The Survey on Body Image 1996 grew out of our combined clinical and
research experiences. But it reflects PTs long-running interest in body
image issues. In 1972, Psychology Today first surveyed its readership on
the subject, then again in 1985. Only you can tell us: Have the social
advances of the 1990s made people more or less accepting of their
personal appearance?
We are interested in learning how people respond to cultural
messages about body size and shape. If you have maintained positive
feelings about your appearance, what specific strategies have you used?
What makes you feel good about your appearance? How does body image
change with age, pregnancy, love relationships?
Your participation in the Psychology Today Survey on Body Image
1996 will provide an important benchmark on body image attitudes. The
collective wisdom of PT readers may also yield insights that can help
others end the war with their body
Please complete the accompanying questionnaire and return it with
the label provided on page 63. The sooner you respond, the sooner we can
provide the definitive report on Body Image 1996.
PHOTO (COLOR)
PSYCHOLOGY TODAY SURVEY 1996
Instructions: Please answer all of the following questions by
checking (??? or x) the box that applies most accurately to you. Some
questions warrant a more detailed written response. If you need more
space, please enclose a separate sheet of paper with your answers (make
sure they are numbered in accordance with the questions) and descriptions
of your experiences.
Please cut out and use the label at the end of the questionnaire to
return your survey. It will facilitate processing.
Part I: How Do You Feel about Your Body?
1. How important do you think physical attractiveness is in
day-to-day social interaction for most people?
[ ] Very important
[ ] Moderately important
[ ] Slightly important
[ ] Almost irrelevant
[ ] Completely irrelevant
2. How self-conscious are you about your appearance?
[ ] Not at all self-conscious
[ ] A little self-conscious
[ ] Somewhat self-conscious
[ ] Quite self-conscious
[ ] Extreme]y self-conscious
3. How do you feel about these aspects of your appearance?
Legend for Chart:
A - Extremely Satisfied
B - Somewhat satisfied
C - Somewhat dissatisfied
D - Quite dissatisfied
E - Extremely dissatisfied
A B C D E
a. Height [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
b. Weight [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
c. Hips [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
d. Hands [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
e. Legs [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
f. Hair [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
g. Abdomen [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
h. Overall facial
attractiveness [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
i. Chest/breasts [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
j. Arms [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
k. Buttocks [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
l. Size of sex
organs [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
m. Muscle tone [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
n. Shoulders [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
o. Feet [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
4. When you look at your body in the mirror, how satisfied do you
feel about what you see?
[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
Part II: What Causes Negative Feelings about Your Body? 5. How
important are the following in making you feel bad about your
body?
Legend for Chart:
A - Very important
B - Moderately important
C - Slightly important
D - Almost irrelevant
E - Completely irrelevant
A B C D E
a. Someone rejecting you [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
b. Not getting regular exercise [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
c. Being in a bad mood about
something else [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
d. Being around someone who
is critical of you [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
e. Not living up to your family's
standards for "looks" [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
f. Negative sexual experiences [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
g. Eating fattening foods [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
h. Not feeling confident
in your abilities [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
i. Remembering being teased
when you were younger [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
j. A partner's opinion about
your appearance [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
k. Relationships not going well [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
l. Gaining weight [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
m. Looking at your face in
the mirror [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
n. Looking at your stomach in
the mirror [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
Women Only:
o. A certain time in your
menstrual cycle [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
p. Pregnancy [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
q. Water retention [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
Pick items above you feel most strongly about and tell us more. Use
another sheet of paper if you need more space.
PART III: What Causes Positive Feelings about Your Body?
6. How important are the following in making you feel good about
your body?
Legend for Chart:
A - Very important
B - Moderately important
C - Slightly important
D - Almost irrelevant
E - Completely irrelevant
A B C D E
a. Regular exercise [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
b. Losing weight [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
c. Compliments from others
on your appearance [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
d. Relationships with others
Tags:
american journal of psychiatry,
body dissatisfaction,
Body image,
body satisfaction,
dartmouth,
downturn,
fluctuation,
neurologists,
psychological disorders,
self acceptance,
three decades
