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Examining the Links Among Magazine Preference, Levels of Awareness and Internalization of Sociocultural Appearance Standards, and Presence of Eating‐Disordered Symptoms in College Women
Author(s) -
Lokken Kristine L.,
Worthy Sheri Lokken,
Trautmann Julianne
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
family and consumer sciences research journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.372
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 1552-3934
pISSN - 1077-727X
DOI - 10.1177/1077727x04263837
Subject(s) - sociocultural evolution , beauty , preference , internalization , psychology , social psychology , developmental psychology , disordered eating , eating disorders , clinical psychology , medicine , sociology , art , receptor , anthropology , economics , microeconomics , aesthetics
Research has shown that young women are negatively affected by media images representing thin female body types. Given the increasing prevalence of eating disorders among young women, it is important to look closer at this phenomenon and the role/responsibility of the media. This study examined the links among quantity of magazine exposure, preference for specific periodicals, awareness and internalization of sociocultural standards of beauty, and the presence of eating‐disordered symptoms in a sample of college women. Small, but significant, correlations were found between magazine exposure and drive for thinness, and between preference for beauty and fashion magazines and internalization of sociocultural standards of appearance. Regression analyses found awareness and internalization of sociocultural standards of appearance to be significant predictors of body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness, and bulimic symptoms. The results of this study are discussed in terms of educational and social marketing strategies.