Media Exposure and Body Image in 6-9 Year Old Girls: The Role of Perceived Realism and Internalization of Media
Year: 2011
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Previous research has established that adult-focused media contributes to poor body image attitudes in adult and teenage women.The body image attitudes of children are also negatively affected by adult-focused media.Although child-focused media contains similar thinfemale idealized messages and themes, the impact of this type of media on the body image attitudes of young girls has not been well studied.This study examined the relationship between 6-9 year old girls' exposure to child-focused media and their body image attitudes.Internalization of the thin ideal and perceived realism of media were also examined as individual difference variables and their relationship to body image attitudes is reported.No media exposure or preference variables directly impacted participants' body image attitudes, possibly because reports of media were unreliable.Thin ideal internalization and perceived realism of child-focused media were significantly correlated.Internalization was also related to a preference for a thinner body.Results from this study highlight the need for improved measures of media exposure and the importance of understanding how young girls internalize the thin ideal portrayed in the media.
Author: Allison E. Kiefner
Institution: Bowling Green State University
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2245148393