Factors Influencing Body Image During Adolescence

Abstract

Abbreviations BMI Body mass index SEM Structural equation modeling SES Socioeconomic status IntroductionOver the years, research has implicated a number of developmental (e.g., pubertal timing), psychological (e.g., self-esteem), and sociocultural (e.g., culturally-defined and transmitted messages regarding attractiveness) factors in the development and maintenance of body image disturbance and related issues in adolescents. In this chapter, we will focus exclusively on sociocultural factors that affect adolescent body image, using the Tripartite Influence Model of body image and eating disturbance as our conceptual framework. We will begin by providing some background information on body image and body image disturbance, and offer an explanation as to why adolescents may be particularly vulnerable to the latter. Then, we will explicate the role of the media in transmitting messages to adolescents regarding culturally defined and encouraged images of attractiveness that suggest that females have thin bodies and males have lean, muscular bodies. Next, we will discuss the direct and indirect influences of parents and peers, including appearance-related teasing and criticism and modeling of eating-and weight-related behaviors, which may serve to reinforce mediatransmitted messages. Finally, we will highlight the role of cultural factors such as acculturation and the connection between body image disturbance and other areas of health. Body Image and Body Image DisturbanceDefining body image is so "tricky" that Thompson et al. (1999) pointed out the existence of 16 different terms used interchangeably by researchers and clinicians (Table 201.1). The common consensus, however, is that body image is a complex, multidimensional construct

Exploration of virtual body-representation in adolescence: the role of age and sex in avatar customization

“…Adolescence is a period of life characterized by many important physical and psychological changes that may influence the identity development (Harter 2003 ; Alsaker and Flammer 2006 ; Smolak and Stein 2010 ; Fenton et al 2010 ; Confalonieri and Gatti 2011 ). Since many studies have shown that the most important individual factors influencing the sense of identity in adolescence are age and sex (Holmqvist and Frisen 2012 ; Weichold and Fasche 2010 ; Ata et al 2011 ; Gatti et al 2014 ), and these factors are related also to avatar appearance in adult samples (Martey et al 2013 ; Reed and Fitzpatrick 2008 ; Beasley and Standley 2002 ), we first investigated whether these factors influence the adolescent virtual self-representation.…”

“…The construct of virtual self-discrepancy has been associated with users’ dissatisfaction with real life (Alsaker and Kroger 2006 ) and users’ intention to gain better mastery of the virtual world (Anderson et al 2004 ). On the other hand, some researchers maintain that an avatar customized by an individual is substantially an extension of his or her self (Ata et al 2011 ; Beasley and Standley 2002 ; Bell and Dittmar 2011 ), in that the avatar can be considered an expression of the individual’s actual identity (Bernasconi 2009 ; Bessiere et al 2007 ). This coherence between individuals and their avatars have been found both related to personality, mental states, self-esteem and interests (Fong and Mar 2015 ; Kafai et al 2010 ; Park and Henley 2007 ; Dunn and Guadagno 2012 ) and to behaviors exhibited within the virtual environment (Bessiere et al 2007 ; McCreery et al 2012 ).…”

“…Many studies agree that the most important individual factors influencing sense of identity in adolescence are age and sex (Holmqvist and Frisen 2012 ; Weichold and Fasche 2010 ; Ata et al 2011 ; Gatti et al 2014 ). Regarding age, body representation and body esteem change at different ages (early, middle and late adolescence) (Verstuyf et al 2014 ) according to adolescents’ physical development (puberty).…”

Development and validation of the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-4 (SATAQ-4).

“…Within the context of the family environment, parents are strong communicators of appearance ideals and exert appearance-related pressures through direct appearance-related comments and modeling of appearance concerns (Ata, Rojas, Ludden, & Thompson, 2011). Indeed, research suggests that such parental pressures exhibit considerable influence on sons' and daughters' body image and eating behaviors (Bearman, Presnell, Martinez, & Stice, 2006;Rodgers & Chabrol, 2009).…”

Aktivitas dan Pengaruh Sosial Media terhadap Body Dissatisfaction pada Dewasa Awal

“…Salah satu faktor sosial yang paling berpengaruh terhadap berkembangnya body dissatisfaction adalah media massa. Media berkontribusi pada body image dengan cara menyebarkan pesan terkait bagaimana sosio-budaya memandang daya tarik yang ideal yang seharusnya dimiliki individu (Ata, Rojas, Ludden, & Thompson, 2011). Paparan tentang bentuk tubuh yang dianggap ideal pada media menimbulkan adanya body dissatisfaction.…”