Understanding the role of gender in body image research settings: Participant gender preferences for researchers and co-participants in interviews, focus groups and interventions

Diedrichs, Phillippa C.; Yager, Zali; Diedrichs, Phillippa C; Drummond, Murray

Abstract

Participant gender preferences for body image researchers, interventionists and focus group and intervention co-participants have been largely ignored, despite recognition that such characteristics can influence the nature and quality of data collected and intervention effects. To address this, Australian women (n=505) and men (n=220) completed a questionnaire about their preferences for interviewers and focus group facilitators, for teachers delivering school-based interventions, and for co-participants in these settings. Women predominantly preferred female interviewers and teachers, and mixed-sex co-participants, but most had no preference for focus group facilitators. Body dissatisfied women were more likely to prefer female researchers and single-sex co-participants. Most men did not have specific preferences, however, body dissatisfied men were more likely to report a gender preference for interviewers and teachers. Professional capabilities, personal qualities and appearance were regarded as important researcher characteristics. These findings have important implications for body image research, particularly among high-risk groups. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2013
• Journal: Body Image
• Print ISSN: 1740-1445
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 574-582
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2013.06.004
• Keywords: researcher characteristics, gender, body image, interviews, focus groups, interventions
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/928783
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2013.06.004