Women's Body Satisfaction Research Articles

Examining the effects of hegemonic depictions of female bodies on television: a call for theory and programmatic research * This article was accepted by the previous CSMC editor, Dr. James W. Chesebro

Although the media effects literature was precocious in its development, appearing almost as soon as the object of its study, researchers have focused on a relatively narrow array of effects. Examples include the effects of violent, pornographic, and sexual content in the media and minority stereotyping. This review demonstrates the need for researchers to construct stronger theories and conduct more programmatic research on another important, yet often ignored, media effect–the effect of ideal televised images on females' perceptions of, and satisfaction with, their own bodies. To accomplish its purposes, the paper begins with a review of the body image literature, including a discussion of current televised representations of female bodies and their effects on body satisfaction. Next, the paper argues that researchers should refer to two prominent media effects theories (cultivation theory and social cognitive theory) to better understand the process by which television influences body image. This latter review leads to ethical considerations and conclusions regarding probable effects of television on women's body satisfaction.

“ALLY MCBEAL VS. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER”: COMPARING MASS MEDIA, INTERPERSONAL FEEDBACK AND GENDER AS PREDICTORS OF SATISFACTION WITH BODY THINNESS AND MUSCULARITY

Susceptibility to appearance-related mass media, interpersonal feedback, and instrumentality were compared as predictors of body satisfaction and shape concerns regarding thinness and muscularity in a sample of 287 undergraduate men and women. Results indicate that both genders experience body dissatisfaction, but along different shape dimensions; susceptibility to appearance-related mass media and negative appearance-related feedback appear to operate in similar ways to affect men's and women's overall body satisfaction. Directions for additional research are discussed.

Body image, psychological functioning, and parental feedback regarding physical appearance.

To investigate the role of parental appearance-related commentary, body image, and psychological functioning in females and males. Retrospective reports of teasing and appearance-based feedback were assessed, along with current levels of body image and overall psychological functioning. Women and men did not differ in their reports of comments received from mothers, however, women received significantly more appearance-related messages from fathers. Correlational analyses demonstrated significant relationships between feedback and body satisfaction for women, but not for men. Regression analyses indicated that fathers' and mothers' teasing about weight were predictive of daughters' body image. For both males and females, psychological functioning was significantly predicted from the combination of mothers' and fathers' feedback regarding appearance. The findings further support an emerging theoretical model of appearance-related commentary as a factor in body image disturbance and overall psychological functioning.

The Media's Influence on Body Image Disturbance and Eating Disorders: We've Reviled Them, Now Can We Rehabilitate Them?

Survey, correlational, randomized control, and covariance structure modeling investigations indicate that the media are a significant factor in the development and maintenance of eating and shape‐related disorders. One specific individual difference variable, internalization of societal pressures regarding prevailing standards of attractiveness, appears to moderate or even mediate the media's effects on women's body satisfaction and eating dysfunction. Problematic media messages inherent in existing media portrayals of eating disorders are apparent, leading researchers to pinpoint intervention strategies that might counteract such viewpoints. Social activism and social marketing approaches are suggested as methods for fighting negative media messages. The media itself is one potential vehicle for communicating productive, accurate, and deglamorized messages about eating and shape‐related disorders.

Media Effects on Women's Body Esteem: Social and Individual Difference Factors

This study examined individual difference and social factors in moderating the effects of media images on women's body satisfaction. Participants heard a conversation wherein 2 people either were judgmental about a mutual friend's weight gain or discussed their friend's recent move. Participants then viewed slides which were either neutral or depicted “ideal” images of women. Results underscored the importance of individual differences. When exposed to ideal images, thinner women more positively evaluated their sexual attractiveness, while heavier women reported more negative self‐evaluations. Compared to low self‐monitors, high self‐monitors who were exposed to ideal images were more positive about their physical condition. The findings demonstrate that media images do not similarly affect all women's body esteem.

Ethnic differences in women's body satisfaction: an experimental investigation.

This investigation was conducted so that a clearer picture of the complex relationship between ethnicity and body satisfaction could be obtained. Although body satisfaction has recently been shown to be influenced by several factors, such as mood, no studies investigating the stability of body satisfaction (to date) have examined whether there are ethnic differences in how such factors influence body satisfaction. Eighty-four White women and 33 Black women (U.S. undergraduates) were given bogus positive or negative social feedback so that the effect of the feedback on their body satisfaction could be determined. Results indicated positive feedback increased and negative feedback decreased the body satisfaction of White women in the expected directions, but there was no such effect for the Black women. The relevance of these findings in the understanding of bulimia nervosa and eating disorders is discussed, as is the need to differentiate between ethnic groups.

Adverse Effects of the Media Portrayed Thin-Ideal on Women and Linkages to Bulimic Symptomatology

Although researchers have postulated that the thin-ideal body image portrayed in the media contributes to eating pathology among females, little research has directly examined the effects of these images on women. The central aim of the present study was to experimentally assess the effects of exposure to the thin-ideal on women's affect, body satisfaction, and endorsement of the thin-ideal stereotype. The secondary aim was to link these putative mediators to bulimic symptomatology. Female undergraduates (N = 157) were randomly exposed to pictures from magazines containing either ultra-thin models, average-sized models, or no models. Results indicated that exposure to the thin-ideal produced depression, stress, guilt, shame, insecurity, and body dissatisfaction. Further, multiple regression analyses indicated that negative affect, body dissatisfaction, and subscription to the thin-ideal predicted bulimic symptoms.

Body image satisfaction in homosexual and heterosexual women

This study examined the relationship between sexual orientation and eating disorders inwomen using a non-clinical sample of 45 homosexual and 64 heterosexual women, Subjects completed two self-report inventories composed of questions regarding weight, body image satisfaction, eating attitudes, and eating behaviors. Homosexual women were significantly heavier than heterosexual women, desired a significantly heavier ideal weight, were less often concerned with weight and appearance, and had less drive for thinness. Homosexual women of normal weight were more satisfied with their bodies than heterosexual women. Homosexual women's greater body satisfaction and lower concern with weight and appearance may contribute to their lower rates of eating disorders.