Self-enhancing effects of exposure to thin-body images

✍ Scribed by Joshi, Ramona ;Herman, C. Peter ;Polivy, Janet

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 2004
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 81 KB
• Volume: 35
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0276-3478
• DOI: 10.1002/eat.10253

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Objective

This study examines the effect of thin‐body media images on mood, self‐esteem, and self‐image ratings of restrained and unrestrained eaters. A secondary purpose was to examine whether these effects were influenced by exposure duration.

Method

Under the guise of a perception study, participants were exposed to thin‐body or control advertisements (e.g., perfume bottles) for either 7 or 150 ms and then completed a questionnaire packet.

Results

Restrained eaters reported more favorable self‐image and social self‐esteem (but not appearance self‐esteem) scores after exposure to thin‐body images than after exposure to control advertisements. The self‐image and social self‐esteem scores of unrestrained eaters were unaffected by advertisement type, but their appearance self‐esteem scores were lower after exposure to thin‐body advertisements. No differences were found for mood ratings and total self‐esteem.

Discussion

We discuss restraint status as a moderator of the effects of thin‐body images on women's body image. © 2004 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 35: 333–341, 2004.