The Protestant ethic and the stigma of overweight.

Four studies examined the relationship between Protestant ethic ideology and self views (self-esteem, depression, and anxiety) for overweight and normal weight women. Study 1 showed that greater endorsement of the Protestant ethic was related to decreased psychological well-being for those who perceived themselves to be very overweight. Study 2 replicated this effect in a daily report study. Study 3 revealed that when the Protestant ethic was made salient within the context of weight---regardless of personal endorsement of the Protestant ethic---overweight but not normal weight women felt worse than when a more inclusive ideology was made salient. Study 4 examined the Protestant ethic within the context of positive messages about dieting, but was inconclusive. The relationship between ideology, self, and stigma is discussed.PhDPersonality psychologyPhilosophy, Religion and TheologyPsychologyReligionSocial SciencesSocial psychologyWomen's studiesUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/131762/2/9929929.pd