Perceived legitimacy of weight-based discrimination: Consequences for group identity, collective action, body satisfaction, and self-esteem. (June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rathbone, Joanne A.; Jetten, Jolanda; Cruwys, Tegan
• Is Part Of: Body image. Volume 41(2022)
• Page Start: 156
• Page End: 162
• Publication Date: 2022-06
• Subjects: Weight-based discrimination -- Social identity -- Collective action -- Body satisfaction -- Self-esteem; Body image -- Periodicals; Body image -- Research -- Periodicals; Body Image -- Periodicals; 306.4613
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.02.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1740-1445

Abstract

Highlights: Weight-based discrimination was portrayed as legitimate or illegitimate. Perceived permeability of group boundaries moderated the effect of legitimacy. Group identification decreased when discrimination was portrayed as legitimate. This effect only occurred when group boundaries were perceived to be more permeable. Identification mediated effect of appraisals on collective action and well-being. Abstract: The present research applied the social identity approach to examine how the perceived legitimacy of weight-based discrimination among ingroup members influences their experience of their higher-weight identity and their well-being, and the conditions under which this occurs. Specifically, we investigated whether portraying weight-based discrimination as legitimate, as opposed to illegitimate, influenced higher-weight individuals' group identification, intentions to engage in collective action on behalf of their group, and their body satisfaction and self-esteem. The moderating role of group boundary permeability and the mediating role of group identification were also examined. North American adults with a self-reported BMI of or above 30 ( N = 327) were randomly assigned to one of two experimental conditions: weight-based discrimination that was portrayed as legitimate or illegitimate by other ingroup members. Results revealed that portraying weight-based discrimination as being perceived as legitimate (versus illegitimate) among ingroup members significantly reduced group identification, but only among those who perceived their group's boundaries to be more permeable. For this particular group, reduced identification predicted, in turn, lower collective action intentions, body satisfaction, and self-esteem. This study highlights the damaging effect of legitimized discrimination for ingroup identification and the downstream consequences for collective action and well-being.