Weight stigma and psychological distress: A moderated mediation model of social identification and internalised bias.
Links between weight stigma and negative health outcomes are well documented, but risk and protective factors remain unclear. In this study, 458 higher-weight Australian adults completed online self-report measures of perceived weight stigma, weight-based social identification (identity centrality), internalised weight bias, and psychological distress. Associations between these variables were investigated in line with the rejection-identification model and the social identity approach to health. Perceived stigma was positively associated with social identification and psychological distress. Simple mediation analysis showed a positive indirect effect of perceived stigma on psychological distress through social identification. However, moderated mediation analysis revealed that this indirect effect was dependent on internalised bias. Among participants who reported low internalised bias, social identification was associated with lower psychological distress; but for those with high internalised bias, this relationship was reversed. Findings suggest that perceived weight stigma, weight-based social identification, and internalised weight bias are key factors that should be considered together in the design and evaluation of interventions to improve the mental health of higher-weight individuals.
['Curll|Sonia L|SL|', 'Brown|Patricia M|PM|']
D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D001315:Australia D001828:Body Image D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008603:Mental Health D008875:Middle Aged D008960:Models, Psychological D050177:Overweight D000079225:Psychological Distress D012933:Social Identification D057545:Social Stigma D013315:Stress, Psychological D055815:Young Adult
Weight stigma Rejection-identification model Social identity Internalized weight bias Social cure