Date of Conferral
2023
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Psychology
Advisor
John Astin
Abstract
Obesity is a chronic disease that is caused by unbalanced nutrition, sedentary lifestyles, and genetics. This research focused on the problem African American (AA) women face, which leads to a risk for diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and various cancers. The inconsistency in the literature regarding additional factors related to obesity among AA women prompted this research. The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain a greater understanding of AA women’s perceptions of AA men preferences about female body sizes. The prototype willingness model was selected as the theoretical framework for this study to examine AA women’s discussions about their behavioral intentions, attitudes, social norms relative to weight management, and the social contexts that may influence those factors. Nine participants were recruited for online interviews, and four themes were developed and analyzed from the interviews. The developed theme key results indicated participants expressed that being obese was a personal decision, and their weight was not impacted by the perceptions of AA men. The study contributes to positive social change by offering health professionals additional factors that may contribute to why AA women are challenged with obesity and will assist health professionals to develop programs for obesity prevention.
Recommended Citation
Withers, Misty, "African American Women’s Perceptions of African American Men’s Preferences of Female Body Size" (2023). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 14801.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/14801
