Relation of media exposure to eating disorder symptomatology: An examination of mediating mechanisms.

Abstract

Although investigators have postulated that the thin ideal for women espoused in the media is related to the high rates of eating disorders among females, little research has examined the relation between media exposure and eating pathology. This study assessed the relation of media exposure to eating disorder symptoms and tested whether gender-role endorsement, ideal-body stereotype internalization, and body satisfaction mediated this effect. In data from 238 female undergraduates, structural equation modeling revealed a direct effect of media exposure on eating disorder symptoms. Furthermore, mediational linkages were found for gender-role endorsement, ideal body stereotype internalization, and body satisfaction. The results support the assertion that internalization of sociocultural pressures mediate the adverse effects of the thin ideal.

Prevalência de sintomas de anorexia nervosa e insatisfação com a imagem corporal em adolescentes do sexo feminino do Município de Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brasil

“…Assim, supõem-se, que a pressão social, pautada no ideal de beleza feminina re-ARTIGO ARTICLE Cad. Saúde Pública, Rio de Janeiro, 24(3):503-512, mar, 2008 gido pela magreza, exerça participação na anorexia nervosa 4,5 .…”

The effect of digital alteration disclaimer labels on social comparison and body image: Instructions and individual differences

“…These negative effects happen particularly for more vulnerable women, that is, for those who have internalised the thin ideal to a greater extent (Dittmar & Howard, 2004;Grabe et al, 2008;Groesz et al, 2002;Heinberg & Thompson, 1995;Yamamiya, Cash, Melnyk, Posavac, & Posavac, 2005) or for whom appearance is important to their self-concept (Dittmar & Howard, 2004;Halliwell & Dittmar, 2005). Negative body image, in particular body dissatisfaction, has been found to be associated with increased risk of depression, low self-esteem, and eating disorders (Dittmar, 2009;Posavac, Posavac, & Weigel, 2001;Stice, Schupak-Neuberg, Shaw, & Stein, 1994).…”

Reducing the Risk of Disordered Eating Among Female College Students: A Test of Alternative Interventions

“…In two studies, Griffiths and colleagues (Griffiths, Beaumont, Russell, Schotte, Thornton, Touyz, & Varano, 1999;Griffiths, Mallia-Blanco, Boesenberg, Rischer, Taylor, & Wyndham, 2000) stated that the awareness and internalization of sociocultural attitudes related to attractiveness were significantly and positively correlated to measures of eating pathology. Additionally, Stice and Shaw (1994) found a strong positive relationship mediating internalization of the thin-ideal and disordered eating. In studies where the thin-ideal internalization has been experimentally reduced, Stice and colleagues reported improved body satisfaction, less dieting behavior, increased affect, and reduction in bulimic symptoms among female high school and college students ).…”

“…The pursuit and internalization of unrealistic ideals of thinness (the "thin ideal") may be attributable in part to repeated exposure to and internalization of message that glamorize and glorify excessive thinness (Irving, 1990;Stice, Schupak-Neuberg, Shaw, & Stein, 1994). Increased acceptance of these sociocultural messages that advertise the "superwoman ideal," a female who overachieves in beauty, relationships, and career, may lead to confusion regarding role expectations (Steiner-Adair, 1994).…”

“…Even so, most researchers acknowledge the central role that sociocultural factors play in their development (Striegel-Moore & Bulik, 2007). The pursuit and internalization of societal ideals of thinness (the "thin ideal") may be attributable in part to repeated exposure to messages, communicated by family, friends, and the media, that glamorize and glorify excessive thinness (Irving, 1990;Stice, Schupak-Neuberg, Shaw, & Stein, 1994). Women may become dissatisfied with their bodies as they compare themselves to these unrealistic and unattainable societal body ideals (Brownell, 1991), and then react to this dissatisfaction in one (or both) of two specific ways.…”