Perceptions of Body Image of Women with Blindness

Edina Csernák; Judit Gombás

doi:10.33700/jhrs.1.1.38

Total views: 559 |

Open Access

Authors

Edina Csernák ELTE Barczi Gusztáv Faculty of Special Needs Education, Budapest, Hungary https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4269-5691
Judit Gombás ELTE Bárczi Gusztáv Faculty of Special Needs Education, Budapest, Hungary https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0004-3575

https://doi.org/10.33700/jhrs.1.1.38

Keywords:

blindness, body image, constructivist grounded theory, important others

Abstract

Introduction: Body dissatisfaction is a general concern from teenage years onwards, and is especially characteristic in the population of young women all over the world.

Objectives: This qualitative research sought to find answers to how young (aged 18-30) women with congenital or acquired blindness perceive their body image (BI), and how they get information about the appearance of others.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve blind women, aged 18-30 years. Verbatim interview transcripts were analysed independently by both first and second author, following guidelines of constructivist grounded theory (CGT). Coding was conducted in accordance with Strauss and Corbin’s (1998) procedure: transcripts were analysed with open, axial and finally with selective coding.

Results: Findings confirm that feedback from important others, especially negative feedback, greatly influences young women with blindness in developing their BI, and that for many it is a concern to what extent they should internalise negative remarks which are related to their appearance.

Conclusion: Since feedback and verbal information from others are essential for women with blindness in trying to understand what they and others look like, it is important for professionals, parents and for the women themselves to understand how vulnerable they may be to the criticism of others.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Ashikali, E. M., & Dittmar, H. (2010). Body image and restrained eating in blind and sighted women: A preliminary study. Body Image, 7(2), 172–175.

Baker, D., Sivyer, R., & Towell, T. (1998). Body image dissatisfaction and eating attitudes in visually impaired women. The International Journal of Eating Disorders, 24(3), 319–322.

Bemporad, J. R., Hoffman, D., & Herzog, D. B. (1989). Anorexia nervosa in the congenitally blind: theoretical considerations. The Journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis, 17(1), 89–101.

Bould, H., Carnegie, R., Allward, H., Bacon, E., Lambe, E., Sapseid, M., Button, K. S., Lewis, G., Skinner, A., Broome, M. R., Park, R., Harmer, C. J., Penton-Voak, I. S., & Munafò, M. R. (2018). Effects of exposure to bodies of different sizes on perception of and satisfaction with own body size: two randomized studies. Royal Society Open Science, 5(5), 171387.

Bucchianeri, M. M., Arikian, A. J., Hannan, P. J., Eisenberg, M. E., & Neumark-Sztainer, D. (2013). Body dissatisfaction from adolescence to young adulthood: findings from a 10-year longitudinal study. Body Image, 10(1), 1–7.

Burns, M., Bally, J., Burles, M., Holtslander, L., & Peacock, S. (2022). Constructivist Grounded Theory or Interpretive Phenomenology? Methodological Choices Within Specific Study Contexts. International Journal of Qualitative Methods.

Burychka, D., Miragall, M., & Baños, R. M. (2021). Towards a comprehensive understanding of body image: Integrating positive body image, embodiment and self-compassion. Psychologica Belgica, 61(1), 248–261.

Charmaz, K. (2006). Constructing Grounded Theory: A Practical Guide through Qualitative Analysis. London, Sage.

Charmaz, K., Thornberg, R., Keane, E. (2018). Evolving grounded theory and social justice inquiry. In Denzin, N. K., Lincoln, Y. S. (Eds), The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research (5th ed., pp. 411–443).

Charmaz, K., & Thornberg, R. (2021). The pursuit of quality in grounded theory. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 18(3), 305–327.

Corbin, J. & Strauss, A. (2008). Basics of qualitative research. Techniques and Procedures for Developing Grounded Theory 3rd edition. Sage, London.

Corley, K. G. (2015). A commentary on “what grounded theory is…”: Engaging a phenomenon from the perspective of those living it. Organizational Research Methods, 18(4), 600–605.

Creswell, J. W. & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry & research design: choosing among five approaches. Thousand Oakes: CA, SAGE.

Dittmar, H. (2021). Consumer Culture, Identity and Well-being: The Search for the “Good Life” and the “Body Perfect” (2nd ed.). Routledge.

Fernández-Bustos, J. G., Infantes-Paniagua, Á., Gonzalez-Martí, I., & Contreras-Jordán, O. R. (2019). Body dissatisfaction in adolescents: Differences by sex, BMI and type and organisation of physical activity. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(17), 3109.

Glaser, B. G. (2005). The grounded theory perspective III: Theoretical coding. Mill Valley, CA: Sociology Press.

Grogan, S. (2006). Body image and health: contemporary perspectives: Contemporary perspectives. Journal of Health Psychology, 11(4), 523–530.

Grogan, S. (2017). Body image: Understanding body dissatisfaction in men, women and children (3rd ed.). Oxon, England: Routledge.

Gruszka, W., Owczarek, A. J., Glinianowicz, M., Bąk-Sosnowska, M., Chudek, J., & Olszanecka-Glinianowicz, M. (2022). Perception of body size and body dissatisfaction in adults. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 1159.

Hallberg, L. R. M. (2010). Some thoughts about the literature review in grounded theory studies. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, 5(3), 5387.

Jacobi, C., Fittig, E., Bryson, S. W., Wilfley, D., Kraemer, H. C. & Taylorc, B. C. (2011). Who is really at risk? Identifying risk factors for subthreshold and full syndrome eating disorders in high-risk sample. Psychological Medicine, 41(9), 1939-1949.

Kaplan-Myrth, N. (2000). Alice without looking glass: Blind people and body image. Anthropology & Medicine, 7(3), 277-299.

Kocourkova, J., Soltysova, M., Mohaplova, M. & Hrdlicka, M. (2011). Anorexia nervosa in a blind girl. Neuroendocrinology Letters, 32(6), 748-750.

Laker, V., & Waller, G. (2022). Does comparison of self with others influence body image among adult women? An experimental study in naturalistic settings. Eating and Weight Disorders, 27(2), 597–604.

Manaf, N. A., Saravanan, C., & Zuhrah, B. (2016). The prevalence and inter-relationship of negative body image perception, depression and susceptibility to eating disorders among female medical undergraduate students. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 10(3), VC01–VC04.

McCabe, M. P., Mavoa, H., Ricciardelli, L. A., Schultz, J. T., Waqa, G., & Fotu, K. F. (2011). Socio-cultural agents and their impact on body image and body change strategies among adolescents in Fiji, Tonga, Tongans in New Zealand and Australia: Socio-cultural factors and body change strategies. Obesity Reviews: An Official Journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity, 12 Suppl 2, 61–67.

McComb, S. E., & Mills, J. S. (2021). Young women’s body image following upwards comparison to Instagram models: The role of physical appearance perfectionism and cognitive emotion regulation. Body Image, 38, 49–62.

Mental Health Foundation (n.d.). Body image report - Executive Summary. Retrieved July 5, 2022, from https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/articles/body-image-report-executive-summary.

Mills, J., Bonner, A., Francis, K. (2006). Adopting a constructivist approach to grounded theory: Implications for research design. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 12(1), 8–13.

Morgado, F. F., Ferreira, M. E., Campana, A. N., Rigby, A. S., & Tavares, M. (2013). Initial evidence of the reliability and validity of a three-dimensional body rating scale for the congenitally blind. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 116(1), 91–105.

Musetti, A., Schimmenti, A., & Corsano, P. (2021). Mass media influences on body image and body esteem in female adolescents: the mediating role of hopeful future expectations. Atlantic Journal of Communication, 29(4), 189–201.

Pedalino, F., & Camerini, A.-L. (2022). Instagram use and body dissatisfaction: The mediating role of upward social comparison with peers and influencers among young females. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(3), 1543.

Pierce, J. W. & Wardle, J. (1996). Body size, parental appraisal, and self-esteem in blind children. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines, 37(2), 205–212.

Pukánszky, J. (2018). A testképet meghatározó szociokulturális tényezők és kötődési jellemzők vizsgálata egyetemista nők körében (Doktori (Phd) értekezés). Pécsi Tudományegyetem Bölcsészettudományi Kar, Pécs. Retrieved 22 July, 2022 from https://pea.lib.pte.hu/bitstream/handle/pea/18328/pukanszky-judit-phd-2019.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y.

Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and adolescent self-image. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

Schilder, P. (1935). Psycho-analysis of space. International Journal of Psycho-Analysis, 16, 274-295.

Simeunovic Ostojic, M. & Hansen, A. M. J. (2013). Sociocultural factors in the development of bulimia nervosa in a blind woman: A case report. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 46, 284-288.

Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (1998). Basics of Qualitative Research Techniques and Procedures for Developing Grounded Theory. Thousand Oaks, CA Sage Publications,Inc.

Striegel-Moore, R. & Franko, D. (2002). Body Image Issues among Girls and Women. In Cash, T., F. & Pruzinsky, T. (Eds.) A handbook of theory, research, and clinical practice (pp. 183-191). New York, NY: Guilford Press.

Sundgot-Borgen, C., Stenling, A., Rosenvinge, J. H., Pettersen, G., Friborg, O., Sundgot-Borgen, J., Kolle, E., Torstveit, M. K., Svantorp-Tveiten, K. M. E., & Bratland-Sanda, S. (2020). The Norwegian healthy body image intervention promotes positive embodiment through improved self-esteem. Body Image, 35, 84–95.

Valerio, M. A., Rodriguez, N., Winkler, P., Lopez, J., Dennison, M., Liang, Y., & Turner, B. J. (2016). Comparing two sampling methods to engage hard-to-reach communities in research priority setting. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 16(1), 146.

Vandereycken, W. (1986). Anorexia nervosa and visual impairment. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 27, 545-548.

Yager, J., Hatton, C. A. & Ma, L. (1986). Anorexia nervosa in a woman totally blind since the age of two. British Journal of Psychiatry, 146, 506-509.