The impact of an educational intervention to protect women against the influence of media images

Abstract

<b>Purpose</b> <p>Media images of unrealistic beauty have been identified as a determinant of women's body dissatisfaction. This experimental study aims to explore whether the negative impact of such images could be reduced by a one-time educational intervention consisting of a presentation and discussion, teaching women to be critical of media images.</p> <b>Design/methodology/approach</b> <p>Female psychology students (n=176) from a university in the UK were randomly assigned to the control or intervention group and completed measures of body dissatisfaction after being challenged by images of the perfect female body. Follow up data were collected four weeks later.</p> <b>Findings</b> <p>The results suggested that the intervention had no immediate buffering effect on body dissatisfaction but participants in the intervention group showed a long-term improvement for confidence, attractiveness and body-parts dissatisfaction.</p> <b>Practical implications</b> <p>This one-time intervention could be used to protect young women against the detrimental impact of media images in the longer term.</p> <b>Originality/value</b> <p>This study provides an evidence base for the use of an educational intervention for young people in schools and colleges.</p

Instagram and female celebrity: exploring gender performances through social visual semiotics, feminist theory and framing analysis

“…The oppressive power of stereotyping women through media images is well documented (Ogden et al, 2011;Ruane & Wallace, 2013;Myers & Crowther, 2007;Simon & Hoyt, 2012;Harper & Tiggmann, 2007;Lamb, Graling & Wheeler, 2013;and Tyler & Bennett, 2010). Images are found to have a profound and lasting effect on body dissatisfaction, thin-ideal internalization and self-objectification with "even short-term exposure to thin women in media images leading to increased body dissatisfaction" (Myers & Crowther, 2007, p. 297).…”

The impact of posting selfies and gaining feedback (‘likes’) on the psychological wellbeing of 16-25 year olds: An experimental study

“…This was assessed in terms of the following: Face satisfaction was measured using face items from the body cathexis scale (Furnham & Greaves, 1994; 9 items: eyes, teeth, cheek bones, eyes, nose, smile, complexion, skin, hair) using a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 'Very Disappointed' (1) to 'Very Satisfied' (5) (Time 1 α = .63, Time 2 α = .72, Time 3 α =.79); Appearance satisfaction was assessed using the 'overall appearance' item (Furnham & Greaves, 1994) from the Body Cathexis Scale rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 'Very Disappointed' (1) to 'Very Satisfied' (5); Perceived attractiveness was assessed using 3 items 'Pretty', 'Good looking', and 'Attractive' which were rated on a 5 point Likert scale ranging from 'Very slightly or not at all' (1) to 'Extremely' (5) (Time 1 α = .89, Time 2 α = .92, Time 3 α = .71). This measure has been used in previous research, although the item 'sexy' was removed for this population (Ogden, Smith, Nolan, Moroney, & Lynch., 2011).…”

How Black women make sense of ‘White’ and ‘Black’ fashion magazines: A qualitative think aloud study

“…Similarly, Becker et al (2002) explored the impact of the introduction of television and associated Western images in Fiji and reported a corresponding increase in disordered eating patterns, eating-related attitudes and body dissatisfaction. Furthermore, research indicates that interventions can ameliorate the impact of the media via information regarding strategies such as airbrushing, the use of make-up and lighting and making the implicit biases of the media explicit (Ogden et al, 2011; Ogden and Sherwood, 2008; Stormer and Thompson, 1996).…”

“…Furthermore, research indicates that interventions can ameliorate the impact of the media via information regarding strategies such as airbrushing, the use of makeup and lighting and making the implicit biases of the media explicit (Stormer and Thompson, 1995;Ogden and Sherwood, 2008;Ogden et al, 2011).…”