Publications

Stigma and discrimination against people higher in weight is common in the U.S. and understanding weight stigma’s consequences for different individuals is important. In this study, Black (N=290) and White (N=449) men and women who perceived themselves to be "overweight” completed self-report measures of perceived weight discrimination, emotion regulation, psychological distress, and eating behavior. Results showed gender differences among White but not Black participants, weight discrimination and the outcomes of interest were stronger for White men, compared to White women. Furthermore, difficulties in emotion regulation significantly mediated the associations of perceived weight discrimination with anxiety, depression, and emotional eating, with this association stronger for White men relative to White women. These results illuminate difficulties with emotion regulation as an important variable to consider in how perceived weight discrimination impacts psychological distress and eating behavior. These findings point to the possibility that White men may be differentially affected by weight discrimination.

Weight discrimination is associated with deleterious health outcomes, including high stress and disordered eating. According to the rejection-identification model, people who perceive such group-based discrimination respond by identifying more strongly with their stigmatized group, which can attenuate negative consequences of discrimination. However, some research shows that these protective benefits may not exist in the weight domain. Here, we examined whether perceived weight discrimination predicts identifying as “fat,” and whether that increased identification protects against negative consequences of discrimination for health. In a larger study, U.S. adults who reported considering themselves “to be overweight” (N = 1725) reported on their perceived weight-based discrimination, fat-group identification, stress, and eating behaviors (i.e., uncontrolled eating, emotional eating, and restrained eating). We tested whether fat-group identification mediated the associations of perceived discrimination to stress and eating. Results showed that perceiving weight discrimination was associated with greater fat-group identification, which in turn was associated with more stress, uncontrolled eating, and emotional eating. These findings suggest that identifying as “fat” in the face of weight discrimination may not reduce subsequent stress or unhealthy eating patterns. As such, in contrast to prior research on the rejection-identification model that suggests identifying with one’s group is protective for other identities, “fat” as an identity may not provide the same psychological and physical health benefits.

The current study assessed how the extent to which a gay man resembled a prototypical gay man influenced the judgements others made about them. We hypothesized that highly prototypical gay men would be perceived to be more identified with the gay community, possess more negative stereotypes of gay men, engage in more activities within the gay community, viewed less positively by others, and receive more discrimination. Additionally, perceived group identification and negative stereotypes attributed to the gay man were expected to serially mediate the relationship between prototypicality and perceived engagement in gay activities, positive attitudes, and discrimination from others. Participants (N = 364) were randomly assigned to view stimuli depicting either a low or high prototypical gay man. High prototypical gay men were perceived to be more identified with the gay community, possess more negative stereotypes, and engage in more stereotypical immoral activities, than low prototypical gay men. Moreover, perceived group identification and negative stereotype attribution serially mediated the relationship between prototypicality and perceived engagement in gay activities, attitudes toward target, and discrimination. Implications for the Prejudice Distribution Account are discussed.

Acknowledging systemic racism, a key tenet of Critical Race Theory (CRT), may be threatening to many Americans but it can also reduce racial biases. However, anti-CRT legislation prohibits learning about racism, thus highlighting the mutually reinforcing relationship between systemic racism and the production of ignorance. We assessed White Americans’ knowledge about CRT through participant-generated definitions (Study 1, N = 199) and via a true/false questionnaire (Study 2, N = 194), and its relation to opposition to CRT. Opposition to CRT was associated with a less accurate understanding of CRT, even when controlling for political orientation. Content analyses revealed that opponents of CRT deny anti-Black racism, believe CRT harms Whites, and view discussing race as divisive. Based on these themes, we developed a meta-cognitive corrective intervention in Study 3 (N = 289). Participants who received corrective feedback after taking a multiple-choice test about CRT showed a larger decrease in their opposition to CRT than those in the control condition.

Immigrants and racial minorities continue to face hiring discrimination. The current study examined the influence of accent, race, as well as perceived Americanness on hiring evaluations. White US adults (N= 375) were randomly assigned to one of six conditions based on two factors: (a) accent (standard versus foreign) and (b) race (White, Black, and Asian). Accented speakers were perceived to be less American and were subsequently less likely to be hired. However, this effect was stronger or only emerged for White and Black candidates. The perception and evaluation of the Asian candidate were not explained by perceived Americanness. Implications for being perceived as American are discussed.

Exposure to sexual violence is associated with deleterious mental health consequences, and survivors’ perceptions of self-blame can exacerbate these difficulties. Characterological self-blame (CSB) has been associated with negative outcomes (e.g., PTSD, depression, & anxiety). However, the underlying mechanisms that account for CSB’s negative impacts have not been explored despite the stigmatizing and blaming nature surrounding sexual violence. In the present study, we examined whether trauma-related shame would explain CSB’s association with depression and anxiety symptom severity. A sample of 197 women who reported prior exposure to sexual assault completed measures of self-blame, trauma-related shame, and depression and anxiety symptoms. A significant association was found between CSB and depression, r(197) = .380, p < .01, and anxiety, r(197) = .256, p < .01. Trauma-related shame significantly mediated the relationship between CSB and depression (B = .07, SE = .02, 95% CI [.03, .12]), and mediated between CSB and anxiety (B = .05, SE = .02, 95% CI [.01, .09]). Trauma-related shame may be a useful treatment target for survivors of sexual assault experiencing maladaptive blame and psychological distress.

Public health campaigns promote messages encouraging people to maintain a healthy weight and avoid obesity. Obesity messages are often presented with different framings (e.g., obesity as a disease, obesity as under personal control). In this work, we examined the potential consequences of framing obesity as a disease, versus controllable, on executing functioning. In two studies, participants who self-identified as having higher body weight (Study 1: N = 156 undergraduate students; Study 2: N = 253 U.S. adults) read an article framing obesity as a disease, an article framing obesity as controllable, or a control article about climate change, and then they completed an executive-function task. Additionally, in Study 2 only, participants completed self-report measures of perceived control, negative mood, stress, and situational self-awareness to test as possible mediators of observed framing effects. In Study 1, participants who reported that obesity was a disease performed significantly worse on the executive-function task than did participants in the controllable condition or the climate-change control condition. In Study 2, this result was replicated, and we tested perceived control, negative mood, perceived stress, and situational self-awareness as plausible mediators; no significant mediation was observed. Framing obesity as a disease may inadvertently decrease executive functioning among people who consider themselves to have higher weight.

Purpose

To assess gynecologic oncologists’ attitudes relating to palliative care referrals among advanced cancer patients.

Methods

Gynecologic oncologists were surveyed using validated measures to assess stigmatizing attitudes toward palliative care, anticipated stigma of palliative care, acceptance of palliative care, and willingness to refer to palliative care. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Analysis was performed using linear regression.

Results

1200 physicians received the survey and 108 (9%) completed it. Most were female (69.4%) and white (82.4%). Most practiced in academics (64.8%) in urban environments (71.3%). Respondents did not have anticipated stigma surrounding palliative care referral (mean score 1.89, range 1-7, higher score indicating more stigma), were accepting of palliative care (mean score 1.45, range 1-7, higher score indicating less acceptance), and were willing to refer patients to palliative care (mean score 5.75, range 1-7, higher score indicating more willingness to refer). Linear regression demonstrated females had less anticipated stigma surrounding palliative care (B = −.213, P = .04) and higher acceptance of palliative care (B = −.244, P = .01). Most surveyed derived satisfaction from work with advanced cancer patients (83%). Nineteen percent were depressed by managing advanced cancer patients. One fourth felt emotionally burned out by dealing with too many deaths.

Conclusions

Most gynecologic oncologists did not exhibit stigma surrounding palliative care and derive satisfaction from their work. Some gynecologic oncologists experience depression and burnout related to their profession. This close connection with patients as they transition to the end of life may take a toll on providers.

This study aimed to explore factors associated with perceived stress in adults with higher body sizes. An analysis of data from participants who self-reported higher body weight was conducted (n = 1716). The mean (standard deviation) age was 55.92 (15.94) years and 71.3% and 28.7% identified themselves as women and men, respectively. Gender differences in perceived stress, desire for weight loss, trust in physicians, body affirmation, and perceived weight discrimination were examined. Perceived stress and perceived weight discrimination were significantly higher in women than in men, while trust in physicians and body affirmation was higher in men than women. Trust in physicians and body affirmation were both negatively associated with perceived stress. Perceived weight discrimination and desire for weight loss were both positively associated with perceived stress. Trust in physicians, body affirmation, and perceived weight discrimination were examined as mediators of the observed gender differences between men and women. Trust in physicians, body affirmation, and perceived weight discrimination were significant mediators of the relationship between gender and perceived stress. These results suggest that a possible point of intervention for addressing gender differences in rates of perceived stress among higher body weight adults may be to increase trust in physicians, encourage body affirmation, and reduce weight discrimination.

Claims of discrimination made by high-status groups (e.g., White people, men) have become increasingly more common. To understand ingroup support for such claims, we examined perceivers’ group identification (GID) and perceived social costs as contributing factors. In addition, we examined the impact of the claimant blaming 'diversity' as a source of discrimination to see if this may influence perceptions of social costs and ultimately support. Across three experiments, we found that GID predicted support for the claimant among Whites and men when the claim blamed diversity, which was mediated by perceptions of group-level social costs, suggesting that mentioning diversity as part of their claim may influence support for the claimant. We found similar patterns of results for liking and behavioral intentions. Results suggest that it is important to examine aspects of the claim and perceivers’ perceptions of social costs when examining support for discrimination claimants.