A Study of Attention Bias in Body Image Perception within the Context of Clothing Industry

Abstract

In contemporary society, body anxiety is a prevalent and multifaceted psychological distress affecting individuals of all ages. The gaze of both same-sex and opposite-sex individuals can contribute to heightened body anxiety. Body anxiety is not merely a personal concern but also a collective societal issue. This study investigates people’s attention bias towards different body shapes, employing small and plus-size models as stimuli. Participants were presented with images of plus-size and small-size models wearing identical clothing. Both female and male models were included in the stimuli. Participants’ gaze patterns were recorded using an eye-tracking device, yielding quantified attention-related gaze results. Statistical analyses revealed that participants exhibited a higher level of attention towards small-size models, as evidenced by significantly longer fixation durations and higher fixation counts. Subsequent gender-based analyses demonstrated that female and male participants spent more time viewing small female models than male models. This finding suggests that participants placed a greater emphasis on female body figures and exhibited a preference for slim figures. At the same time, a greater tolerance towards male body figures was demonstrated. These results provide valuable insights into attention bias in body figures and gender differences.