2018 Standards of physical beauty and mental health in [retrieved_2025-02-04]

Standards of Physical Beauty and Mental Health in Children and Young People

Authors

  • A. Kholmogorova

  • P. Tarhanova

  • O. Shalygina

  • Affiliation: Counseling & Clinical Psychology Department, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russia

Abstract

  • The study focuses on the negative effects of unhealthy beauty standards on the mental health of young people.

  • It reviews literature linking unhealthy beauty standards in cyberspace to eating disorders and narcissistic behaviors.

  • Investigates fashion dolls' roles in shaping these standards, as well as appearance dissatisfaction and physical perfectionism among youth.

  • Utilizes Vygotsky’s cultural-historical theory to explain how young people perceive attractiveness and body image.

  • Presents findings from two studies:

    • The first studied preschool-aged Russian girls' internalization of unhealthy beauty standards using an experimental method called "Choose a doll".

    • The second study found higher dissatisfaction with body image and increased physical perfectionism in urban youth compared to peers from provincial towns.

    • Identified parental criticism and communication issues as predictors of physical perfectionism in children.

Keywords

  • Internet

  • Mental health

  • Beauty standards

  • Eating disorders

  • Dissatisfaction with appearance

  • Physical perfectionism

  • Fashion dolls

The Role of the Internet

  • The internet is now crucial in modern life, with social media emerging as a popular communication tool.

  • A 2009 survey reported that 12.5% of Russian teens (14-17 years old) are heavily engaged online and value this time.

  • Over 75% of children and teens in Russia hold profiles on social networks, indicating a significant cultural shift towards virtual interaction.

  • The internet interacts with identity formation, offering both positive and negative effects, with negative impacts receiving more research focus.

  • Potential negative consequences of internet use:

    • Impaired real-life communication

    • Identity loss

    • Internet addiction

    • Distorted value systems

    • Information stress and neuroses

    • Desocialization

Negative Influence on Mental Health

  • The internet promotes dangerous information affecting mental health, notably the pressure to conform to specific beauty standards.

  • Rising rates of eating disorders among young people correlate with internet use, including online communities that promote unhealthy attitudes toward body image.

    • Examples of alarming trends include a specific online club for anorexics where members express admiration for extreme thinness.

  • Statistics from the USA report a 19% increase in hospitalizations for eating disorders between 2000 and 2006, emphasizing the severity of this issue.

  • Anorexia nervosa affects approximately one million American women annually, with onset commonly occurring in girls aged 12-25.

  • Eating disorder diagnoses are increasingly appearing in younger children, with risks escalating with age.

The Role of Fashion Dolls

  • Fashion dolls reinforce unrealistic standards of thinness from preschool age, contributing to body image issues.

  • Analysis of resources featuring dolls shows that access to various media (cartoons, games, advertisements) exacerbates exposure to these beauty ideals.

  • The marketing of dolls like Barbie promotes a glamorous image associated with success, leading to unrealistic aspirations among young girls.

    • Advertisers promote dolls as symbols of beauty and success, thereby encouraging excessive focus on appearance.

Cultural-Historical Theory

  • Vygotsky’s theories highlight the importance of cultural standards in a child's social development, including the internalization of appearance norms.

  • High levels of communication with adults and peers influence children’s beauty standards, beginning with family and transitioning to peers.

  • Early exposure to marketing can distort children’s views on attractiveness, compromising their self-esteem and identity development.

Internalization of Unrealistic Beauty Standards

  • Unrealistic beauty standards create body dissatisfaction and critical attitudes toward oneself and others, leading to mental health issues like depression and anxiety.

  • The connection between cultural standards communicated by adults to children is essential for understanding these dynamics.

Recent Findings

Studies on Preschool Girls

  • An experimental method shows preschool girls favor modern fashion dolls over more realistic figures, indicating the internalization of thin body ideals.

  • Girls predominantly selected thin, modern dolls, reflecting unhealthy beauty ideals, and displayed negative sentiments towards more realistic figures.

Comparison of Urban and Rural Youth

  • Research indicates urban youth experience higher levels of body dissatisfaction and perfectionism compared to their provincial counterparts.

  • Family communication issues strongly correlate with higher levels of physical perfectionism in children.