Body image researcher among world’s top scientists
VIREN Swami (pic), Professor of Social Psychology at Anglia Ruskin University and Adjunct Professor at Perdana University, has been ranked as one of the world’s most cited scientists.
A study conducted by scientists at Stanford University looked at several citation indicators, whichprovide a general guide to the impact of research conducted by individual scientists.
The study analysed data from 1996 through 2019, covering about 7 million scientists in 22 major fields, such as agriculture, economics, and virology.
The study, updated in 2020, recognised Prof Swami as one of the world’s most cited scientists.
In the field of Social Psychology, he was ranked 197 out of almost 17,000 researchers.
In the national context, he was one of 162 scientists affiliated with a Malaysian university included in the list, and the most highly-cited scientist affiliated with a Malaysian university in the field of Social Psychology, a statement from Perdana University read.
Prof Swami is known for his research on body image, especially his work examining body image in different cultural settings.
His study examining body dissatisfaction in 26 countries has been cited by researchers almost 600 times.
He has also conducted research on physical attractiveness, mental health, and belief in conspiracy theories.
Much of his research is conducted in Malaysia, including a recent study examining the impact of nature exposure on body image.
At Perdana University, Prof Swami is the director of the Centre for Psychological Medicine (PU-CPM), a joint research centre established in collaboration with Anglia Ruskin University.
PU-CPM has led a number of research projects, including studies examining the impact of nature on body image and developing guidelines for the translation and use of body image instruments in new cultural groups.
Last year, the centre was involved in the Breast Size Satisfaction Survey, a study led by Prof Swami examining women’s breast size dissatisfaction in 40 countries.