Author:

Keywords:

Social Sciences, Communication, Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary, Social Sciences - Other Topics, Television, magazines, the internalization of appearance ideals, other-sex peer norms, dysfunctional appearance beliefs, early adolescents, BODY-IMAGE DISTURBANCE, APPEARANCE SCHEMAS INVENTORY, SOCIOCULTURAL ATTITUDES, PREADOLESCENT GIRLS, 12-YEAR-OLD GIRLS, EATING-DISORDERS, BEAUTY IDEALS, INTERNALIZATION, EXPOSURE, BOYS, 1608 Sociology, 1902 Film, Television and Digital Media, 2001 Communication and Media Studies, 3605 Screen and digital media, 4701 Communication and media studies, 5201 Applied and developmental psychology

Abstract:

© 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. The purpose of this study was to investigate how total amount of television and magazine exposure and heterosocial involvement (i.e., mixed-sex interactions) relate to the endorsement of dysfunctional appearance beliefs. We anticipated a double dose effect in that exposure to media would be related to more dysfunctional appearance beliefs among those who are frequently involved in mixed-sex interactions. A total of 1976 early adolescent boys and girls (Mage = 11.77; SD = 1.04) participated in a cross-sectional study. Results indicated that the internalization of appearance ideals and appearance expectations of opposite-sex peers mediated the association between amount of television and magazine exposure and the endorsement of dysfunctional appearance beliefs. Heterosocial involvement did not, however, strengthen the influence of media exposure on early adolescents’ body image.