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

Yager, Zali ORCID: 0000-0002-2503-7374, Diedrichs, Phillippa C and Drummond, Murray (2013) Understanding the role of gender in body image research settings: Participant gender preferences for researchers and co-participants in interviews, focus groups and interventions. Body Image, 10 (4). pp. 574-582. ISSN 1740-1445 (print) 1873-6807 (online)

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.

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Item type Article
URI https://vuir.vu.edu.au/id/eprint/22396
DOI 10.1016/j.bodyim.2013.06.004
Official URL http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S...
Subjects Historical > FOR Classification > 1303 Specialist Studies in Education
Historical > FOR Classification > 1701 Psychology
Historical > Faculty/School/Research Centre/Department > College of Education
Keywords researcher characteristics, gender, body image, interviews, focus groups, interventions
Citations in Scopus 18 - View on Scopus
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