ABSTRACT. Emerging adulthood is a crucial time for the development of body image and sexuality concerns among women. We collected self-reported data from 184 women to determine possible differences according to body mass index (BMI) classification and dating status. Multivariate analyses of variance and follow-up univariate analyses of variance were conducted to determine differences in body image and sexuality outcomes according to both BMI (normal weight vs. overweight) and dating status (dating vs. not dating) as well as interaction effects of BMI and dating status. First, results indicated differences between normal-weight and overweight women for body satisfaction, body self-consciousness, and body image avoidance. Overweight women had lower satisfaction, higher self-consciousness, and more avoidance. Differences were also found between women who were dating and those who were not dating for body satisfaction and self-consciousness: Women not dating had lower satisfaction and higher self-consciousness. Second, whereas results indicated that women of varying BMIs did not differ on sexuality outcomes, differences were found according to dating status for sexual attitudes, esteem, and self-schema, such that women not dating had more conservative sexual attitudes, less sexual esteem, and lower self-schemas. No significant interaction effects were found.