Six- to 11-year-old children’s attitudes toward thin, average-weight, and overweight targets were investigated with associated warmth and competence stereotypes. The results showed positive attitudes toward average-weight targets and negative attitudes toward overweight peers: Both attitudes decreased as a function of children’s age. Thin targets were perceived more positively than overweight ones but less positively than average-weight targets. Notably, social desirability concerns predicted the decline of anti-fat bias in older children. Finally, the results showed ambivalent stereotypes toward thin and overweight targets—particularly among older children—mirroring the stereotypes observed in adults. This result suggests that by the end of elementary school, children manage the two fundamental dimensions of social judgment similar to adults.

Durante, F., Fasolo, M., Mari, S., Mazzola, A. (2014). Children's Attitudes and Stereotype Content Toward Thin, Average-Weight, and Overweight Peers. SAGE OPEN, 4(2) [10.1177/2158244014534697].

Children's Attitudes and Stereotype Content Toward Thin, Average-Weight, and Overweight Peers

DURANTE, FEDERICA;FASOLO, MIRCO;MARI, SILVIA;
2014

Abstract

Six- to 11-year-old children’s attitudes toward thin, average-weight, and overweight targets were investigated with associated warmth and competence stereotypes. The results showed positive attitudes toward average-weight targets and negative attitudes toward overweight peers: Both attitudes decreased as a function of children’s age. Thin targets were perceived more positively than overweight ones but less positively than average-weight targets. Notably, social desirability concerns predicted the decline of anti-fat bias in older children. Finally, the results showed ambivalent stereotypes toward thin and overweight targets—particularly among older children—mirroring the stereotypes observed in adults. This result suggests that by the end of elementary school, children manage the two fundamental dimensions of social judgment similar to adults.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
body size, children, attitudes, stereotype, warmth, competence
English
8-mag-2014
4
2
none
Durante, F., Fasolo, M., Mari, S., Mazzola, A. (2014). Children's Attitudes and Stereotype Content Toward Thin, Average-Weight, and Overweight Peers. SAGE OPEN, 4(2) [10.1177/2158244014534697].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/51485
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