Baturka N, Hornsby P P, Schorling J B
Office of Medical Education, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.
J Gen Intern Med. 2000 Apr;15(4):235-41. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2000.06479.x.
To increase understanding of body image among rural, African-American women through open-ended interviews.
Individuals' perceptions of body image were investigated using open-ended, in-depth interviews that were tape-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed to identify common themes and to compare thematic data across three body mass index categories (obese, overweight, and normal).
University-affiliated rural community health center.
Twenty-four African-American women, aged 21 to 47 years.
Respondents reported the following common themes: dissatisfaction with current weight; fluctuating levels of dissatisfaction (including periods of satisfaction); family and social pressure to be self-accepting; and social and physical barriers to weight loss. The interviews revealed ambivalence and conflicts with regard to body image and weight. Among these women, there was strong cultural pressure to be self-accepting of their physical shape, to "be happy with what God gave you," and to make the most of their appearance.
The pressure to be self-accepting often conflicted with these obese women's dissatisfaction with their own appearance and weight. Although the respondents believed they could lose weight "if [they] put [their] mind to it," those women wanting to lose weight found that they lacked the necessary social support and resources to do so. The conflicts stemming from social pressures and their own ambivalence may result in additional barriers to the prevention of obesity, and an understanding of these issues can help health care providers better address the needs of their patients.
通过开放式访谈增进对农村非裔美国女性身体意象的理解。
采用开放式深入访谈对个体对身体意象的认知进行调查，访谈进行录音、转录和分析，以确定共同主题，并比较三个体重指数类别（肥胖、超重和正常）的主题数据。
大学附属农村社区卫生中心。
24名年龄在21至47岁之间的非裔美国女性。
受访者报告了以下共同主题：对当前体重不满意；不满意程度波动（包括满意时期）；来自家庭和社会的自我接纳压力；以及减肥的社会和身体障碍。访谈揭示了在身体意象和体重方面的矛盾心理和冲突。在这些女性中，存在强大的文化压力，要求她们自我接纳自己的体型，“对上帝赋予你的感到快乐”，并充分利用自己的外表。
自我接纳的压力往往与这些肥胖女性对自己外表和体重的不满相冲突。尽管受访者认为“如果下定决心”就能减肥，但那些想减肥的女性发现她们缺乏必要的社会支持和资源。社会压力及其自身矛盾心理所引发的冲突可能会给肥胖预防带来更多障碍，了解这些问题有助于医疗保健提供者更好地满足患者的需求。
