110 Body Dissatisfaction
Beliefs
Some research has examined the beliefs held by the individuals themselves
and their family members. For example, when attempting to understand
ethnicity, studies have highlighted a role for beliefs about competitiveness,
the value of achievement, material success, and a parental belief that the
child is their future (Ogden and Chanana, 1998). Both Mumford, White-
house, and Platts (1991) and Hill and Bhatti (1995) highlighted a role for
beliefs about a traditional role for women in explaining weight concern in
Asian girls. In a similar vein, when attempting to explain the impact of
social class research has highlighted a role for beliefs about achievement,
and it has been suggested that eating disorders may be a response to such
pressures (Bruch, 1974; Kalucy, Crisp, and Harding, 1977; Selvini, 1988).
Lower class individuals may aspire more in terms of family life and hav-
ing children, which may be protective against weight concern. Cole and
Edelmann (1988) empirically tested this possibility and assessed the rela-
tionship between the need to achieve and eating behavior, but although
the need to achieve was associated with class, it was not predictive of weight
concern. It has also been suggested that class may be associated with the
value of physical appearance and attitudes towards obesity (Wardle, Volz,
and Golding, 1995), and Dornbusch et al. (1984) commented that those
from the higher classes placed more emphasis on thinness. In addition,
Striegel-Moore, Silberstein, and Rodin (1986) argued that higher class
women are more likely to emulate trendsetters of beauty and fashion, pre-
disposing them to feelings of dissatisfaction with their appearance. The
literature, therefore, highlights a range of beliefs which may mediate the
impact of ethnicity and social class on body dissatisfaction. These include
beliefs about competitiveness, achievement, material success, the role of
women, stereotypes of beauty, and the child–parent relationship. Ogden
and Chanana (1998) explored the role of these beliefs in Asian and
white teenage girls, and Ogden and Thomas (1999) focused on lower and
higher class individuals. It was concluded that although social factors
such as class and ethnicity may be related to body dissatisfaction, it is likely
that their influence is mediated through the role of beliefs held both by
the individual who is dissatisfied with their body and by their family
members.
Mother–daughter relationship
Some research has also explored the nature of the mother–daughter
relationship. For example, Crisp et al. (1980) argued that undefined