Body Shape Ideals and Perceptions of Body Shape in Spanish and American College Students

Abstract

108 Spanish university students (55 men, 53 women) from the University of Barcelona and 111 American college students (51 men, 60 women) from a midwestern liberal arts college responded to Fallon and Rozin's 1985 figure drawings used to measure perceptions of body image. All students were between the ages of 18 and 24 years. Women viewed themselves as being significantly larger than men perceived themselves to be, and women also desired a significantly thinner body for themselves than did men. Overall, men were more satisfied with their body shapes and were more accurate than women in guessing what the other sex would perceive as most attractive. The minimal differences between Spanish and American students suggested that sex has a more powerful influence on perceptions of body shape than does cultural background.