By: Dani Bell, Lauren Grigsby, Taylor Hahn, and Adam Hesseltine

THE INFLUENCE OF FASHION MAGAZINES ON THE BODY IMAGE SATISFACTION OF COLLEGE WOMEN: An Exploratory Analysis

By: Dani Bell, Lauren Grigsby, Taylor Hahn, and Adam Hesseltine

Video Clips

Evolution Onslaught

Turner, S., Hamilton, H., Jacobs, M., Angood, L., &Dwyer, D. (1997). The Influence of Fashion Magazines on the Body Image Satisfaction of College Women: An Exploratory Analysis. Adolescence, 32(127), 603-612.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaH4y6ZjSfE

Some Background

Ideal body size changing 1940s, ectomorphic (thin) body types

perceived negatively 1980s, ectomorphic seen as most sexually

appealing Miss America contestants and Playboy

models body sizes continually decreased Crucial area of investigation because

related to low self-esteem and depression Portrayal of thin body ideal pressures girls

to be dissatisfied with their own bodiesTurner, S., Hamilton, H., Jacobs, M., Angood, L., &Dwyer, D. (1997). The Influence of Fashion Magazines on the Body Image Satisfaction of College Women: An Exploratory Analysis. Adolescence, 32(127), 603-612.

The Method

Experimental 49 college female participants randomly assigned Two conditions: fashion magazine group, news

magazine group Materials

Four fashion magazines, four news magazines Questionnaire administered following magazine

browsing 9 female body types provided, select most

desired 31 items assessing dieting attitudes and

perceptions of body


The Procedure

Girls participate in 30 minute interview assessing body image dissatisfaction

Wait in room with either only fashion magazines provided or news magazines

Taken to large classroom for questionnaire

10 girls who indicated they did not read a magazine were not included in analyses


Statistical Analysis

DV: Women’s body image satisfaction IV: Magazine type Hypothesis: Women who viewed fashion

magazine prior to questionnaire would report lower body satisfaction, preferred smaller body type, greater preoccupation with dieting


Results

T-test revealed no sig. differences in ideal body type opinions for two groups

T-test revealed sig. differences in ideal weight for two groups

Women who viewed magazines reported more frustration with their weight

Reported less satisfied with the shape of their bodies

Reported more guilt while eating, after eating, weighing themselves several times a week, afraid of getting fat


Results (cont’d)

Variable Total Sample Fashion Magazine News Magazine

Body Image SatisfactionI am pleased about my body 3.1 2.72 3.33*I am very frustrated about my weight 2.88 3.28 2.71*I feel satisfied with the shape of my body 2.96 2.56 3.29*Dieting Attitudes and BehaviorsI am on a diet… 2.45 2.89 2.29*I weigh myself more than once a week 2.45 2.94 2.24*My only intent when I exercise is to keep my weight down 2.69 3.22 2.47**I feel guilty while I am eating 2.71 3.06 2.43*I feel guilty after I eat 2.86 3.28 2.52*Preoccupation with ThinnessI am preoccupied with a desire to be thinner 2.86 3.55 2.48***I am afraid of getting fat 3.65 4.17 3.43*

(Adapted from Turner, 1997, p. 609)


Discussion

Demonstrate media’s role in shaping perceptions of society

Results consistent with previous findings Extend previous findings by showing that

preoccupation with thinness is heightened by fashion magazines

Using actual magazines made setting more like real world

Perception of being overweight leads to greater body image dissatisfaction


Critical Review: Interesting Points Although the sample size was small, the results they found

were interesting Particularly the significant difference in the ideal weight recorded

for those who saw the fashion magazines versus those in the control condition

The findings on race in relation to body image and satisfaction discussed in the discussion section African-Americans reported a much higher rate of body

satisfaction than Caucasian, Hispanic, or Asian women. Hispanic women reported lower rates of satisfaction as compared

to Caucasian women. The difference between ideal body type from the 1940s to

the 1980s and today. In the 1940s an individual with an “ectomorphic” or slender body

type was seen negatively as being nervous, submissive and socially withdrawn.

In the 1980s, however the ectomorphic body type was seen as more desirable and sexually appealing.


Critical Review: Weak Points Sample very small and predominantly

white Are effects heightened by being asked to

evaluate body Evaluate whether there are any long-term

results


True/False

The women who read the fashion magazines and the women who read the newspapers reported the same ideal weight.

The results of this study were consistent with research from previous studies

There were significant differences in ideal weight for two conditions


Test Questions: Multiple Choice

An ectomorphic body type is a(n) A) overweight body B) medium-sized body C) thin body

Which of the following is TRUE about the study: A) the women in the two conditions differed significantly prior

to the study B) viewing the fashion magazines led to lower levels of body

satisfaction C) ideal height differed significantly between the two groups

The average weight of Miss America contestants and Playboy Model has ___________ over time A) increased B) decreased C) stayed the same


Answers:

True/False False True True

Multiple Choice C B B


Reference

Turner, S., Hamilton, H., Jacobs, M., Angood, L., &Dwyer,

D. (1997). The Influence of Fashion Magazines on the Body Image Satisfaction of College Women: An Exploratory Analysis. Adolescence, 32(127), 603-612

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaH4y6ZjSfE

By: Dani Bell, Lauren Grigsby, Taylor Hahn, and Adam Hesseltine

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