Reducing the Impact of Media Images on Women at Risk for Body Image Disturbance: Three Targeted Interventions

Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, Vol. 20, No. 3, pp. 324-340, 2001

Posted: 16 Aug 2011 Last revised: 27 Nov 2012

Date Written: 2001

Abstract

Recent research has shown that exposure to the ideal thin standard of female beauty commonly presented in advertising and the broader media contributes to body image disturbance among women. Researchers have proposed that social comparison processes underlie this phenomenon; women may routinely compare their bodies with images of feminine beauty contained in the media and consequently become less satisfied with their own bodies. This study reports the evaluation of three interventions that were designed to prevent women from experiencing body image disturbance when exposed to media images by interrupting the social comparison process. Experimental data suggest that all three interventions (a) decreased the likelihood of female participants comparing their bodies with media images, and (b) prevented media-induced body image disturbance. The content of the interventions, and implications for the treatment and prevention of body image disturbance and eating disorders are discussed.

Suggested Citation

Posavac, Steven S., Reducing the Impact of Media Images on Women at Risk for Body Image Disturbance: Three Targeted Interventions (2001). Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, Vol. 20, No. 3, pp. 324-340, 2001, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1910853

Steven S. Posavac (Contact Author)

Vanderbilt University - Marketing ( email )

Nashville, TN 37203
United States
615-322-0456 (Phone)

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Abstract Views
1,524
PlumX Metrics