Running head: INFLUENCE OF THE MEDIA ON BODY IMAGE 1 INFLUENCE OF THE MEDIA ON BODY IMAGE 14 Influence of the Media on Body Image Tiffany King Argosy University February 10, 2016 Influence of the Media on Body Image Abstract Media images of the ideal body are prevalent in the contemporary society. These images are seen in ads, commercials, billboards, and magazines. For the longest time, there has been a continued interest in women’s body image. Their eating habits, self-esteem and how these two aspects are affected by what a female sees in the media have been researched. Such a line of research is essential because discovering the link between the media’s portrayal and poor image could allow for successful interventions to be implemented and evaluated (Harper & Tiggemann, 2008). In this regards, an intervention might lead to fewer cases of bulimia and anorexia and could also increase self-esteem and a sense of a more positive body image among females. Majorly, this study aimed at substantiating the media’s influence on body image. Forty-three Argosy University undergraduate students participated in the study voluntarily. The control subjects participated through filling out the BISS (Body Image States Scales). The experimental subjects showed 120-second power point presentation revealing media images of women followed by completing the BISS. The BISS included six questions that were rated on a Likert scale type, which inquired about the subject’s feelings concerning their physical appearance. The study used data analysis from independent sample t-tests. The analysis revealed that people who viewed the media images of females felt less physically attractive than those who were not exposed to the media presentation. Additionally, individuals who saw the media presentation felt worse regarding their looks compared with those that did not view the presentation. Additional findings suggested that attractiveness, satisfaction with their body and looks were not found to be significantly different. The questions that never revealed significant findings addressed more specific aspects of the body. For instance, body weight, shape and size. Introduction TV advertisements, magazines, and movies have always revealed the unattainable images of women’s body. Many studies have indicated that the ways in which a female’s eating habits, body image, and self-esteem are affected negatively by what they see and hear from the media. According to Spitzer, Henderson & Zivian (1999), social endorsements in the media portraying an ideal body have escalated image disturbances among women and influenced the development of eating disorders. Moreover, Kasey (n.d) found that women who are exposed to appearance-related media seem less satisfied with their shapes compared with those exposed to non-appearance related media. Many magazines tend to advise women to concentrate on their physical, outside attributes but fail to mention the significance o.

1. Running head: INFLUENCE OF THE MEDIA ON BODY
IMAGE 1
INFLUENCE OF THE MEDIA ON BODY IMAGE 14
Influence of the Media on Body Image
Tiffany King
Argosy University
February 10, 2016
Influence of the Media on Body Image
Abstract
Media images of the ideal body are prevalent in the
contemporary society. These images are seen in ads,
commercials, billboards, and magazines. For the longest time,
there has been a continued interest in women’s body image.

2. Their eating habits, self-esteem and how these two aspects are
affected by what a female sees in the media have been
researched. Such a line of research is essential because
discovering the link between the media’s portrayal and poor
image could allow for successful interventions to be
implemented and evaluated (Harper & Tiggemann, 2008). In
this regards, an intervention might lead to fewer cases of
bulimia and anorexia and could also increase self-esteem and a
sense of a more positive body image among females.
Majorly, this study aimed at substantiating the media’s
influence on body image. Forty-three Argosy University
undergraduate students participated in the study voluntarily.
The control subjects participated through filling out the BISS
(Body Image States Scales). The experimental subjects showed
120-second power point presentation revealing media images of
women followed by completing the BISS. The BISS included
six questions that were rated on a Likert scale type, which
inquired about the subject’s feelings concerning their physical
appearance. The study used data analysis from independent
sample t-tests.
The analysis revealed that people who viewed the media images
of females felt less physically attractive than those who were
not exposed to the media presentation. Additionally, individuals
who saw the media presentation felt worse regarding their looks
compared with those that did not view the presentation.
Additional findings suggested that attractiveness, satisfaction
with their body and looks were not found to be significantly
different. The questions that never revealed significant findings
addressed more specific aspects of the body. For instance, body
weight, shape and size.
Introduction
TV advertisements, magazines, and movies have always
revealed the unattainable images of women’s body. Many
studies have indicated that the ways in which a female’s eating
habits, body image, and self-esteem are affected negatively by
what they see and hear from the media. According to Spitzer,

3. Henderson & Zivian (1999), social endorsements in the media
portraying an ideal body have escalated image disturbances
among women and influenced the development of eating
disorders. Moreover, Kasey (n.d) found that women who are
exposed to appearance-related media seem less satisfied with
their shapes compared with those exposed to non-appearance
related media.
Many magazines tend to advise women to concentrate on their
physical, outside attributes but fail to mention the significance
of having other positive attributes. According to Szymanski,
Moffitt & Carr (2010), media presentation of the thin ideal is
connected to the predominance of dieting problems and body
image dissatisfaction. We should implement interventions to
minimize the number of women dying because of body image
disturbance disorders. Discovering the connection between
media images and body images might be the start to finding a
successful intervention.
This research sought to ascertain if female’s exposure to media
images of the thin ideal has negative effects on body image
perception. Philippa (2014) stated that the mass media might be
one of the important transmitters of the pressure to look like the
thin ideal. It is hypothesized that the more images of the thin
ideal body a female gets exposed through the media, the more it
affects her body negatively.
Statement of the Problem
This study sought to substantiate the influence of the media on
the body image of Argosy University women. Data was
collected through BISS that included six questions regarding
satisfaction/dissatisfaction with their body size and shape. The
subjects were categorized into experimental and control groups.
The control group was given the BISS whereas the experimental
group viewed a 120-second presentation that showed media
images of females followed by the BISS.
Hypotheses
The study had five null hypotheses. They are as follows:
Ho 1: There was no importance statistical difference in the

4. sample scores on BISS in the two groups, experimental and
control.
Ho 2: There wasn’t any difference between the experimental
and control group’s feelings concerning physical appearance.
Ho 3: There wasn’t any difference between both groups
regarding their size and shape.
Ho 4: There wasn’t any difference regarding their looks.
Ho 5: There wasn’t any difference regarding their physical
attractiveness.
Definition of Terms
Body image- This involves people’s emotions, perceptions and
physical sensations of and about their bodies.
Media- This is a way of communicating with or to the larger
public.
Sociocultural Theory- This is a societal standard for beauty,
which emphasizes on desirability for thin bodies and that
thinness is accepted by many females, although it is
unattainable for many.
Bulimia Nervosa- This is a recurrent episode of binge eating
and is characterized by eating in discrete patterns.
Anorexia Nervosa- This is the body’s refusal to maintain weight
at or above a minimally normal standard for height and age.
Literature Review
Body Image
Waller, Hamilton & Shaw (1992) defined body image as an
individual’s feelings, thoughts, and perceptions about their
body, including sexuality, age, functions, and race. He
discussed body image as being multidimensional, comprising of
an emotional and cognitive dimension. Julie (2003) mentioned
that body image is psychological in nature, and is greatly
centered on a person’s self-esteem and less about physical
attractiveness.
The Media
For decades now, the media has been influencing the society in
different ways. It decides what the public sees as well as how it
is portrayed. Women are portrayed in the media as thin and

5. without imperfections. Cho (2003) mentions that the media
portrays the thin women as successful and happy. Many women
are negatively affected by continually being bombarded with
such thin ideal image. Drastic dieting, low self-esteem, and
plastic surgery are all part of what happens to females following
the tales the thin ideal. It seems that the thin ideal is
widespread; however, they are images of the media that the
society can never attain. Indeed, they are models with make-up
and hair stylists, and are airbrushed to rid any imperfections;
they are just media images. The media portrays them in an
unrealistic manner (Dittmar & Howard, 2004).
These images encourage many to focus on their body shape and
appearance. In most cases, the media accepts negative opinions
on heavier people, especially women. It never shows them
leading normal, multifaceted, social livelihoods. The
contemporary society values beauty, and the thin ideal is what
is regarded as beauty. The media presentation of beauty
negatively affects women’s mood and body satisfaction. The
sociocultural theory also affects impacts body image. In the
Western culture, women grow knowing that being thin is
beautiful (Altabe & Thompson, 1996).
Methodology
In this study, the subjects were part-time or full-time female
students at the Argosy University. All the subjects were
undergraduate level students. They were randomly assigned to
either the experimental or control groups. Those in the control
group were given the BISS to complete together with directions
and informed consent. Conversely, the experimental group were
given the consent form, instructions and viewed a 120-second
presentation of media images of females, and this was followed
by administering the BISS. Data was gathered from the
university’s female students. The subjects were categorized into
two groups through counting off by two. One group became the
experimental group as the other became the control group. The
BISS was availed to the control subjects and directions read
aloud.

6. An introduction and an informed consent to the study were
explained to the experimental group. A 120-second presentation
was shown that displayed the thin ideal as demonstrated by the
mainstream media. Advertisements from the presentation were
picked from popular women magazines. Photos were taken and
shown to the subjects. Finally, the BISS was handed out, and
directions read aloud. The data collected from the study was
analyzed using independent test samples. The t-tests were
applied to ascertain if there were any statistically relevant
variances between the experimental and the control groups BISS
scores and on the tests scores. A t-test was conducted on all six
BISS questions, which dealt with how the subjects perceived
their body weight, shape, and physical attractiveness.
Results
The research questions on the experimental and control groups
feelings on body image were analyzed.
Ho 1: There was no statistically significant difference between
the sample scores on BISS in the two groups, experimental and
control.
The control group was given the BISS only while the
experimental group completed the BISS after viewing the
presentation. Data analysis did not reveal any significant
difference between the two groups score. Therefore, the null
hypothesis was not rejected.
Ho 2: There wasn’t any difference between the experimental
and control group’s feelings concerning physical appearance.
It involved conducting a test for independent variables to assess
the variances between the two groups. The control group had a
mean of 4.84 whereas that for the experimental group was 4.83.
Data analysis did not find any differences in the groups rating
on the dissatisfaction/satisfaction physical appearance. Thus,
hypothesis two wasn’t rejected.
Ho 3: There wasn’t any difference between both groups
concerning their size and shape.
Data analysis never found any significant differences in the two
groups about their gratification with their body size and shape.

7. A t-test was used to conduct this analysis, and it revealed that
the experimental group had a mean of 4.33 whereas that of the
control group was 5.42. Therefore, the null hypothesis was not
rejected.
Ho 4: There wasn’t any difference regarding their looks
The t-test analysis revealed a significant difference in the
groups about their looks. Thus, the null hypothesis was rejected.
The average response of the control group towards their feelings
was that they were just the same as on a typical day.
Conversely, the experimental group felt a bit worse than on
normal circumstances.
Ho 5: There wasn’t any difference regarding their physical
attractiveness
A t-test performed on physical attractiveness revealed a
significant difference between the two groups. The control
group rated their feelings on physical attractiveness as
moderately attractive while the experimental group felt neither
unattractive nor attractive. 10 out of the 24 experimental group
subtexts felt they were slightly unattractive. 2 out of 19 in the
control group felt that they were slightly unattractive. In
regards to this, the null hypothesis was rejected.
Conclusion
For decades now, media images of the ideal body image have
been displayed to females. The research revealed that the
experimental group’s image slightly changed in two of the six
fields addressed after viewing the media images. This finding is
important because it suggests that women are already exposed
to the images portrayed by the media and have become more
resilient towards such images. Further, it could imply that
women’s body image has declined in response to the media
images due to their anonymity. There was a significant
difference in the two groups on how physically attractive they
felt. Firstly, the experimental group felt slightly unattractive
whereas their counterparts felt neither attractive nor
unattractive. This might suggest that they never feel self-
conscious regarding anything about their bodies.

8. References
Altabe, M., & Thompson, J. K. (1996). Body image: A cognitive
self-schema construct? Cognitive Therapy and Research, 20(2),
171-193.
The topic being investigated in the article is about how the
image of a body has been a valuable hypothesis for accepting
eating ailments. The articled revealed that body image can be
well-defined in several methods: One notion of body image is as
an adopted outlook of individual form that gives influences and
behavior processing of information. The intellectual plan of
body image was established in chains of studies. Further current
researches have explored perceptive methods with the
information of body image, but have paid attention on weight-
related image of the body. A grouping of Markus' self-schema
concept and the theory of Higgins’ self-discrepancy were
utilized to designate a current body image interpretation as a
coopted self-representation. The theories predict certain
consequences of information processing of an organized
intellectual representation. The results confirm the actuality of
the representation. Different studies were carried out to test a
particular schema-like outlook of the image of body. In the first
study, body image plan variables were correlated with outdated
body image measures. In the second study, themes exposed to
outline relevant subjects displayed information processing
concerns consistent with the theory of self-representation.
Lastly, instructional set was revealed to adjust the schema
activation effect. The influences give body image schema and
yield inadequate information evidence concerning the nature of
the representation.
Cho, C. H. (2003). The effectiveness of banner advertisements:
Involvement and click-through. Journalism & Mass
Communication Quarterly, 80(3), 623-645.
The study in the article shows that individuals who are

9. extremely tangled with an artifact are highly expected to
connect a banner advertisement than the individuals with low
product association. The research establish an interface
influence of peripheral signals; ad animation and size), and
product involvement level on ticking of banner advertisements.
However, the optimistic association between banner clicking
and peripheral cues is highly prominent amid the ones with low,
instead of high, product engrossment. Banner advertisements
are method of advertisement found on the Internet. Investigators
have planned the efficiency of banner advertisements by
reviewing the rates of click-through rates that is occasionally
the basis for the pricing of the advertisements. The level of
efficiency of the banner advertisement is related to the product
association consumer level. Individuals with a level of low-
involvement are less likely to connect on the advertisement,
conflicting to the ones with a high-product engrossment, and
product knowledge.
Dittmar, H., & Howard, S. (2004). Professional hazards? The
impact of models' body size on advertising effectiveness and
women's body-focused anxiety in professions that do and do not
emphasize the cultural ideal of thinness. British Journal of
Social Psychology, 43(4), 477-497.
This article analyzes different types of careers and their
requirements for securing job placements. Majorly, it focuses
on the modeling career. It explains how the media has
influenced many young models to think that beauty is being
thin. Regarding them as professional hazards, the article advices
on the adverse effects of extreme dieting to achieve such lean
bodies.
Harper, B., & Tiggemann, M. (2008). The effect of thin ideal
media images on women’s self-objectification, mood, and body
image. Sex Roles, 58(9-10), 649-657.
The article is based on the objectification of women. The article
explored different forms of objectification. The study was
conducted by the women in the society. The results revealed
that most of the women in the society are influenced by the

10. media. The research focused of the research was to bring
awareness of the possible influences that objectification might
cause females. The authors wrote about the media and how
objectification could occur even in an environment. Several
researchers approve that the society of western has generated a
thin best body image. The image is linked in the mass media.
The body image of thin ideal is found in fashion and beauty
television, magazines, programming and on Internet sites. The
research wanted to control the correlation between body
dissatisfaction and media consumption, also the motivation to
transform the body of an individual. A study was carried out in
college age women to collect information. Generally, the
research found adequate correlations amid the factors.
Julie M. Sparhawk. Body Image and the Media. Medias
Influence on Body Image. August, 2003. Web. February, 13th,
2016.
http://www2.uwstout.edu/content/lib/thesis/2003/2003sparhawkj
.pdf
This article examines previous research on the ever changing
ideal body as well as how it influences women. Also, it
discusses the ways of the media of portraying women to the
public and the role of sociocultural theory in portraying women
by the mainstream media. It examines the relationship between
females’ body image and thin ideal and the media’s portray of
women.
Kasey L. Serdar. Female Body Image and the Mass Media:
Perspectives on How Women Internalize the Ideal Beauty
Standard. Web. February 13th, 2016.
http://www.westminstercollege.edu/myriad/index.cfm?parent=...
&detail=4475&content=479
The article explains that the media’s depiction of females
demonstrates a standard of beauty that seems unrealistic for
many women. Also, the article reveals how the models shown
on healthy body weight send a powerful message that females
should sacrifice their death for them to be regarded as beautiful.
Further, the article documents negative effects of ultra-thin

11. media images of women. Philippa Roxby. Does social media
impact on body image? October 13th, 2014. Web. February
13th, 2016. http://www.bbc.com/news/health-29569473This
article seeks to ascertain the impact of the social media on body
image. Majorly, it focuses on the young generation and presents
a reliable approach on how social media affects body image. It
backs its assertions with a detailed information on how the
young tend to emulate their favorite celebrities and end up
engaging in extreme dieting habits only to look like those
celebrities. Spitzer, B. L., Henderson, K. A., & Zivian, M. T.
(1999). Gender differences in population versus media body
sizes: A comparison over four decades. Sex Roles, 40(7), 545-
565.This article address the media and body image on a
different perspective. It considers gender differences in
different population parameters. More importantly, it compares
the body image perception in a decade-long period. It explains
that women are easier to follow and emulate the TV idols than
men. Further, it tackles the ever changing sex roles that push
women to deserve to be like the media propagated beauty.
Szymanski, D. M., Moffitt, L. B., & Carr, E. R. (2010). Sexual
objectification of women: Advances to theory and research. The
Counseling Psychologist, 0011000010378402.
The article is grounded on the research that was carried out to
categorize the influences the media has on females. The
research was conducted through the participants of the women
in the society. The study intended to study the effects of women
dismemberment in the society. They mainly examine the media
and the results revealed the problems that come from the
continued women exhibition. The research findings concludes
that media is the source of influence and education. The article
tries to connect depression and other factors of psychology to
the constant negative portrayal of women in the media.
Waller, G., Hamilton, K., & Shaw, J. (1992). Media influences
on body size estimation in eating disordered and comparison
subjects. British Review of Bulimia & Anorexia Nervosa.
The research in the article examines whether susceptibility to

12. media images of the bodies of females is related to the degree
of irregular eating approaches, and whether it is inadequate to
bulimics and anorexics. Twenty four women with eating
disorders and forty normal controls perceived a chain of
photographs from mass circulation magazines that concentrated
on the fashion of female. The medical group reacted to the
disturbing incentives by increasing their size of body
overestimation; nevertheless, the extent of the overestimation
was unrelated to the level of the psychopathology. The
influences of the pictures on body size approximation were
sturdier in the individuals with more pathological eating
approaches. A qualitative research concerning the sessions of
discussion with women diagnosed eating conditions reported
that some women admitted to have cut out models photos from
magazines and stuck them up to inspire them to stop eating.