Peer Influences on Adolescent Body Image: Friends or Foes?

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate how peers influence adolescent body image, and whether this influence was positive and/or negative from young peoples’ perspectives. One hundred and eleven adolescents aged 13 to 18 years from the Republic of Ireland participated in this study, in 17 focus groups. Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Findings demonstrated that peers have an overwhelming negative impact on adolescent body image, and consequently, health. Both boys and girls revealed that the peer environment is characterized by a significant pressure to conform to appearance expectations, and deviations from such expectations lead to negative peer experiences. Positive peer influences were also revealed but to a far lesser extent.

Potential psychosocial influences on gender differences in physical activity among Qatari adolescents: a first insight through descriptive observation

“…Previous studies show that for boys (not girls) appearance criticism is a strong direct predictor for BI unhappiness, at least in Western cultures (Jones, Vigfusdottir, & Lee, 2004). Peer surveillance, especially in PA context (PE class), has been argued to give rise to self-policing tendencies and negatively impacting BI (Kenny, O'Malley-Keighran, & Kelly, 2017;Lawler & Nixon, 2011). Nonconformity with a muscular body shape seemed a source of peer teasing in male adolescents and individuals deviating from social and cultural appearance expectations have been found to be at greater risk of receiving negative attentiveness from their peers (Kenny et al, 2017).…”

“…Peer surveillance, especially in PA context (PE class), has been argued to give rise to self-policing tendencies and negatively impacting BI (Kenny, O'Malley-Keighran, & Kelly, 2017;Lawler & Nixon, 2011). Nonconformity with a muscular body shape seemed a source of peer teasing in male adolescents and individuals deviating from social and cultural appearance expectations have been found to be at greater risk of receiving negative attentiveness from their peers (Kenny et al, 2017). Despite the finding that daily PA seems to be negatively associated with BWU, a significantly higher proportion of daily active females reported weight unhappiness compared to males.…”

Appearance Esteem Trajectory According to Three Different Sources of Support Among Adolescents Over a School Year

“…Adolescents are more frequently confronted with peers' appearance cultures and with an integrated focus on appearance, beauty, and thinness (Jones et al, 2004), which are associated with body image concerns and negative behaviors (Carey et al, 2013). Thus, given that relationships with peers substantially influence body appreciation and that friends are very present in adolescents' lives, it is important to gain a deeper understanding of the role of support received more specifically from friends (Kenny et al, 2017).…”

Kontribusi intensitas komunikasi di media sosial Instagram terhadap citra tubuh remaja perempuan pelajar SMA di Denpasar

“…Sunartio, Sukamto, dan Dianovinina (2012) dalam penelitiannya untuk mengetahui pengaruh social comparisons terhadap citra tubuh, dibuktikan bahwa semakin sering perempuan membandingkan bentuk tubuhnya dengan bentuk tubuh perempuan lain yang lebih menarik, maka semakin tinggi pula tingkat ketidakpuasan terhadap tubuh yang dialaminya. Penelitian yang dilakukan oleh Kenny, Keighran, Molcho, & Kelly (2016) terhadap 111 responden berusia 13-18 tahun ditemukan bahwa teman sebaya memberikan pengaruh yang negatif terhadap citra tubuh remaja.…”