Date Thesis Awarded

4-2017

Access Type

Honors Thesis -- Access Restricted On-Campus Only

Degree Name

Bachelors of Arts (BA)

Department

Psychology

Advisor

Catherine Forestell

Committee Members

Elizabeth Raposa

Meghan Sinton

Sharon Zuber

Abstract

The current study examined the relationship between women’s food intake and their conformity to feminine norms after a sad mood induction. Based on past research, we hypothesized that conformity to the feminine norm of modesty would predict reduced food intake. Female participants (N = 200) watched a sad movie clip, partook in a taste test in which they consumed potato chips and chocolate chips, and completed validated surveys designed to assess conformity to feminine norms and daily use of emotion regulation strategies. Regression analyses revealed that increased conformity to the feminine norm of modesty predicted reduced food intake. Expressive suppression moderated this effect, such that women who used expressive suppression more in their daily lives showed a weaker relationship between modesty and food intake. Conformity to feminine norms overall and cognitive reappraisal did not predict food intake. Overall, this study affirms the importance of examining how the cultural norms that dictate how women should act, feel, and think influence food consumption.

Recommended Citation

Le, Thomas P., "The Effect of Conformity to Feminine Norms on Women’s Food Consumption after a Sad Mood Induction" (2017). Undergraduate Honors Theses. William & Mary. Paper 1115.
https://scholarworks.wm.edu/honorstheses/1115