Links Between Exposure to Sexualized Instagram Images and Body Image Concerns in Girls and Boys

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Marika Skowronski ◽  
Robert Busching ◽  
Barbara Krahé
Keyword(s):  
Body Image ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Body Surveillance ◽  
Step Process ◽  
Thin Ideal Internalization ◽  
Step Model ◽  
Body Image Concerns ◽  
Muscular Ideal ◽  
Self Objectification

Abstract. The current study examined the links between viewing female and male sexualized Instagram images (SII) and body image concerns within the three-step process of self-objectification among adolescents aged 13–18 years from Germany ( N = 300, 61% female). Participants completed measures of SII use, thin- and muscular-ideal internalization, valuing appearance over competence, and body surveillance. Structural equation modeling revealed that SII use was associated with body image concerns for boys and girls via different routes. Specifically, female SII use was indirectly associated with higher body surveillance via thin-ideal internalization and subsequent valuing appearance over competence for girls. For both girls and boys, male SII use was indirectly linked to higher body surveillance via muscular-ideal internalization. Implications for the three-step model of self-objectification by sexualized social media are discussed.

scholarly journals Disentangling the contributions of agentic, antagonistic, and neurotic narcissism to drive for thinness and drive for muscularity

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. e0253187
Author(s):  
Leonie Hater ◽  
Johanna Schulte ◽  
Katharina Geukes ◽  
Ulrike Buhlmann ◽  
Mitja D. Back
Keyword(s):  
Body Image ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Drive For Thinness ◽  
Drive For Muscularity ◽  
Body Image Concerns ◽  
Self Report Data ◽  
Muscular Ideal ◽  
Future Work

Body image concerns revolving around body ideals (thin ideal, muscular ideal) are widespread among women. Whereas a stronger preoccupation with ideal physical appearance is often assumed for narcissistic women, previous empirical findings have been mixed. Following a tripartite structure of agentic, antagonistic, and neurotic narcissism facets, we reexamined whether trait narcissism predicted drive for thinness and drive for muscularity. We further explored the role of importance of appearance as a mediator and moderator of the relation between narcissism and body image concerns. Latent structural equation modeling was applied to self-report data from two independent nonclinical female samples (NSample1 = 224, NSample2 = 342). Results underlined the importance of distinguishing between narcissism facets: Neurotic (but not agentic or antagonistic) narcissism uniquely predicted drive for thinness and drive for muscularity. Importance of appearance mediated but did not robustly moderate these relations. Hence, neurotic narcissistic women (characterized by hypersensitivity, shame, and a fragile self-esteem) are particularly prone to body image concerns. This vulnerability seems partly driven by how much importance they ascribe to their appearance. Future work might build on these insights to further unravel the processes linking neurotic narcissism to body image concerns and how these can be targeted in practical interventions.

Disentangling the Contributions of Agentic, Antagonistic, and Neurotic Narcissism to Drive for Thinness and Drive for Muscularity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonie Hater ◽  
Johanna Schulte ◽  
Katharina Geukes ◽  
Ulrike Buhlmann ◽  
Mitja Back
Keyword(s):  
Body Image ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Drive For Thinness ◽  
Drive For Muscularity ◽  
Body Image Concerns ◽  
Self Report Data ◽  
Muscular Ideal ◽  
Future Work

Body image concerns revolving around body ideals (thin ideal, muscular ideal) are widespread among women. Whereas a stronger preoccupation with ideal physical appearance is often assumed for narcissistic women, previous empirical findings have been mixed. Following a tripartite structure of agentic, antagonistic, and neurotic narcissism facets, we reexamined whether trait narcissism predicted drive for thinness and drive for muscularity. We further explored the role of importance of appearance as a mediator and moderator of the relation between narcissism and body image concerns. Latent structural equation modeling was applied to self-report data from two independent nonclinical female samples (NSample1 = 224, NSample2 = 342). Results underlined the importance of distinguishing between narcissism facets: Neurotic (but not agentic or antagonistic) narcissism uniquely predicted drive for thinness and drive for muscularity. Importance of appearance mediated but did not robustly moderate these relations. Hence, neurotic narcissistic women (characterized by hypersensitivity, shame, and a fragile self-esteem) are particularly prone to body image concerns. This vulnerability seems partly driven by how much importance they ascribe to their appearance. Future work might build on these insights to further unravel the processes linking neurotic narcissism to body image concerns and how these can be targeted in practical interventions.

Self-Objectification and Its Psychological Outcomes for College Women

2002 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 371-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer J. Muehlenkamp ◽  
Renee N. Saris-Baglama
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Objectification Theory ◽  
Psychological Outcomes ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Restrictive Eating ◽  
Bulimic Symptoms ◽  
Objectification Of Women ◽  
Self Objectification ◽  
The Relationship

The objectification of women by our society can become internalized by women, resulting in negative psychological outcomes. Using Fredrickson and Roberts' (1997) objectification theory, we tested a model of the relationships between self-objectification and disordered eating and depressive symptoms in a sample of undergraduate women ( n = 384). One postulate of self-objectification theory is that self-objectification can lead to a lack of internal awareness, which may mediate the relationship between self-objectification and restrictive eating, bulimic, and depressive symptoms. Results of structural equation modeling suggest that self-objectification has a direct relationship to restrictive eating, bulimic, and depressive symptoms. The mediational role of internal awareness was relevant for depressive symptoms but not for restrictive eating or bulimic symptoms. Depressive symptoms did, however, mediate the relationship between self-objectification and bulimic symptoms. The relevance of our findings to the understanding of objectification theory are discussed and future areas of research recommended.

Self-Objectification, Risk Taking, and Self-Harm in College Women

2005 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer J. Muehlenkamp ◽  
Jenny D. Swanson ◽  
Amy M. Brausch
Keyword(s):  
College Women ◽  
Risk Taking ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Objectification Theory ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Women's Bodies ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Self Harm ◽  
Self Objectification

Objectification theory proposes that the objectification of women's bodies causes women to self-objectify, adopting an outsider's view of themselves. Engaging in a high amount of self-objectification is thought to place women at increased risk for mental health problems such as body dissatisfaction and depression. It was hypothesized that self-objectification would contribute to negative body regard and depression, which would increase participation in risk-taking and self-harmful behaviors. Structural equation modeling was used to test a model of risk for self-harm based upon objectification theory in a sample of 391 college women. Results indicate that the model provided a good fit to the data, but only the paths from self-objectification to negative body regard, negative body regard to depression, and depression to self-harm were significant. Implications of these findings for objectification theory and our understanding of self-harm in women are discussed.

Sociocultural pressure, internalization, BMI, exercise, and body dissatisfaction in Korean female college students

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (13) ◽  
pp. 1712-1720 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyulee Shin ◽  
Sukkyung You ◽  
Euikyung Kim
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Body Dissatisfaction ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Peer Pressure ◽  
Female College Students ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Thin Ideal ◽  
Female College ◽  
Thin Ideal Internalization ◽  
Sociocultural Pressure

This research investigated the differential effects of sociocultural pressures from media, peers, and parents on the thin ideal internalization and body dissatisfaction of 472 Korean female college students using structural equation modeling. Results indicated that after controlling for body mass index and exercise, media pressure exerted the largest effects, followed by peer pressure and parental pressure, on thin ideal internalization, and in turn, body dissatisfaction. Furthermore, parent and media pressures were found to exert direct effects on body dissatisfaction as well as indirect effects through thin ideal internalization. The results and implications of the study are discussed.

Examination of the Relationship Between Imagery Use, Efficacy Beliefs, and Body Image in Females

2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-53
Author(s):  
Lisa Cooke ◽  
Krista Chandler
Keyword(s):  
Body Image ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Efficacy Beliefs ◽  
Exercise Behavior ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Practical Application ◽  
Applied Model ◽  
Frequent Use ◽  
Exercise Imagery ◽  
The Relationship

Given the prevalence of inactivity among women, it is imperative to examine sources which may influence exercise behavior. Researchers have begun to examine the practical application of exercise imagery on involvement in physical activity (Giacobbi et al., 2003; Milne et al., 2008). Using the Applied Model of Imagery Use in Exercise (Munroe-Chandler & Gammage, 2005), imagery use, efficacy beliefs, and body image among female exercisers (N = 300) was investigated. Results revealed frequent use of exercise imagery, high efficacy beliefs, and positive body image cognitions among exercisers. Structural equation modeling revealed that efficacy beliefs did not mediate the relationship between imagery use and body image among a specific sample of female exercisers. However, the results do suggest that exercise imagery significantly predicts all four types of efficacy belief types (Efficacy Expectancy, Outcome Expectancy, Outcome Value, and Self-presentational Efficacy). Further examination of the suggested relationships in the applied model is needed.

Testing objectification theory with Chinese undergraduate women and men

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 629-639 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Zheng ◽  
Qingqing Sun
Keyword(s):  
Disordered Eating ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Depressed Mood ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Objectification Theory ◽  
Body Shame ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Body Surveillance ◽  
Undergraduate Women ◽  
Appearance Anxiety

We tested the applicability of objectification theory to the prediction of disordered eating and depressed mood among Chinese undergraduate students. Participants (N = 430) completed measures of body surveillance, body shame, appearance anxiety, level of internal awareness, flow, disordered eating, and depressed mood. Results of structural equation modeling revealed the model of objectification theory provided a poor fit to the data for both genders, but 2 exploratory models with good fit were generated after subsequent modification to the model. For women, body shame and appearance anxiety mediated the relationships among body surveillance, disordered eating, and depressed mood. Furthermore, body surveillance indirectly influenced women's level of internal awareness and flow via body shame and appearance anxiety, which led to disordered eating and depressed mood. This pattern of relationships was similar for men, except for flow, which was not related to the outcome variables. We concluded that objectification theory is applicable to women and men in China.

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