Thin-Ideal Media and Women’s Body Dissatisfaction: Prevention using Downward Social Comparisons on Non-Appearance Dimensions

Abstract

Exposure to thin-ideal media has adverse effects on the body satisfaction of women with higher levels of body image disturbance. In a study involving 109 UCLA female undergraduates, we examined the effectiveness of an intervention that was based on downward social comparison theory and the selection of alternative comparison dimensions. All participants had higher levels of body dissatisfaction and viewed pictures of fashion models; the intervention group compared downward with the models on non-appearance dimensions in writing, whereas the control group described the models in writing. We hypothesized that the intervention group would experience more positive shifts in body and weight satisfaction, anxiety about appearance, and desire to lose weight than would the control group. The results supported our hypotheses.

Integrating Social Comparison Theory and Self-Esteem within Objectification Theory to Predict Women’s Disordered Eating

“…Other studies have suggested that girls and women prompted to make downward comparisons, especially on non-appearance-related dimensions, reported higher body satisfaction and positive mood than those instructed to make upward body comparisons (van den Berg and Thompson 2007). Similarly, an intervention that asked participants to make downward comparisons to models on non-appearance dimensions, such as special talents or important friendships, reported more positive shifts in body image, weight satisfaction, and anxiety related to appearance than did women who simply compared themselves to models (Lew et al 2007). It is possible that interventions designed to lessen the amount of body surveillance may also reduce their tendency to make body comparisons and body shame.…”

Perceived size of friends and weight evaluation among low-income adolescents

“…Adolescents use their friends as weight referents, and this social comparison is associated with inaccurate weight perception and negative weight related cognitions. Past interventions have been able to buffer the effects of downward weight related social comparison by facilitating non-appearance based comparison (Lew et al, 2007). In areas with disproportionately high rates of obesity, interventions should aim to encourage non-appearance based comparison that is health focused (e.g., physical strength or medically healthy weight).…”

Inspired by Hope, Motivated by Envy: Comparing the Effects of Discrete Emotions in the Process of Social Comparison to Media Figures

“…For example, Roberts and Good (2010) found that women high in the personality trait of openness felt better about themselves after viewing idealized images but worse about themselves after viewing the heavier images. Further, research suggests that when the target is seen as attainable, when people are focused on non-appearance dimensions of a target, or when they are primed with a self-improvement motive, viewers can have more positive affective responses to an attractive media target ( Joshi, Herman, & Polivy, 2004;Halliwell & Dittmar, 2005;Halliwell, Dittmar, & Orsborn, 2007;Knobloch-Westerwick & Romero, 2011;Lew et al, 2007).…”