Media Internalization Research Articles

Men's perception of current and ideal body composition and the influence of media internalization on body judgements.

To determine men's body ideals and the factors that influence these choices, this study used a matrix of computer generated (CG) male bodies (based on an analysis of 3D scanned real bodies) which independently varied in fat and muscle content. Two hundred and fifty-eight male participants completed a range of psychometric measures to index body concerns and body ideal internalization and then chose the CG body that best reflected their own current body, as well as the body that reflected their personal ideal. A subset of participants was then retested to check that these judgements were stable over time. While judgements of the ideal body seem to be influenced by a shared appearance ideal, the degree to which this ideal was internalized showed significant variability between participants. The effect of this internalization was reflected in the difference between the estimated current body and the ideal. Higher internalization led to a preference for higher muscle and lower fat content. This preference was most marked for fat content, although reducing adiposity also made the underlying musculature more salient. Additionally, the ideal body composition was modulated by the composition the participant believed his current body had (i.e., it seemed that a participant's ideal body was anchored by what they believed to be their current body and what change was possible from this starting point).

Dynamics of Body Image Formation in Female Celebrities

In this modern era, social media, especially Instagram, has formed a new celebrity population called "Selebgram," where the audience recognizes, admires, and follows their identities and lives. In Instagram, the communication between "Selebgram" and followers is through likes and comments. Several studies have been conducted on this communication system, and it has been found that likes and comments give rise to excessive social comparison and self-objectification, which can lead to an unrealistic idealization of body image and body image dissatisfaction. Such dissatisfaction then results in psychological disorders such as poor self- and body-esteem, unstable mood, stress, anxiety, and eating disorders, especially among teenage girls. Teen girl "selebgrammers" with high engagement on social media are thought to show a more complex body image idealization dynamic that will be examined in this qualitative study. Through interviews or online questionnaires, this study was conducted on six girl micro-celebrities in their teens in Indonesia. The results showed that the dynamics of body image idealization among girls on "Selebgram" consist of four steps: (1) internalization of the ideal media; (2) self-objectification and social comparison; (3) body image dissatisfaction, moderated by significant others, the purpose of using Instagram, and religion; and (4) self-branding containing self-presentation.

Instagram influences: An examination of the tripartite influence model of body image among a racially diverse sample of young-adult women

A burgeoning research literature documenting the effects of social media, such as Instagram, on women's body image outcomes has thus far examined mostly White samples. Because body image ideals are often situated within racialized appearance expectations, it is important to examine the role of race in the links between social media use and body image. In the present study, we tested (1) the associations between Instagram use and self-image activity (i.e., activities that reflect a preoccupation with how the self is presented on Instagram), and body image outcomes, and (2) the mediating effect of social media internalization of appearance ideals in these links, and (3) we compared these links between four racial identity groups. Our sample included U.S. women who identified as Asian-American (n = 97), Black (n = 101), Latina (n = 98), or White (n = 237). Results suggest that social media internalization of appearance ideals mediated the relations between Instagram use (for Asian-American and Black participants) and self-image activity (for Latina and White participants) and body image outcomes. Social media internalization of appearance ideals also was associated with a desire to be thinner among Asian-American participants, and it was associated with a desire to be curvier among Black participants.

“Muscle Pics”, a new body-checking behavior in muscle dysmorphia?

Background and aimsThe internalization of ideal hypermuscular body and pro-muscularity media's influence have shown their importance in muscle dysmorphia development. The aim of the current study is to have a better understanding of links between specific body checking behaviors and muscle dysmorphia in social network context. MethodsIn total, 342 students practicing weightlifting at the university gym in Bordeaux answered to a survey with sociodemographic information and body checking symptoms including taking specific selfies of muscles and muscularity “Muscle Pics” and the MDDI (Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder Inventory). ResultsMuscle dysmorphia was prevalent in 18.7% of our population (64 students). We observed that muscle dysmorphia was correlated to “Muscle Pics”, “Follow-up”, “Message”, “Selfie”, and gym mirror checking with significant results (P<0.01). Also, « Muscle Pics » were linked to APEDs use, pro-muscularity websites, fitness model comparison and gym mirror checking (P<0.01). For muscle dysmorphia, “Muscle Pics” have strong predictive results (OR=5.10, P=0.000) and (OR=4.08, P=0.000) for adjusted. “Follow up” (OR=4.76, P=0.000) and (OR=3.83, P=0.000) for adjusted, “Muscle Pics Selfie” (OR=11.20, P=0.000) and (OR=11.55, P=0.000) for adjusted, “Muscle Pics Message” (OR=4.49, P=0.001) and (OR=5.78, P=0.001) for adjusted. Conclusion“Muscle Pics” showed several links with muscle dysmorphia for global score “drive for size”, “functional impairment” but not for “appearance intolerance” dimension. Pro-muscularity websites, fitness model comparisons and gym mirror checking are linked to muscle dysmorphia and “Muscle Pics”. Future research on “Muscle Pics” will help to provide a better understanding of muscle dysmorphia and its link with pro-muscularity influence websites.

Body image concerns and disordered eating among older women: Identifying variables of interest for integrated models.

Research focused on developing risk and protective models of body image concerns and disordered eating among older women is scant. Models including biological, psychological, and sociocultural elements may be useful explanatory frameworks in this group. Thus, the aim of this study was to conduct formative research exploring the constructs that form part of biopsychosocial models of body image concerns and disordered eating among older women. A sample of 184 women aged 60-75 years completed an online survey assessing media pressures, thin-ideal internalization, depression symptoms, weight and shape concerns, and disordered eating as well as positive reappraisal and acceptance of aging-related changes to appearance. After the addition of two supplemental pathways, the model revealed good fit to the data. In the final model, age, depression, and media pressure were associated with media internalization, that was in turn associated with weight and shape concerns, and then disordered eating. Depression was also directly associated with both weight and shape concerns and disordered eating. The model varied across older women with high versus low levels of positive reappraisal and acceptance of aging-related changes to appearance. Specifically, among those high on this trait, the pathways between depression and thin-ideal internalization, and between weight and shape concerns and disordered eating were significantly weaker. These findings support the usefulness of biopsychosocial models for grounding research on body image concerns and disordered eating among older women, and suggest positive reappraisal and acceptance of aging-related changes to appearance as a useful dimension to focus on.

Influence of sociocultural factors on the risk of eating disorders among King Abdulaziz University students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND:In Saudi Arabia, there is not much research on the risk of eating disorders and the influence of sociocultural factors on increasing the risk among university students. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of the risk of eating disorder (EDs) in King Abdulaziz University students, the influence of sociocultural factors, and any differences between males and females.MATERIALS AND METHODS:A cross-sectional study was conducted on 763 university students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The data were collected in 3 months from February 2021 to April 2021. A self-administered Eating Attitude Test-26 scale was used to assess the risk of eating disorder among the students. The sociocultural attitude toward appearance questionnaire was used to measure the internalization of thinness, masculinity, and family, peer, and media attitude toward appearance. To test for statistical significance, t-test was used for continuous variables, whereas Ch-square test was performed for categorical variables. Logistic regression analysis were performed to determine factors associated with ED risk; all tests were performed at 0.05 significance level.RESULTS:The prevalence of the risk of eating disorder among the students was observed as 34%. The sociocultural attitude toward appearance was significantly higher among at risk of eating disorder students. The multiple logistic regression analysis showed that females are twice more likely to be at risk for eating disorder than males (2.25) with 95% confidence interval (1.50,3.39). Peer influence was significantly higher among males than females; however, females were significantly more influenced by the media than males.CONCLUSION:The prevalence of eating disorder risk in Saudi university students in Jeddah was observed as alarming and highly influenced by sociocultural factors; therefore, screening university students for eating disorder is very necessary. In addition, there should be media and health promotion campaigns on eating disorder and body image issues.

Self-objectification and sexual satisfaction: A preregistered test of the replicability and robustness of Calogero & Thompson (2009) in a sample of U.S. women

Objectification theory has provided a useful framework for the study of women’s sexual outcomes. However, little research has been conducted on the role of self-objectification in predicting sexual satisfaction. We conducted a replication of Calogero and Thompson (2009a), which reported a direct relationship between self-surveillance and sexual satisfaction, and expanded upon their work. We tested four path analysis models: Calogero and Thompson’s reported and hypothesized models, and two previously untested models, all containing our variables of interest (media internalization, self-surveillance, body shame, sexual self-esteem, and sexual satisfaction). Each model was tested with the full sample (N = 349) and a restricted sample (N = 127) that met Calogero and Thompson’s relationship status and sexual frequency inclusion criteria, and with and without BMI covaried. Both samples consisted of U.S. college women recruited in Fall 2019, with a mean age of M = 19.68 in the restricted sample. Results showed good fit for all tested models but failed to replicate the direct pathway between self-surveillance and sexual satisfaction. Instead, our models supported an indirect effect of self-surveillance on sexual satisfaction through body shame and sexual self-esteem. Findings support the role of sociocultural channels in influencing college women’s body image and sexual experiences.

Conceptualizing the Role of Social Context in Media Selectivity: The Social Embeddedness of Media Reliance and Internalization (SEMRI) Model

Examining antecedents of selective media use is important to understand how media can impact individual behavior and attitudes. The present article extends the selective exposure paradigm by outlining the Social Embeddedness of Media reliance and Internalization (SEMRI) model. This model postulates that individuals’ reliance on and internalization of media content for problem-focused coping depends on a) the perceived availability of alternative information sources in their social network, and b) the extent to which observed media content is socially validated by others. The first section of the article provides an overview of the selective exposure paradigm and notes that existing theories are limited in their ability to address the socially situated context of media message selection and internalization. In the second section we introduce the SEMRI model and discuss its main assumptions. The last section illustrates the main principles of the SEMRI model with data related to ideal-appearance media messages.

Cross-sectional and Longitudinal Associations between Peer Television Co-viewing and Media Internalization in Adolescent Girls and Boys.

Despite the potential of peers to reinforce cultural appearance ideals, little work on peer media co-viewing has focused on body image. This study therefore examined relationships among peer television co-viewing, perceptions of media as important appearance-related information sources, and internalization of media appearance ideals. Adolescents aged 10-14 were included (Study 1: N = 363, Mage (SD) = 12.30 (0.86), 56.5% female; Study 2: N = 959, Mage (SD) = 11.17 (1.11), 48.9% female). Evidence emerged for a positive cross-sectional relationship between peer television co-viewing and media internalization, via media credibility. However, longitudinally, among adolescents reporting frequent media-related peer conversations, peer television co-viewing was negatively associated with media credibility. Peer co-viewing and mediation may be implicated in appearance-related beliefs among adolescents.

The Mediating Role of Media Internalization in Body Scrutinization and Body Image Dissatisfaction in Thai Homosexual Male Youth

The debilitating impact of body image dissatisfaction has been well-documented, leading to attempts to propose ways to alleviate the dissatisfaction. These proposals are drawn primarily from findings from studies on female youth. The current study extends this work, and contributes to an emerging initiative to attempt to reduce body image dissatisfaction in homosexual male youth. Past empirical findings have identified these adolescents to be particularly prone to body image dissatisfaction. With the formal operational stage of cognitive development, adolescents are particularly self-conscious and scrutinize their body image more critically, leading to body image dissatisfaction. The aim of the current study was to identify a potential protective factor that might help reduce the impact of body scrutinization in Thai homosexual male adolescents. These participants were selected due to the relative lack of published research on body image in Asian homosexual males. Additionally, despite its orientation toward the collectivistic fulfillment of social roles and obligations, Thai culture is quite accepting of sexual minorities. Homosexual male body image ideals are portrayed in the media with relatively high frequency. For this reason, internalization of media influence was selected as a potential mediator of the relationship between body scrutinization and body image dissatisfaction. Data were collected from 114 Thai homosexual male youths who responded to online questionnaires measuring body scrutinization, media internalization, and body image dissatisfaction. As hypothesized, findings demonstrated that body scrutinization significantly predicted both body image dissatisfaction and media internalization. Media internalization significantly but partially mediated the relationship between body scrutinization and body image dissatisfaction. Implications were discussed in terms of the preventative and therapeutic potentials for reducing media influence on body image dissatisfaction when the scrutinization was engaged.

Internalized Media-Promoted Body Ideals Only Marginally Moderate the Effects of Exercise on Self-Esteem, Body Image Satisfaction, and Physical Self-Perceptions

ABSTRACT Objective: To examine the moderating effect of internalized media messages on ideal body shape and lifestyle in the relationships between physical exercise, self-esteem, physical self-perceptions, and body image satisfaction. Design: pre-test/posttest control group experimental design. Methods: 46 inactive women (mean age = 21.4 ± 2.1 years-old) volunteered to participate in this study and were randomly assigned to Exercise (n = 23) or Wait-list (n = 23) groups. The Exercise group participated in two 50 minutes long exercise sessions per week for six weeks. During this period women in the Wait-list group did not participate in any regular physical activity. The French version of the Physical Self-Perception Profile (ISP-25) and the Body Image Assessment Scale (BIAS-BD) were administered to participants before and after intervention. In addition, the Sociocultural Attitudes Toward Appearance Questionnaire (SATAQ) was completed to assess participants’ level of internalization of media standards. Results and Discussion: Women in the Exercise group improved more in outcomes than those in the Wait-list group. Effects were only marginally moderated by levels of media internalization. Potential explanations for these findings are reviewed and discussed.

The Role of Pubertal Timing and Heterosocial Involvement in Early Adolescents’ Media Internalization: A Moderated Moderation Analysis

The present three-wave panel study ( N = 968, [Formula: see text] = 11.30, SD = 1.06) examines how developmental factors—pubertal timing and heterosocial involvement (i.e., one’s involvement in cross-sex activities)—influence early adolescents’ level of media internalization. We hypothesized that early pubertal timing positively moderates the association between sexualizing magazine reading and media internalization. Next, we argued that increased heterosocial involvement will weaken the amplifying influence of early pubertal timing on the aforementioned relationship. Both hypotheses were confirmed. For early adolescents who mature earlier than same-age/sex peers, reading sexualizing magazines resulted in more media internalization. Furthermore, our results showed that moderate to high cross-sex peer interactions can serve as a protective force against the negative influence of early pubertal timing. These results highlight the influential role of appearance-related developmental factors in the processing of sexualizing magazine content and point to the potential protective role of cross-sex peer interactions in media internalization.

Gendered Racial Microaggressions, Feminism, and Asian American Women’s Eating Pathology: An Intersectional Investigation

Although multiple studies have examined the effects of sexism on women’s disordered eating behaviors, Asian American women’s unique experiences of gendered racism in regard to disordered eating have often been ignored in the psychological literature. With a sample of 192 Asian American women, we examined (a) the extent to which sexism, racism, and gendered racial microaggressions were associated with disordered eating symptomatology, (b) the extent to which feminist identity dimensions and womanism were associated with disordered eating symptomatology, and (c) if self-objectification, media internalization, and emotion dysregulation mediated the association between gendered racial microaggressions and disordered eating symptomatology. Results revealed that gendered racial microaggressions were positively associated with disordered eating, whereas neither racism nor sexism were. Womanism was linked to decreased disordered eating, the passive acceptance feminist identity dimension was related to increased disordered eating, and no other feminist identity dimensions were related. Finally, in partial support of our hypotheses, body shame, media internalization, and emotion dysregulation together mediated the association between gendered racial microaggressions and disordered eating, whereas body surveillance did not. Our findings emphasize the importance of prioritizing intersectionality when examining the unique lived experiences of Asian American women who engage in disordered eating behaviors.

Prevalence and correlates of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating patterns in Indian youth: The role of media.

Background:The current study aimed to assess how media internalization and pressure are associated with body mass index (BMI), disordered eating, and body image dissatisfaction in Indian adults and whether there exist gender differences within these variables. The study also aimed to examine whether BMI and media internalization and pressure predict body dissatisfaction and disordered eating.Materials and Methods:The study utilized self-report measures that were administered to 262 men and women between the ages of 18–25 years (M = 21.64).Results:The results indicated that BMI was significantly correlated with internalization athlete, body shape dissatisfaction, and disordered eating, but not internalization general or media pressure. Internalization general, internalization athlete, media pressure as well as body shape dissatisfaction, and disordered eating were found to be positively correlated. Men and women did not significantly differ on any variable, but internalization athlete. Overweight and obese men and women were found to be significantly more dissatisfied than underweight and normal-weight men and women; however, the difference was not significant for overweight and obese males and normal-weight and overweight females. In addition, media influence and BMI significantly predicted body dissatisfaction and disordered eating.Conclusions:The present study contributes to a novel understanding of body image concerns and risk for clinical eating disorders in Indian youth and potential implications for future research.

In the eye of the swiper: a preliminary analysis of the relationship between dating app use and dimensions of body image.

Dating apps are largely visual platforms and based on evaluations of the attractiveness of users. Thus, engaging with this type of social media may be associated with body image concerns. This study aimed to explore the relationship between dating app use and body image. College students (n = 170, 50% females) reported on dating app use, as well as body shame, surveillance, body satisfaction, media ideal internalization, and controllability beliefs related to weight/shape. Among males, frequent checking of dating apps was positively correlated with body shame and negatively with beliefs regarding weight/shape controllability. Media internalization was negatively correlated with experiencing negative feelings when using dating apps, and positively with positive feelings. Few associations emerged among females. Dating app use seems most tightly associated with body image concerns among males. Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study.

Media ideals and early adolescents’ body image: Selective avoidance or selective exposure?

The present study combines selective exposure theory with body image coping literature to study effects of media internalization in early adolescence. The main objective was to explore how early adolescents selectively internalize media body ideals to manage their body image. To examine the role of media internalization in early adolescents’ body image management, we used two-wave panel data (NWave1 = 1986) gathered among 9- to 14-year-olds. Structural equation analyses indicated that media internalization (Wave 1) positively related to body surveillance (Wave 2). Body surveillance (Wave 2), in turn, was associated with more body image self-discrepancy (Wave 2). In addition, body image self-discrepancy (Wave 1) related to higher body surveillance (Wave 1). Body surveillance, in turn, related to more media internalization cross-sectionally, but less media internalization six months later. Taken together, these results suggest a role for media internalization in early adolescents’ body image management. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Tween Television and Peers: Reinforcing Social Agents in Early Adolescents' Body Surveillance and Self-Objectification.

Sociocultural models of body image posit that the media and peers play a role in early adolescents' body dissatisfaction. Introducing a sociocultural perspective on youth sexualization, the present three-wave panel study (N=968, Mage =11.30) sought to examine the role of tween television and peer appearance conversations in early adolescents' body surveillance and self-objectification over time. Special attention was given to the mediating role of media internalization in these relationships. The results showed evidence for a reciprocal interaction between media internalization and peer appearance conversations and identified this reciprocal interaction as the underlying mechanism linking tween television exposure to higher levels of body surveillance and self-objectification 1 year later. Implications for body image and media literacy programs are discussed.

A Biopsychosocial Model for Understanding Media Internalization and Appearance Dissatisfaction Among Preadolescent Boys and Girls

Sociocultural models emphasize the role of media internalization in preadolescents’ appearance dissatisfaction. The present three-wave panel study sought to examine how biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors jointly contribute to preadolescents’ ( N = 973, Mage = 11.15 years) media internalization and appearance dissatisfaction over time. Structural equation modeling was conducted to test a hypothetical model in which media internalization mediated the effect of (a) pubertal timing, (b) media-related conversations with friends, and (c) perceptions of media as a good source of information regarding appearance and attractiveness, on change in appearance satisfaction. The model also examined the protective role of social self-esteem against the internalization of media ideals. For girls, pubertal timing was associated with increases in media internalization over time, directly and indirectly through media information and media-related conversations. For boys, pubertal timing indirectly predicted increases in media internalization over time, through media-related conversations. Media internalization positively predicted body dissatisfaction over time, and vice versa. Social self-esteem did not serve as a buffer against media internalization.

The role of appearance schematicity in the internalization of media appearance ideals: A panel study of preadolescents

Individuals who are more strongly invested in their appearance, appearance schematics, have a tendency to engage in appearance-related comparison. Appearance schematicity consists of two components. The self-evaluative component concerns the degree to which appearance is central to self-worth, referred to as dysfunctional appearance beliefs. Motivational salience refers to the engagement in behaviors designed to enhance appearance, such as body surveillance. Based on a three-wave panel survey of 973 Flemish preadolescents (Mage = 11.15, SD = 1.13) we found that the motivational and self-evaluative components had a different impact on media internalization. For preadolescents who engaged in more body surveillance, watching television resulted in more media internalization. For preadolescents who had fewer dysfunctional appearance beliefs, watching television resulted in more media internalization. These findings suggest that appearance schematicity is an important susceptibility variable in the relationship between TV-exposure and media internalization, and emphasize the importance of investigating individual dispositions beyond gender differences.

Preadolescents’ Reliance on and Internalization of Media Appearance Ideals: Triggers and Consequences

The present three-wave panel study ( N = 973, [Formula: see text] = 11.14) sought to advance the current literature on media internalization in preadolescence by examining triggers and consequences related to preadolescents’ media internalization and use of media for appearance information. We sought to examine whether (a) media internalization and use of media for appearance information could be explained by pubertal timing and peer appearance criticism, and (b) such media internalization and use of media for information could foster dysfunctional body image investment. Structural equation analyses showed that early maturation relative to peers and peer appearance criticism predicted preadolescents’ use of media for appearance information and media internalization, 6 months later. Such media use, in turn, predicted preadolescents’ development of dysfunctional appearance beliefs, 6 months later. These results highlight the importance for future studies to examine whether preadolescents’ reliance on appearance media stems from their need to cope with current body concerns.