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Media Effects on Women's Body Esteem: Social and Individual Difference Factors
Author(s) -
HendersonKing Eaaron,
HendersonKing Donna
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of applied social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.822
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1559-1816
pISSN - 0021-9029
DOI - 10.1111/j.1559-1816.1997.tb00638.x
Subject(s) - psychology , physical attractiveness , attractiveness , social psychology , ideal (ethics) , conversation , affect (linguistics) , social media , significant difference , developmental psychology , communication , philosophy , statistics , mathematics , epistemology , political science , psychoanalysis , law
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.