The Breast Size Satisfaction Survey (BSSS): Breast size dissatisfaction and its antecedents and outcomes in women from 40 nations. (March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Swami, Viren; Tran, Ulrich S.; Barron, David; Afhami, Reza; Aimé, Annie; Almenara, Carlos A.; Alp Dal, Nursel; Amaral, Ana Carolina Soares; Andrianto, Sonny; Anjum, Gulnaz; Argyrides, Marios; Atari, Mohammad; Aziz, Mudassar; Banai, Benjamin; Borowiec, Joanna; Brewis, Alexandra; Cakir Kocak, Yeliz; Campos, Juliana Alvares Duarte Bonini; Carmona, Carmen; Chaleeraktrakoon, Trawin; Chen, Hong; Chobthamkit, Phatthanakit; Choompunuch, Bovornpot; Constantinos, Togas; Crumlish, Aine; Cruz, Julio Eduardo; Dalley, Simon E.; Damayanti, Devi; Dare, Joanna; Donofrio, Stacey M.; Draksler, Anja; Escasa-Dorne, Michelle; Fernandez, Elaine Frances; Ferreira, Maria Elisa Caputo; Frederick, David A.; García, Antonio Alías; Geller, Shulamit; George, Alexias; Ghazieh, Louai; Goian, Cosmin; Gorman, Colin; Grano, Caterina; Handelzalts, Jonathan Eliahu; Horsburgh, Heather; Jackson, Todd; Javela Delgado, Lady Grey Javela; Jović, Marija; Jović, Marko; Kantanista, Adam; Kertechian, Sevag K.; Kessels, Loes; Król-Zielińska, Magdalena; Kuan, Garry; Kueh, Yee Cheng; Kumar, Sanjay; Kvalem, Ingela Lundin; Lombardo, Caterina; Luis López Almada, Ernesto; Maïano, Christophe; Manjary, Mandar; Massar, Karlijn; Matera, Camilla; Mereiles, Juliana F. Figueiras; Meskó, Norbert; Namatame, Hikari; Nerini, Amanda; Neto, Felix; Neto, Joana; Neves, Angela Nogueira; Ng, Siu-Kuen; Nithiya, Devi R.; Omar, Salma Samir; Omori, Mika; Panasiti, Maria Serena; Pavela Banai, Irena; Pila, Eva; Pokrajac-Bulian, Alessandra; Postuvan, Vita; Prichard, Ivanka; Razmus, Magdalena; Sabiston, Catherine M.; Sahlan, Reza N.; Sarfo, Jacob Owusu; Sawamiya, Yoko; Stieger, Stefan; SturtzSreetharan, Cindi; Tee, Eugene; ten Hoor, Gill A.; Thongpibul, Kulvadee; Tipandjan, Arun; Tudorel, Otilia; Tylka, Tracy; Vally, Zahir; Vargas-Nieto, Juan Camilo; Vega, Luis Diego; Vidal-Mollón, Jose; Vintila, Mona; Williams, Deborah; Wutich, Amber; Yamamiya, Yuko; Zambrano, Danilo; Zanetti, Marcelo Callegari; Živčić-Bećirević, Ivanka; Voracek, Martin;
• Is Part Of: Body image. Volume 32(2020)
• Page Start: 199
• Page End: 217
• Publication Date: 2020-03
• Subjects: Breast size -- Breast ideals -- Breast awareness -- Personality -- Psychological well-being -- Cross-cultural psychology; Body image -- Periodicals; Body image -- Research -- Periodicals; Body Image -- Periodicals; 306.4613
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2020.01.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1740-1445

Abstract

Highlights: Majority of women sampled (70.7 %) were dissatisfied with their breast size. A number of significant antecedents and outcomes of breast size dissatisfaction were identified. Relationships with antecedents and outcomes were stable across 40 nations. Abstract: The Breast Size Satisfaction Survey (BSSS) was established to assess women's breast size dissatisfaction and breasted experiences from a cross-national perspective. A total of 18, 541 women were recruited from 61 research sites across 40 nations and completed measures of current-ideal breast size discrepancy, as well as measures of theorised antecedents (personality, Western and local media exposure, and proxies of socioeconomic status) and outcomes (weight and appearance dissatisfaction, breast awareness, and psychological well-being). In the total dataset, 47.5 % of women wanted larger breasts than they currently had, 23.2 % wanted smaller breasts, and 29.3 % were satisfied with their current breast size. There were significant cross-national differences in mean ideal breast size and absolute breast size dissatisfaction, but effect sizes were small (η 2 = .02–.03). The results of multilevel modelling showed that greater Neuroticism, lower Conscientiousness, lower Western media exposure, greater local media exposure, lower financial security, and younger age were associated with greater breast size dissatisfaction across nations. In addition, greater absolute breast size dissatisfaction was associated with greater weight and appearance dissatisfaction, poorer breast awareness, and poorer psychological well-being across nations. These results indicate that breast size dissatisfaction is a global public health concern linked to women's psychological and physical well-being.