Social Identity and Adjustment to UW-Eau Claire : Is the Social Environment to Blame For First Year Weight Gain?

Abstract

This study investigates how new college student identities (or self-image) as a healthy eater when arriving at college, as well as their experiences in their first semester in college, affect weight gain during that time. Two versions of sociological theories of identity are used to predict the outcomes. Two major theoretical traditions in Sociology have the concept of identity as a central concern, Identity Theory (IT) and Social Identity Theory (SIT) (Stets and Burke 2000). Both have the assumption that identities are constructed and malleable, built and changing all through life. Both assume certain identities will be more central to the person, or more "salient", and thus have more impact at some times than other identities that are seen as less relevant. IT would assume that early interaction in the home create the majority of self perceptions regarding food and eating and health. SIT would posit that membership in any group can be the basis of an identity, thus predicting that experiences on campus with other students will have a powerful effect on self perceptions regarding food, eating, and health.