Worth a Thousand Words

Poor Body Image Creates Barriers

• Healthy Lifestyles
• Self-Esteem
• Positive Social Interactions

The most widely used definition of body image is "the picture of our own body which we form in our mind, that is to say the way in which the body appears to ourselves"
(Nabi & Oliver, 2009; p. 395).

multi-dimensional

Therefore, one’s body related self-perception, self-attitude, and overall thoughts, beliefs, feelings and behaviors toward their body and health should be considered when conducting body image research (Cash, 2004, p. 1).

Why does this matter to YD?

• Psychological & Physical Assets
• Interventions to gain positive body image will decrease risk behaviors and increase these assets

This is largely attributed to the fact that individuals and their subjective experiences of what their bodies look like have been found to be more physiologically powerful than the visual reality.

This model aims to outline the processes that take place in the formation of body image.
In the context of this study, it was initially believed that mass media—the most pervasive social transmitter acts as the overreaching sociocultural factor.

Sociocultural Factors

In the end...

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To begin to properly deconstruct and solidify this model, several studies were needed.

To begin to properly deconstruct and solidify this model, several studies were needed.

To begin to properly deconstruct and solidify this model, several studies were needed.

To begin to properly deconstruct and solidify this model, several studies were needed.

Why Does this matter??

visual representations

empowerment

Theory

What are the key findings from previous research regarding the influence of media on shaping adolescent females perceptions of their body?

SLR SnapshoT

• 13 studies in 14 articles
• 16 year period
• 1998-2014
• Wide Spectrum of focus areas (Table 3, Pg. 25)
• 10 Quantitative 4 Qualitative

Media Matters.

Media was found to be a hinderance to
self-esteem/self-worth and impacted dieting behaviors and physical activity

Girls

Especially for those

And those with higher

But have no fear,

Parents

African-American Female Caregivers

African American Culture

African American Girls

Peers

Appearance criticism from peers proved to be an important aspect of the internalization of the thin ideal and body image satisfaction

Girls

Holes in the RESEARCH?

• Few studies on Middle School populations
• Even fewer studies in the U.S.
• Did not look at diverse popualtions

Methods

• 15 females from 3 sites
• Altered Photovoice Methods (selfies)
• Semi-Strucutered Interviews and Sharing Circles
• 46.6% White (N=7), 26.6% Latin/Hispanic (N=4), and 33.3% African American/Black (N=5).

To begin to properly deconstruct and solidify this model, several studies were needed.

Individual, Family & Community

Individual:
Appearance, Health, Internal Narratives, Religion & Race/Ethnicity

Appearance Ideals:
Make-up, Skin, Hair, Clothes, Shoes

Health
“Fit and healthy, because it’s good for your health verses weight so you can live longer.”

Race/Ethnicity

“Whenever I see myself I want myself to look professional where I go. My hair needs to be done right. I just want myself to look right when I’m around other people because I don’t like going out looking like someone I’m not supposed to be looking like. I like to dress in my own style and present myself in a good way. That’s something my mom tells me. She says ‘anywhere you go out, you represent me.’”

“I always want to stay underweight for my 15 because last time I went for my dress it fit perfectly. ”

Family:
Negative/Positive Narratives & Pets

"When I’m around my family I can be myself

I don’t have to be another person."

Community:
Church, Peers, Boys, Extracurricular Activities

“Church too. People say that I’m pretty and they say that I have pretty hair.”

Discussion

• Remains clear that sociocultural factors are important when constructing BI - can serve as protective factors to BI Dissatisfaction

Discussion

• Unconditional Acceptance
• Media Literacy
• Broad Conceptualizations of Beauty

Interventions

• Culture
• Religion
• Role of the Family

Conclusions

• Sheds light on the discourse surrounding Positvie Body Image
• More evidence for Sociocultural factors in practice and research
• Positive BI should contintue to be studied

To begin to properly deconstruct and solidify this model, several studies were needed.

Image Engagement & Seeking/
Role of the Media

Social Media
Music
Television

Social Media

• Feedback from others was important
• Photo Editing
• Self-Selection of Photos
• Social Media Celebrities

“If you post a selfie on Instagram and someone puts an emoji on it, that makes you feel good.”

Social media

Music: singing and empowering lyrics

Television

Television

• Comparisons were made to TV actors
• But, youth held those who were seen as positive role models in a higher regard
• Being "real" was important

Discussion

• Youth idealized characters but also wanted them to be realistic
• Music was the most positive/pervasive
• Social Media served as a new territory to navigate

Conclusions

• Youth exemplified the challenges and struggles many youth face when understanding media and BI
• Many youth were able to reject the messages w/ unrealistic beauty standards
• Social Media struggles prove this is not always easy for youth

To begin to properly deconstruct and solidify this model, several studies were needed.

Aqusition of Social Information

• Need Information- Self-Evaluation
• Problem Solving- Self-Improvment
• Feel Threatened - Self Enhancment

Thinking about the infomration

• Upward Comparisons
• Downward Comparisons

Reacting to the Information

• Cognitive (distorting or refuting the comparison)
• Affective (feeling jealous/proud)
• Behavrioral (joining a group, imitating, conforming)

Unsought Comparisons

Distant Targets

Rejecting Comparisons

Youth in this study expierneced

All claimed to be BI Satisfied

Comparisons To

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ACQUISITION of social information

• Youth could not always distinguish between these processes
• Moved very quickly between self-evaluation, self-improvement, and self-enhancments

Possible factors

• Youth are still collecting information about their social world so they are unaware of these distinctions
• Youth are still in stages of development that do not always allow for this type of cognition

Thinking about the INFORMATION

• Easier to distinguish but further information is needed to understand WHY youth choose to compare on certain dimensions (grades vs. appearance)

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Reacting to the information

• Youth chose to rationalize and "explain away" the conflict by choosing different comparison dimensions (cognitive dissonance)
• Once again, these processes were not clear cut or easy to distinguish

Discussion

• Provides real-life examples of SCT processes
• Body Satisfied Individuals did not seem as vulnerable to distant targets
• Need to contintue to understand the movement between processes (not as linear as the model proclaims)

Overall, reserachers must employ Grounded Theory Research with this age group to possibly alter this model & make it age appropriate

Overall conclusions

• Youth were empowered
• Youth serve as a model for Postive BI
• Culture and Personal Constructions of BI remain imperative

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Future Recommendations

• Continue to research BI in the US--especially with this population
• Culturally focused studies (Like Pope, 2014)
• Broadedn the understanding of Postive BI

“That it was so cool. I had fun! It really let me show myself in different ways that I couldn’t even imagine. I loved it and I would want to do it again if I could. I really never took selfies like this I barely even took any. And this way it really got me in a comfortable mood to take pictures with my friends and to start showing that I’m able that I can do things I couldn’t do and I’m able to have fun and turn down for what!”