More Than Just Anorexia and Steroid Abuse: Effects of Media Exposure on Attitudes Toward Body Image and Self-Efficacy

Abstract

Body image research mainly focuses on disordered eating attitudes and behaviors. This current study sought to explore the potential positive effects resulting from exposure to a variety of media outlets and to provide a mediation analysis on how media exposure shaped individuals' intentions to perform a target behavior. Results show that female college students' attitudes toward attractive body image and physical activity self-efficacy were influenced by their (a) fashion and entertainment and (b) sports and health magazine reading, whereas male college students' attitudes and selfefficacy were influenced by their sports and health magazine reading. Neither group's attitudes nor self-efficacy were influenced by their viewing of popular television shows. Both theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

The Impact of Instagram Use on Body Image Concerns among Iranian University Female Students: A Phenomenological Approach

“…Body image is how we mentally "see" our bodies and has both perceptual and attitudinal components (Findler, Taubman-Ben-Ari, & Jacob, 2007) and body image dissatisfaction is acknowledged as a pervasive problem experienced by a large proportion of society (Dohnt & Tiggemann, 2006). Concerned with the potential negative effects, much scholarly research, as well as public speculations, has been devoted to investigating the impact of thin-ideal body image exposure on individuals' eating disorder attitudes and behaviors (Wang, 2010). Body image is part of the self-state of one's physical appearance.…”

"do You Even Lift Bro?" An Investigation Of The Male Viewer's Response To Idealized Body Images In Competitive Reality Television.

“…Many models, actresses and individuals on TV programs are praised for obtaining the idealized body types. Women who are thin and sexually attractive receive positive comments, while heavier women are associated with negative comments (Sommers-Flanagan, Sommers-Flanagan, & Davis, 1993, Wang, 2010. Meanwhile, heavier men play the funny guy and earn the laughs from the audience, whereas the lean, muscular men receive positive comments (Sommers-Flanagan et al, 1993;Wang, 2010).…”