Exposure to media-portrayed thin-ideal images adversely affects vulnerable girls: a longitudinal experiment
Abstract
Although laboratory experiments indicate that brief exposure to thin models leads to acute body dissatisfaction and negative affect in women, research has not tested whether longer term exposure results in lasting effects. Accordingly, we randomly assigned 219 adolescent girls to a 15-month fashion magazine subscription or a no-subscription condition and followed them over time. Despite evidence that the experimental manipulation successfully increased exposure to the fashion magazine and the ample statistical power, there were no main effects of long-term exposure to thin images on thin-ideal internalization, body dissatisfaction, dieting, negative affect, or bulimic symptoms. However, there was evidence that vulnerable adolescents, characterized by initial elevations in perceived pressure to be thin and body dissatisfaction and deficits in social support, were adversely affected by exposure to these images. Results suggest that exposure to thin-ideal images has lasting negative effects for vulnerable youth.
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Internalization, together with social comparison processes, is proposed to link societal messages of a specific body ideal to the development of body dissatisfaction.
“It is this internalization, together with social comparison processes, which are proposed to be the link between the societal message of a specific body ideal and the development of body dissatisfaction (Stice et al., 2001; Tiggemann, 2003; Keery et al., 2004; Sypeck et al., 2006; Schaefer et al., 2015).”
From The degree to which the cultural ideal is internalized predicts judgments of male and female physical attractiveness (2022) · cites this paper as Stice et al., 2001
Some etiological theories propose multiple risk pathways for the development of eating disorders.
“some etiological theories about the development of eating disorders propose multiple risk pathways (Thompson et al., 1999; Stice et al., 2001).”
From The degree to which the cultural ideal is internalized predicts judgments of male and female physical attractiveness (2022) · cites this paper as Stice et al., 2001
Other research has found that longterm exposure to thin ideal media is not associated with body dissatisfaction, except among girls who exhibit heightened initial body image concerns.
“yet other research has found that longterm exposure to thin ideal media is not associated with body dissatisfaction, except among girls who exhibit heightened initial body image concerns (Stice et al., 2001).”
From Incorporating social media and muscular ideal internalization into the tripartite influence model of body image: Towards a modern understanding of adolescent girls’ body dissatisfaction (2022) · cites this paper as Stice et al., 2001
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“Or, are there other factors which can act either additively or multiplicatively together with thin/ muscular internalization, to bring different individuals to the same tipping point? This is important because some etiological theories about the development of eating disorders propose multiple risk pathways (Thompson…”
Background
- Authors
- Stice, E., Spangler, D., & Agras, W. S.
- Affiliations
- The University of Texas at Austin (US)
- Brigham Young University (US)
- Stanford University (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology
- Publisher
- Guilford Publications
- Published
- 2001-09
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 270-288
- ISSN
- 0736-7236 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2157503405
- Cited by
- 298
- References
- 55
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 20
- FWCI
- 13.54
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
- Keywords
- thin-ideal internalization, media exposure, fashion magazines, adolescent girls, body dissatisfaction, dieting, bulimic symptoms, social support, vulnerable youth
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