Interpersonal Sexual Objectification Research Articles

Development and Validation of the Online Sexual Objectification Experiences Scale Among College Women

In this study, we developed and psychometrically evaluated the Online Sexual Objectification Experiences Scale (OSOES). We collected data from 816 emerging adult college women across two samples. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses revealed three factors: Unwanted Sexual Advances (example item: “How often have you received unwanted messages online asking about your sexual experience?”), Negative Appearance Commentary (example item: “How often has another person insulted you by calling you unattractive online?”), and Indirect Sexual Objectification (example item: “How often have you read a sexual comment posted to a photo of another woman's body online?”). OSOES scores were internally consistent and were strongly correlated with scores of self-objectification, body surveillance, and body shame. OSOES subscale scores also provided evidence of incremental validity in predicting self-objectification and objectified body consciousness above and beyond offline interpersonal sexual objectification. We hope that findings from the present study and the OSOES can be used by researchers, clinicians, and educators to understand the frequency of online sexual objectification experiences among women and as a result, work to mitigate harmful outcomes. Additional online materials for this article are available on PWQ's website at http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/suppl/DOI:10.1177/03616843241250295

Exploring the Mediating Role of Rumination in the Relationship between Objectification and Psychological Burden among Young Females

The current research aimed to examine the impact of sexual and self-objectification on psychological burden among young females. The study also explored the mediating role of rumination in the relationship between sexual and self-objectification and psychological burden. Data was collected from 211 young females by using the purposive sampling technique. Ruminative Response Scale, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale 21, Self-Objectification Questionnaire, and Interpersonal Sexual Objectification Scale were used in this study. To analyze the data, SPSS and Process Macro were used. Results revealed that there was a significant impact of self-objectification and sexual objectification on stress, anxiety, and depression in young females. Further, results revealed that rumination plays a mediating role in the relationship between self and sexual objectification and psychological burden. Significant differences were found between unmarried and married females in the scores of sexual objectification but there was no difference in the scores of self-objectification. The results pave the way for further research into the other mechanisms by which objectification leads to psychological burden. Future studies could explore long-term effects, potential resilience factors, and effective interventions.

Role of Body Gaze, Interpersonal Sexual Objectification and Sensation Seeking in Sexual Self-Concept in Heterosexual Young Adults in Pakistan

Past research has shown that body gaze behavior is marked for being a central feature of sexual objectification and that it may be associated with the sexual self-concept and tendency for sensation seeking among both men and women. The purpose of the present study was to assess the role of body gaze, interpersonal sexual objectification and sensation seeking in the sexual self-concept of heterosexual young adults in Pakistan. A cross-sectional research design was used to assess the aforementioned predictive associations with a sample of 455 individuals comprising 250 males and 205 females selected through purposive sampling. Data analysis was done using Pearson product moment correlation, multiple regression using dummy coding and MANOVA. The findings showed that body gaze behavior toward the other gender significantly predicted interpersonal sexual objectification, higher levels of sexual desire and sexual anxiety along with a higher orientation toward sensation seeking. Moreover, men scored high on body gaze behavior, sexual desire, sexual anxiety and sensation seeking. These results resonate with the existing body of research on sexual objectification, sexual self-concept and sensation seeking and how cultural contexts may contribute toward the above associations.

Objectification and Violence Against Women: The Spanish Validation of the Interpersonal Sexual Objectification Scale-Perpetration Version.

The aim of this study was to validate the Interpersonal Sexual Objectification Scale-Perpetration Version (ISOS-P), a measure that assesses sexual objectification perpetration. The sample consisted of 356 heterosexual men of Spanish nationality. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed. The Spanish validation of the ISOS-P comprises 15 items and showed a trifactorial structure. McDonald's omega values ranged from 0.71 to 0.80, and evidences of validity are shown by positive correlations with the endorsement of a positive attitude toward rape and having perpetrated several sexual aggression types. The Spanish validation of the ISOS-P is a valid and reliable scale.

Sexual objectification and depression among female college students in India

Background: Literature suggests that the prevalence of depression among female college students is more than that of male students. Repeated sexual objectification of females appears to be one factor that can be used to explain this disparity and higher prevalence of depression in female students can be attributed to repeated experiences of sexual objectification by them. This study examines the association between sexual objectification and depression among female college students at a medical college in Rajasthan, India. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among female medical students attending a government medical college in Rajasthan, India. We used the Interpersonal Sexual Objectification Scale, the surveillance subscale of the Objective Body Consciousness Scale and, the Beck Depression Inventory-II to measure sexual objectification, body surveillance and depressive symptoms respectively. Results: Sexual objectification and body surveillance strongly predicted the severity of depressive symptoms(p=0.00001). Results of the multiple linear regression indicated that there was a strong collective significant effect between sexual objectification, body surveillance, and depression, (p = 0.0001, R2 = 0.63). The coefficient of multiple correlation (R, 0.79) showed a strong correlation between the predicted data and the observed data. Conclusion: Sexual objectification is a strong predictor of depression among female college students.

Life history strategies, body surveillance, and online interpersonal sexual objectification experiences on women's body shame

According to the life history theory, fast life history strategists are more likely to prioritize mating efforts and concentrate on appearance to match mate preferences. This mate preference may have become the social ideal through sexual selection, thus causing body shame in women. Currently, the relationship between body shame and life history strategies, and how online interpersonal sexual objectification experiences as an external environment influence these relationships should be clarified. In the current study, a sample of 710 Chinese women participants completed self-report measures of life history strategies, body shame, body surveillance, and online interpersonal sexual objectification experiences. Results showed that life history strategies indirectly affected body shame through body surveillance. Furthermore, online interpersonal sexual objectification experiences played a moderating role. These findings emphasize the evolutionary factors of body shame from a life history theory perspective and the interactive effects of the external environment.

Buffering an Objectifying Culture: Interpersonal Sexual Objectification, Self-Objectification, and Attachment Anxiety

In this article, we report two studies that examined the dynamics between interpersonal sexual objectification, self-objectification, and individuals’ attachment in romantic relationships. Study 1 was based on data from 392 college students ( Mage = 21.42 years, 66.8% women). Results showed positive associations between interpersonal sexual objectification, self-objectification, attachment anxiety, and attachment avoidance among women. For men, significant and positive associations were only observed between interpersonal sexual objectification and self-objectification and between self-objectification and attachment anxiety. Study 2 was a 6-month longitudinal study where we recruited participants through CloudResearch ( n = 638, Mage = 24.26 years, 55.8% women at Time 1; n = 283, Mage = 24.43 years, 56.9% women at Time 2; return rate = 44.36%). Results from longitudinal analyses showed that women reported stronger stability in self-objectification than men, and for both women and men, their attachment anxiety predicted increased self-objectification. Additionally, in both studies, women reported higher levels of interpersonal sexual objectification, self-objectification, and attachment anxiety than men. Overall, the findings suggest that high-quality relationships may help buffer the negative effects engendered by an objectifying culture. Based on our results, we recommend that clinicians and parents work to foster secure and healthy relationships as a means of reducing the extensive negative repercussions of objectification.

Online Interpersonal Sexual Objectification Experiences and Teenage Girls' Self-Objectification: The Role of Broad Conceptualization of Beauty.

Self-objectification is a common and deleterious phenomenon among young teenage girls, for which interpersonal sexual objectification experiences are a great risk; in the current information era, sexual objectification experiences may also expand into the online space. Based on this, this study aimed to examine the association between online interpersonal sexual objectification (OISO) experiences and teenage girls’ self-objectification, as well as the potential moderating role of broad conceptualization of beauty in relation to this. Seven hundred and seventy-one female undergraduate students were recruited voluntarily to complete questionnaires on OISO experiences, self-objectification, and the broad conceptualization of beauty. Results indicated that OISO experiences were positively associated with teenage girls; self-objectification and the broad conceptualization of beauty could significantly buffer this relation, which was weakened among individuals with a high level of broad conceptualization of beauty. This study expands previous research on sexual objectification, providing practical significance for promoting the well-being of teenage girls.

Women's Age of First Exposure to Internet Pornography Predicts Sexual Victimization

Increases in the availability and accessibility of Internet pornography have led growing numbers of children to become consumers of sexually explicit media. Research has identified negative behavioral and attitudinal outcomes associated with Internet pornography use in childhood and adolescence, but few studies have examined sexual victimization as a correlate. The current study aimed to examine the association between age of first Internet pornography exposure and sexual victimization. Data from 154 undergraduate women yielded several important findings. Women who viewed Internet pornography unintentionally at a younger age reported more sexual victimization. Specifically, compared to women who were first unintentionally exposed to Internet pornography at age 14 or older, women with unintentional first Internet pornography exposure before the age of 14 reported more childhood sexual abuse, sexual abuse in adulthood, and more instances of sexual coercion and aggression. Women with younger age of unintentional Internet pornography exposure also reported more interpersonal sexual objectification than women who had never viewed Internet pornography at all. Age of first intentional exposure to Internet pornography was not related to women’s self-reported experiences of objectification, although this may be because women’s intentional exposure tended to happen at older ages. Overall, the results of this study suggest that women’s unintentional Internet pornography exposure at a young age may contribute to a potentially harmful sexual socialization. Early Internet pornography exposure in childhood should be considered a potential risk factor for women’s sexual victimization.

성적대상화 경험이 외모에 대한 태도, 신체감시, 그리고 부정적 감정을 매개로 하여 피부관리행동과 미용성형수술행동에 미치는 영향

The purpose of this study is to classify types of unique emotion by conducting evaluation with emotion of female university students, including negative emotions, which only appear on women, who centrally devote themselves on sociocultural meaning. And suggested an objective standard of classification of emotion which affected skin care behavior and cosmetic surgery behavior of each woman by conducting following evaluation. This study targeted 300 female university students in their 20s who live in Dae-Jeon, Chung-Nam, Chung-Buk areas. Evaluation was conducted between April 19th to to May 20th, 2021. Factorial analysis was used for validity and credibility of material analysis and descriptive statistics was used as well. Cronbach’s α, correlation analysis by using SPSS 21.0 program and AMOS. 19.0 program were used to find out research model and significance between the direct and indirect effect had been examined through mediating verification of effect. The results of this study were as follows showed that interpersonal sexual objectification experiences appeared affected on skin care behavior and cosmetic surgery behavior by mediating attitude toward appearance, body monitoring and negative emotions.

My Physical Appearance at the Center of Others' Concerns: What are the Consequences for Women's Metadehumanization and Emotions?

Despite the frequency of women’s exposure to sexually objectifying behaviors in their daily life (e.g., through comments on their appearance, gazing or touching), no previous work has investigated how such a focus on their physical appearance influences women’s meta-perceptions. Capitalizing on recent studies showing that sexually objectified women are dehumanized by both male and female participants, the present paper investigates women’s metadehumanization (i.e., their perceptions of being viewed as less than fully human) and its emotional consequences following interpersonal sexual objectification. In three studies, we showed that when an interaction partner focuses on their physical appearance, women report higher levels of metadehumanization, as well as increased anger and sadness, than when the partner focuses on non-physical parts. Theoretical and empirical contributions of the present findings are discussed.

The Sexual Objectification and Alcohol Use Link: The Mediating Roles of Self-Objectification, Enjoyment of Sexualization, Body Shame, and Drinking Motives

Alcohol consumption is on the rise among U.S. women, especially college women, despite the negative consequences that uniquely and disproportionately affect them. The current work integrates objectification theory and related research with literature on drinking motivations to explore how women’s experiences living in a culture that constantly objectifies the female body is associated with women’s consumption of alcohol. Among a sample of 539 female U.S. college students, the present study examined how differentially valenced responses to interpersonal sexual objectification (enjoyment of sexualization or body shame) contribute to distinct drinking motivations and outcomes. Results showed general support for the proposed serial mediational model. The link between sexual objectification and drinking frequency was mediated by self-objectification, enjoyment of sexualization, and drinking for enhancement, social and conformity motives, and by self-objectification, body shame, and the conformity motive. Finally, sexual objectification was related to drinking quantity through self-objectification, enjoyment of sexualization, and the enhancement drinking motive. These findings suggest that objectification experiences and resulting negative and positive inner states are important predictors of alcohol consumption. The integration of objectification theory with drinking motives sheds light on additional negative consequences associated with women living in a patriarchal society, including increased alcohol use. This model, if confirmed by future research, may provide promising avenues for reducing women’s drinking and thus minimizing the negative consequences they experience from alcohol.

재한 중국 여자 유학생의 대인관계에서의 성적 대상화 경험이 섭식행동에 미치는 영향: 지각된 차별감의 조절된 매개효과

재한 중국 여자 유학생의 대인관계에서의 성적 대상화 경험이 섭식행동에 미치는 영향: 지각된 차별감의 조절된 매개효과

Body weight contingent self-worth predicts depression in adolescent girls: The roles of self-esteem instability and interpersonal sexual objectification

This 3-year longitudinal study examined the extent to which body weight contingent self-worth (CSW) predicted depressive symptoms in 439 adolescent girls and the roles of unstable self-esteem and interpersonal sexual objectification in this association. Half-longitudinal mediation showed that the indirect effect of body weight CSW on depression via instability of self-esteem was significant. Prior levels of body weight CSW predicted increases in unstable self-esteem, which predicted increments in depressive symptoms over time. However, earlier levels of depression did not significantly predict increases in self-esteem instability. Moderation analyses indicated that the indirect effect was conditional upon individuals’ experience of interpersonal sexual objectification. The positive link between body weight CSW and unstable self-esteem was stronger in girls who experienced more interpersonal sexual objectification. The direct effect of body weight CSW on depression was also moderated by interpersonal sexual objectification. Taken together, basing self-worth on body weight appears to be a risk factor for depression through its association with unstable self-esteem in adolescent girls and sexually objectifying experiences serve to exacerbate the connection between body weight CSW and adverse outcomes.

Interpersonal Sexual Objectification, Fear of Rape, and U.S. College Women’s Depression

In the present study, we extend prior research on objectification theory by integrating fear of rape into a mediation model predicting depression in college women. With a sample of 496 U.S. college women 18–37 years-old, we examined three aspects of fear of rape (taking rape precautions, safety concerns, and fear of men), along with body shame and appearance anxiety, as potential mediators in the linkage of interpersonal sexual objectification through body surveillance to depression. We found that sexual objectification was associated with more body surveillance, which in turn was related to more body shame, greater appearance anxiety, more rape precautions, greater safety concerns, and more fear of men. Body shame, appearance anxiety, and fear of men were related to more depression whereas taking rape precautions was related to less depression and safety concerns was not related to depression. Direct relations between sexual objectification and depression, body shame, and the three aspects of fear of rape also emerged. A majority of indirect effects was also significant. Our results suggest that women’s fear of rape is an additional explanatory variable in understanding how interpersonal sexual objectification is related to women’s mental health concerns.

The Relational Burden of Objectification: Exploring How Past Experiences of Interpersonal Sexual Objectification Are Related to Relationship Competencies

The present study examines the associations between past experiences of interpersonal sexual objectification (ISO) on relationship initiation, social withdrawal, and positive relationships (which we refer to as relationship competencies). Consistent with objectification theory, we predicted that ISO would be associated with self-objectification, which would then be associated with body shame, appearance anxiety, and stress. In turn, these negative affect variables would be negatively associated with relationship competencies. Data were collected from 392 U.S. college students (M = 21.42 years, SD = 4.03; 32.9% male, 66.8% female). Results show that men and women’s ISO was consistently associated with self-objectification, which was associated with negative affect; direct effects revealed that men’s and women’s ISO was positively associated with relationship initiation. For women, self-objectification, appearance anxiety, and stress serially mediated the associations between ISO and all relationship competencies. For men, self-objectification and appearance anxiety serially mediated the associations between ISO and relationship initiation and social withdrawal whereas self-objectification and stress serially mediated the associations between ISO and social withdrawal and positive relationships. For both women and men, evidence did not support body shame being a link in the serial mediation from ISO to relationship competencies. Results are unpacked illustrating the relational burden of objectification.

Extending the nomological network of sexual objectification to psychopathic and allied personality traits.

Although the causes and correlates of sexual objectification almost certainly comprise a heterogeneous array of individual difference variables, little is known about sexual objectification perpetration's nomological network. We hypothesized that the broad personality construct of psychopathy would afford a fruitful framework for understanding and statistically predicting sexual objectification and investigated the implications of a host of psychopathic and psychopathy-related traits, including empathy, narcissism, impulsivity, and sadism, for interpersonal sexual objectification perpetration (ISOP). We augmented an extant self-report instrument of behavioral sexual objectification, the Interpersonal Sexual Objectification Scale-Perpetrator Version (Gervais, DiLillo, & McChargue, 2014), with attitudinal items. Two Mechanical Turk samples (Study 1: N = 401, 53% female, Mage = 36; Study 2: N = 419, 48% female, Mage = 37) were administered the augmented Interpersonal Sexual Objectification Scale-Perpetrator Version and a battery of well validated self-report instruments describing psychopathic and psychopathy-related traits. Dark personality traits were strongly associated with sexual objectification; sadism, low affective empathy, narcissism, disinhibition, and meanness emerged as the largest correlates. Further, our hypothesis that psychopathic traits would moderate (potentiate) the relation between ISOP attitudes and ISOP behaviors found support in both samples. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

The Role of Interpersonal Sexual Objectification in Heterosexual Intimate Partner Violence From Perspectives of Perceivers and Targets.

Sexual objectification is a subtle manifestation of sexist discrimination and violence against women that involves seeing and treating women as sex objects of male sexual desire. The primary aim of this research was to connect sexual objectification experiences with heterosexual intimate partner violence. This set of studies examined the impact of sexual objectification on intimate partner violence for both the female victim (Study 1) and the male perpetrator (Study 2). Female (Study 1) and male (Study 2) participants were asked to rate the extent they are victims or perpetrators of sexual objectification experiences and intimate partner violence. Moreover, women's self-silencing and men's ascriptions of humanity and empathy (through empathic concern and perspective taking) toward their partner was assessed. The results of the first study (including 154 heterosexual women) showed that general sexual objectification victimization indirectly leads to higher psychological and physical violence through the internalization of self-silence schemas. The second study (including 165 heterosexual men) demonstrated a link between general sexual objectification perpetration and psychological and physical intimate partner violence. Moreover, the relation between men's perpetration of objectification and intimate partner violence was mediated by ascriptions of humanity and empathic concern toward their female partner (but not through perspective taking toward her). Results of both studies demonstrate the effect of sexual objectification (as target or perpetrator) on global intimate partner violence and explain the different psychological mechanisms through which it takes place depending on the gendered perspective. Theoretical implications and practical considerations for interventions on intimate partner violence are discussed.

Interpersonal Sexual Objectification, Jezebel Stereotype Endorsement, and Justification of Intimate Partner Violence Toward Women

Sexual objectification and Jezebel stereotype endorsement, a racialized characterization of Black women as promiscuous, have been linked to harmful violence attitudes toward women. Although Black women’s experiences of sexual objectification may be compounded by racialized stereotypes, research has yet to examine how these processes intersect to influence justification of intimate partner violence toward women. This study fills this gap in the objectification literature by examining associations between interpersonal sexual objectification, endorsement of racialized stereotypes, and justification of violence toward women in a sample of Black men and women. Participants were 432 Black Americans who completed an online survey. Among Black men, we found that greater objectifying behaviors and greater endorsement of the Jezebel stereotype were associated with greater justification of violence toward women. We did not find evidence of an interaction between these two processes. Among Black women, we found an interaction between objectification experiences and stereotype endorsement, such that justification of violence was highest for Black women who endorsed the Jezebel stereotype and had more frequent experiences of sexual objectification. Violence prevention work, such as perpetrator rehabilitation programs and victim support groups, should explicitly address how stereotypical images of Black women impact their experiences of violence.

The link between myths about sexual aggression and sexual objectification via hostile attitudes toward women

ABSTRACT Sexual objectification of women is linked to a variety of negative attitudes and behaviour towards them, including myths about sexual aggression. The aim of the study was to examine the link between myths about sexual aggression and sexual objectification through hostile attitudes towards women. A sample of students and non-students (N = 165) completed a questionnaire that included the Acceptance of Modern Rape Myths about Sexual Aggression Scale, the Interpersonal Sexual Objectification Scale-Perpetrator Version, and a measure of hostility towards women. The results indicated that acceptance of myths about sexual aggression was positively correlated with sexual objectification and hostility towards women. In addition, acceptance of myths about sexual aggression was indirectly related to sexual objectification via hostile attitudes towards women. We discuss the implications of our findings for the relationship between the negative perceptions and treatment of women, particularly those relating to sexualised attitudes and rape myth acceptance.