College Women as Recipients of Multiple Types of Negative Body Comments

Objectives: We sought to determine the prevalence of multiple types of negative body comments among college women. Methods: Women at a southeast public university were asked whether they had received negative comments regarding 8 non-face body features. Results: The mean number (±SD) of features for which participants reported having received negativity was 3.84±1.85 for sexually inexperienced women and 4.46±1.66 for sexually experienced women (p < .005). A negative correlation was observed between number of features for which women had received negativity and satisfaction with physical appearance. Sources of negativity depended on both the particular body feature and sexual experience. Conclusions: Health and sexuality education courses should address the negativity that is frequently directed at women about their bodies.