Abstract
The present study sought to investigate the influence of self-activation on body and weight satisfaction in restrained and unrestrained eaters, after exposure to thin-ideal images. Restrained eaters (n = 39) and unrestrained eaters (n = 40) were randomly assigned to a self-activation manipulation versus a control manipulation. After the manipulation, all participants were exposed to eight thin-ideal images. Measures of state body and weight satisfaction and of social comparison tendencies were assessed throughout the experiment. Self-activated restrained eaters showed a significant decrease in body and weight satisfaction after exposure to thin-ideal images, compared to restrained eaters who were not self-activated. In unrestrained eaters, the self-activation manipulation did not have any effect on body or weight dissatisfaction. In conclusion, exposure to fashion models only had a negative influence on women's self-evaluations when two conditions were met: (1) the participant was 'self-activated' and (2) the participant classified as a restrained eater.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 335-340 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Body Image |
Volume | 7 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sept 2010 |
Keywords
- ADOLESCENT GIRLS
- ANXIETY DISORDER
- ATTRACTIVENESS
- Body dissatisfaction
- EATING BEHAVIOR
- ESTEEM
- EXPOSURE
- Media exposure
- Restrained eaters
- SATISFACTION
- SOCIAL-COMPARISON PROCESSES
- Self-activation
- Social comparison
- TELEVISED IMAGES
- WOMENS MOOD