Perceptual Discrepancies of Body Sizes in Japanese Female College Students: Using a 3‐D Silhouette Scale

Abstract

Body image comprises a perceptual evaluation of one's body. We examined perceptual discrepancies of own and others' body sizes in young Japanese women. Moreover, we investigated if thin‐ideal internalization and appearance‐comparison tendency were associated with the discrepancies. A sample of 173 young Japanese women (Mage = 20.11 years, SD = 1.50 years) completed a figural/silhouette scale questionnaire created based on the national anthropometric data and measures of thin‐ideal internalization and appearance‐comparison tendency. Results indicated that the participants selected a larger figure for themselves than their body mass index (BMI) represented, while they selected a slimmer figure for their ideal body than their ideal BMI represented. In addition, the extent of the perceptual discrepancies was correlated with thin‐ideal internalization and appearance‐comparison tendency. Moreover, participants expressed body dissatisfaction to a greater extent when using a silhouette scale than when using BMI. Findings are discussed in relation to abundant visual images of attractive bodies in society, which may lead to body‐size perceptual discrepancies and misjudgments, body dissatisfaction, and eventual weight‐loss behaviors. Implications for intervention are also discussed.