Can the Media Affect Us? Social Comparison, Self-Discrepancy, and the Thin Ideal
Abstract
The current study explored body image self-discrepancy as moderator and social comparison as mediator in the effects on women from thin-ideal images in the media. Female undergraduates ( N = 112) with high and low body image self-discrepancy were exposed to advertisements either with thin women (thin ideal) or without thin women (neutral-advertisement control). Exposure to thin-ideal advertisements increased body dissatisfaction, negative mood, and levels of depression and lowered self-esteem. In addition, social comparison processes mediated the relationship between exposure to thin-ideal advertisements and negative self-directed effects. Notably, self-discrepancy moderated this mediation. Women with high levels of body image self-discrepancy were more likely to engage in social comparison from exposure to thin-ideal advertisements, as well as more likely to have those comparison processes induce self-directed negative consequences. This research provides support for an individual difference variable (body image self-discrepancy) that moderates the mediating effect of social comparison from exposure to thin-ideal media.
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The general effects of wealth and particularly poverty on mental health are likely to be exacerbated in an attention economy.
“the general effects of wealth and particularly poverty on mental health are likely to be exacerbated in an attention economy”
From The Second Wave of Attention Economics. Attention as a Universal Symbolic Currency on Social Media and beyond (2025) · cites this paper as Bessenhof, 2006
Women high in body image self-discrepancy are more likely to engage in upward appearance-related comparison and, in turn, more likely to think about weight-reduction behaviors.
“Similarly, Bessenoff (2006) suggests that women high in body image self -discrepancy are more likely to engage in upward appearance-related comparison, and, in turn, are more likely to think about weight-reduction behaviors.”
From The reciprocal and indirect relationships between passive Facebook use, comparison on Facebook, and adolescents' body dissatisfaction (2017) · cites this paper as Bessenoff, 2006
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“Taking into account discussions of the effects of social comparison on social media on psychological well-being that are already visible now (Bessenhof, 2006; Throuvala et al., 2019; White et al., 2006), the general effects of wealth and particularly poverty on mental health are likely to be…”
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- Authors
- Bessenoff, G. R.
- Affiliations
- University of Connecticut (US)
- Corresponding author
- Bessenoff, Gayle R.
- Venue
- Psychology of Women Quarterly
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2006-09
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 239-251
- ISSN
- 0361-6843 (ISSN-L)
- 1471-6402
- OpenAlex
- W2112181252
- Cited by
- 412
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 27 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 26 · 2013: 35 · 2012: 21
- FWCI
- 18.09
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychology of Women Quarterly (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Media, Gender, and Advertising
- Keywords
- thin ideal, social comparison, media exposure, body dissatisfaction, self-esteem, depression, negative mood, women, advertising, individual differences
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