Decades of intergroup contact research have found that contact with outgroups reduces negative attitudes. Yet, few studies have examined the association between contact and anti-fat attitudes. Furthermore, testing different facets of contact, namely contact quantity versus contact duration, provides more precise theoretical predictions for their effectiveness in this under-tested context. This study examined whether intergroup anxiety was indirectly related to and contact favorability moderated the relationship between contact and anti-fat attitudes, tested through the constructs of contact quantity (i.e., how many individuals interacted with) and contact duration (i.e., how often time was spent). Undergraduates (N = 343; 260 women) based in the United States completed an online survey assessing intergroup contact, contact favorability, intergroup anxiety, and anti-fat attitudes. Analyses of conditional indirect effects showed that longer contact but not more contact reduced intergroup anxiety, which lowered anti-fat attitudes. The indirect paths for both contact types were not conditional upon contact favorability. Contact favorability moderated the association between contact duration and anti-fat attitudes such that longer and more favorable contact lowered anti-fat attitudes. Findings are discussed within the contact hypothesis, and future research should explore the distinct elements of the hypothesis as applicable to anti-fat prejudice in in-person and online contexts.

数十年的群体间接触研究发现，与外群体的接触会减少消极态度。然而，很少有研究检查接触和反脂肪态度之间的关系。此外，测试接触的不同方面，即接触数量与接触持续时间，为它们在这种未测试环境中的有效性提供了更精确的理论预测。本研究通过接触数量（即，与多少个人互动）和接触持续时间（即，接触的时间频率）的结构测试了群体间焦虑是否与接触好感度间接相关，接触好感度是否调节了接触和反脂肪态度之间的关系。花费）。本科生（N = 343; 260 名女性）在美国完成了一项评估群体间接触、接触好感度、群体间焦虑和反肥胖态度的在线调查。条件间接效应的分析表明，接触时间越长，接触越少，群际焦虑降低，反脂肪态度降低。两种接触类型的间接路径都不是以接触好感度为条件的。接触好感调节了接触持续时间和抗脂肪态度之间的关联，因此更长和更有利的接触降低了抗脂肪态度。调查结果在接触假设中进行了讨论，未来的研究应该探索该假设的不同元素，以适用于面对面和在线环境中的反脂肪偏见。