Exposure to body diversity images as a buffer against the thin-ideal: An experimental study

ABSTRACT There has recently been a call for the use of more diverse images by the media to promote body satisfaction. This experimental study evaluated the impact of body diversity images and whether these could act as a buffer against thin-ideal norms. Female participants (n = 106, aged 16–30 years) completed measures of body compassion, body and face satisfaction before and after random allocation to images reflecting one of three interventions: control, body diversity and thin-ideal. Attitudes towards thin-ideal images were also assessed. The results showed significant differences between groups for overall body compassion, the body compassion subtype of body kindness, body satisfaction and face satisfaction with those viewing the body diversity images reporting higher scores after exposure compared to the other two groups. Those in the body diversity group also displayed more negative attitudes towards thin-ideal images compared to controls. No between groups differences were found for body compassion subtypes relating to common humanity, motivated action and body criticism or positive attitudes to the thin-ideal images. In sum, exposure to body diversity images had a positive impact on body kindness and overall body compassion and body satisfaction providing experimental support for the use of diversity images as a buffer against thin-deals.

[1]  E. Stice,et al.  Thin-Ideal Internalization: Mounting Evidence for a New Risk Factor for Body-Image Disturbance and Eating Pathology , 2001 .

[2]  Caitlin A. Martin-Wagar,et al.  Group-Based Compassion-Focused Therapy as an Adjunct to Outpatient Treatment for Eating Disorders: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. , 2017, Clinical psychology & psychotherapy.

[3]  S. Paxton,et al.  Comparison of face-to-face and internet interventions for body image and eating problems in adult women: an RCT. , 2007, The International journal of eating disorders.

[4]  Marika Tiggemann,et al.  The Internet and Adolescent Girls’ Weight Satisfaction and Drive for Thinness , 2010 .

[5]  G. Huon,et al.  Media-portrayed idealized images, body shame, and appearance anxiety. , 2005, The International journal of eating disorders.

[6]  K. Neff,et al.  The Development and Validation of a Scale to Measure Self-Compassion , 2003 .

[7]  P. Nikken,et al.  Adolescents’ Social Network Site Use, Peer Appearance-Related Feedback, and Body Dissatisfaction: Testing a Mediation Model , 2015, Journal of Youth and Adolescence.

[8]  J. Ogden,et al.  Reducing the impact of media images: An evaluation of the effectiveness of an air‐brushing educational intervention on body dissatisfaction , 2008 .

[9]  K. Neff.  Self-Compassion: An Alternative Conceptualization of a Healthy Attitude Toward Oneself , 2003 .

[10]  M. Tiggemann,et al.  The Role of Social Comparison in the Effect of Magazine Advertisements on Women's Mood and Body Dissatisfaction , 2004 .

[11]  D. Neumark-Sztainer,et al.  Reading magazine articles about dieting and associated weight control behaviors among adolescents. , 2003, The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine.

[12]  Nichole L. Wood-Barcalow,et al.  "But I Like My Body": Positive body image characteristics and a holistic model for young-adult women. , 2010, Body image.

[13]  Marika Tiggemann,et al.  Thin ideals in music television: a source of social comparison and body dissatisfaction. , 2004, The International journal of eating disorders.

[14]  Marika Tiggemann,et al.  The Effect of Thin Ideal Media Images on Women’s Self-Objectification, Mood, and Body Image , 2008 .

[15]  Allan Mazur,et al.  U.S. trends in feminine beauty and overadaptation , 1986 .

[16]  Renée A. Botta,et al.  For Your Health? The Relationship Between Magazine Reading and Adolescents' Body Image and Eating Disturbances , 2003 .

[17]  M. Tiggemann,et al.  Reality check: An experimental investigation of the addition of warning labels to fashion magazine images on women's mood and body dissatisfaction , 2012 .

[18]  J. Ogden,et al.  The impact of an educational intervention to protect women against the influence of media images , 2011 .

[19]  P. Rogers,et al.  Eating in the adult world: the rise of dieting in childhood and adolescence. , 1992, The British journal of clinical psychology.

[20]  A. Chatard,et al.  Single exposure to disclaimers on airbrushed thin ideal images increases negative thought accessibility. , 2015, Body image.

[21]  Richard G. Weigel,et al.  Reducing the impact of media images on women at risk for body image disturbance: Three targeted interventions. , 2001 .

[22]  L. M. Ward,et al.  The role of the media in body image concerns among women: a meta-analysis of experimental and correlational studies. , 2008, Psychological bulletin.

[23]  S. Eggermont,et al.  Understanding Sexual Objectification: A Comprehensive Approach Toward Media Exposure and Girls' Internalization of Beauty Ideals, Self‐Objectification, and Body Surveillance , 2012 .

[24]  P. Gilbert,et al.  An evaluation of the impact of introducing compassion focused therapy to a standard treatment programme for people with eating disorders. , 2014, Clinical psychology & psychotherapy.

[25]  Sarah K. Murnen,et al.  The effect of experimental presentation of thin media images on body satisfaction: a meta-analytic review. , 2002, The International journal of eating disorders.

[26]  H. Hoek,et al.  Review of the prevalence and incidence of eating disorders. , 2003, The International journal of eating disorders.

[27]  D. M. Stein,et al.  The Impact of Exposure to the Thin-Ideal Media Image on Women , 2004, Eating disorders.

[28]  James E. Mosimann,et al.  Cultural expectations of thinness in women: An update. , 1992 .

[29]  A. Furnham,et al.  Gender and locus of control correlates of body image dissatisfaction , 1994 .

[30]  Marika Tiggemann,et al.  A systematic review of the impact of the use of social networking sites on body image and disordered eating outcomes. , 2016, Body image.

[31]  S. Paxton,et al.  The role of media literacy in body dissatisfaction and disordered eating: A systematic review. , 2016, Body image.

[32]  J. Rise,et al.  A longitudinal study of the relationship between body image, self‐esteem and dieting among 15–21 year olds in Norway , 2004 .

[33]  Peter J Hannan,et al.  Body dissatisfaction from adolescence to young adulthood: findings from a 10-year longitudinal study. , 2013, Body image.

[34]  Kristen Harrison,et al.  Virtually Perfect: Image Retouching and Adolescent Body Image , 2014 .

[35]  Karen E. Dill-Shackleford,et al.  Self-Compassion and Body Dissatisfaction in Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Brief Meditation Intervention , 2014, Mindfulness.

[36]  Jane Ogden,et al.  The Effect of the Media on Body Satisfaction: the Role of Gender and Size , 1996 .

[37]  J. Thompson,et al.  Effects of exposure to thin-ideal media images on body dissatisfaction: testing the inclusion of a disclaimer versus warning label. , 2013, Body image.

[38]  Marika Tiggemann,et al.  Longer-term implications of responsiveness to 'thin-ideal' television: support for a cumulative hypothesis of body image disturbance , 2003 .

[39]  Steven R. Thomsen,et al.  The relationship between reading beauty and fashion magazines and the use of pathogenic dieting methods among adolescent females. , 2002, Adolescence.

[40]  J. Carter,et al.  Are improvements in shame and self-compassion early in eating disorders treatment associated with better patient outcomes? , 2014, The International journal of eating disorders.

[41]  S. Paxton,et al.  Internet-Delivered Targeted Group Intervention for Body Dissatisfaction and Disordered Eating in Adolescent Girls: A randomized controlled trial , 2007, Journal of abnormal child psychology.

[42]  S. Posavac,et al.  Women's exposure to thin-and-beautiful media images: body image effects of media-ideal internalization and impact-reduction interventions. , 2005, Body image.

[43]  H. Vossen,et al.  Social Media and Body Dissatisfaction: Investigating the Attenuating Role of Positive Parent–Adolescent Relationships , 2018, Journal of Youth and Adolescence.

[44]  Michael P. Levine,et al.  Influence of Mass Media on Body Image and Eating Disordered Attitudes and Behaviors in Females: A Review of Effects and Processes , 2010 .

[45]  M. Tiggemann,et al.  NetGirls: the Internet, Facebook, and body image concern in adolescent girls. , 2013, The International journal of eating disorders.

[46]  Mariska Kleemans,et al.  Picture Perfect: The Direct Effect of Manipulated Instagram Photos on Body Image in Adolescent Girls , 2018 .