Regional Differences in Physical Appearance Identity among Young Adult Women in Thailand

Physical appearance concerns lead to serious health compromising behaviors among women in Thailand. In Thailand there is widespread use of oral and injectable skin whitening supplements, illegal and unsafe forms of skin-whitening creams, and cosmetic surgery, in addition to diet pills and weight loss supplements, suggesting that physical appearance identity in Thai women is multifaceted. Existing measures of physical appearance identity may not be valid for Thai women.;Two studies are presented that provide essential information about physical appearance identity among young Thai women. The purpose of the first study was to identify the key components of physical appearance identity among young adult women across four regions of Thailand. One-hundred twenty young women generated a total of 78 unique physical appearance characteristics (mean across individuals = 48; range = 32 - 77). A sample of female nursing students (n=94) validated these characteristics in focus groups. Then, they sorted the 78 characteristics into piles that reflected separate domains of physical appearance, labeled them, and ranked them in terms of importance: facial appearance, body weight and shape, skin, hair, and other physical appearance. Physical appearance identity is multi-faceted for young Thai women. Results hold potential for development of more culturally relevant measures of physical appearance identity in Thai women. Future studies using more culturally relevant measures hold potential to improve the health and well-being of girls and young women in Thailand.;The second study examines differences in physical appearance identity among young women in four regions of Thailand based on 30 physical appearance characteristics generated and validated in two previous samples of young Thai women. Using Q methodology, 200 Thai young women sorted the physical appearance characteristics in terms of importance. Across-region differences exist for the most important physical appearance characteristics. Regional differences in physical appearance identity may explain the variety of behaviors used by Thai women to enhance their physical appearance. Further research should focus on regional factors that contribute to these aspects of physical appearance becoming a dominant source of self- definition so that effective prevention strategies can be developed and targeted to women at high risk.