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

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  • Federica Durante
  • Mirco Fasolo
  • Silvia Mari
  • Andrea F. Mazzola

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Federica Durante & Mirco Fasolo & Silvia Mari & Andrea F. Mazzola, 2014. "Children’s Attitudes and Stereotype Content Toward Thin, Average-Weight, and Overweight Peers," SAGE Open, , vol. 4(2), pages 21582440145, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:sagope:v:4:y:2014:i:2:p:2158244014534697
    DOI: 10.1177/2158244014534697
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kay, Aaron C. & Jost, John T., 2003. "Complementary Justice: Effects of "Poor But Happy" and "Poor But Honest" Stereotype Exemplars on System Justification and Implicit Activation of the Justice Motive," Research Papers 1753r, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business.
    2. Puhl, R.M. & Heuer, C.A., 2010. "Obesity stigma: Important considerations for public health," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 100(6), pages 1019-1028.
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