debraganza-hausenblas-2008-media-exposure-of-the-ideal-physique-on-women-s-body-dissatisfaction-and-mood-the-moderating

Introduction

• Study Title: Media Exposure of the Ideal Physique on Women’s Body Dissatisfaction and Mood: The Moderating Effects of Ethnicity

• Authors: Ninoska DeBraganza and Heather A. Hausenblas, University of Florida

• Focus: Examines how exposure to ideal physique media images affects body dissatisfaction and mood in women, particularly across ethnic groups (Caucasian vs. African American).

Background

• Body image concerns are often influenced by cultural and ethnic factors.

• Previous research primarily focuses on Caucasian women, neglecting ethnic minorities.

• The study aims to investigate whether ethnicity moderates body dissatisfaction and mood in response to ideal physique media exposure.

Methodology

Participants

• Total: 61 undergraduate females (31 Caucasian, 30 African American) from a Southeastern university.

• Age Range: 18-23 years, mean age 19.73.

• Composition: Participants were chosen based on demographic and acculturation criteria to ensure they had spent most of their lives in the U.S.

Measures

1. Demographic Questionnaire: Assessed age, height, weight, and ethnicity.

2. Body Mass Index (BMI): Measured using height and weight measurements.

3. Ideal Body Stereotyping Scale (Revised): Evaluated internalization of body ideals.

4. Body-Areas Satisfaction Scale: Measured satisfaction with specific body features.

5. Mood Visual Analogue Scale: Assessed levels of anxiety, depression, anger, and body dissatisfaction.

6. Stimulus Slides: Included mass media ideals (Caucasian models) and control slides (average American women).

Findings

Body Dissatisfaction

• African American women showed no significant changes in body dissatisfaction after viewing either slide condition (mass media ideals or control).

• Caucasian women reported higher body dissatisfaction after viewing mass media ideals and lower after control slides.

Mood States

• Anxiety: Caucasian women had significantly higher overall anxiety than African American women, with no other significant differences.

• Depression: No significant effect for group or slide condition, but all women reported increased depression after slides.

• Anger: No significant findings.

Study Implications

• Ethnicity plays a crucial role in the impact of media on body image issues, with Caucasian women more affected by exposure to ideals.

• African American women did not engage in the same social comparisons, possibly due to the ethnicity of the models not resonating with them.

• The findings challenge the effectiveness of current sociocultural models in understanding body dissatisfaction across different ethnicities.

Recommendations for Future Research

• Further studies should analyze broader ethnic groups and consider age variations.

• Examination of media literacy and its impact on body image across diverse populations.

• Development of prevention and treatment programs focusing on the effects of media messaging regarding ideal physiques.