1. RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION DESIGN © 2012
www.PosterPresentations.com
Purpose and Hypotheses
This study examined the effect of idealized media
images on the participants’self-esteem and body image. It
was predicted that a reduction in reported self-esteem
scores would occur due to exposure to images of idealized
(compared with a neutral control) female and male
models. The research evaluated levels of self-esteem and
perceptions about physical appearance in relation to their
reported levels post image viewing. A third hypothesis
predicted an inverse relationship between these two survey
measurements.
Previous Literature
Several studies have been conducted to research the
effect of the common media portrayal of the idealized,
perfect body on self consciousness. The ubiquitous
portrayal of the “almighty” male physique and the “Barbi-
esque” female body have changed the way we view each
other and compare ourselves (London & Rattan et al.,
2012). Negative effects of these extreme images of
femininity and masculinity have been found (Downs &
Smith, 2010).
METHOD
INTRODUCTION
Participants
49 undergraduate students from PSY 302W
Research Methods classes at Northern Arizona
University. Participants included 33 females and 16
males, ranging in age from 18-38 years old (M = 21.82,
SD = 4.10).
Materials
• Two slideshows: one depicting idealized images of men
and women within the media (models, etc.) mixed with
neutral images (animals etc.) and the other depicting only
neutral images.
• Onesurvey, combining the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale
and Image Fixation Questionnaire.
• A memory recall test as deception.
Procedure
Participants were shown either a slideshow depicting
neutral images or idealized images. As a deceptive strategy,
participants were told that they were participating in a
memory recall experiment in which they would be shown a
variety of advertisements and then given a filler task before
a recall test. After being shown the slideshows, they
completed the filler task followed by the memory recall test.
The idealized conditions viewed the respective slideshows
then participants were given ten minutes to complete the
surveys given. Participants were then given the memory
recall assessment. Lastly, participants were given a
manipulation check and debriefed.
FIGURES AND TABLES
Idealized Female
ADVERTISEMENT EXAMPLES
RESULTS
Hypothesis 1 and 2: Exposure to idealized media
images would result in lower mean self-esteem scores
and higher mean body-consciousness scores.
Findings: A one-way ANOVArevealed non-significance,
F(2,46) = .162, p = .851 (self-esteem); F(2,46) = .603,
p = .552 (image fixation). Group means between
conditions do not appear to have been affected by
exposure to idealized images.
Hypothesis 3:
A predicted relationship existed between lowered mean
scores on the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and increased
mean scores on the Image Fixation Questionnaire.
Findings: A medium-strength correlation, r(47) = -.44,
p = .002. As predicted, lower mean scores on the
Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale were associated with
higher mean scores on the Image Fixation
Questionnaire.
DISCUSSION
This research predicted that participants would have
lower self-esteem and higher body self-consciousness after
being exposed to uncommonly beautiful media images.
The results showed insignificant findings, thus the
hypotheses were not supported. There are some limitations
within this study, such as exposure time and the sample
used. The sample used were predominantly Psychology
majors. Psychology examines the issue of such social
comparisons and could therefore produce sample biases.
Future studies should conduct longitudinal studies
including participants exposed to the images for longer,
more than once and over a period of time.
REFERENCES
Davies, S. (2007). Images of sexual stereotypes in rap videos and the health
of African American female adolescents. Journal of Women's Health
(15409996), 16(8), 1157-1164. doi:10.1089/jwh.2007.0429
Downs, E., & Smith, S. (2010). Keeping abreast of hypersexuality:A video
game character content analysis. Sex Roles, 62(11), 721-733. doi:
10.1007/s11199-009-9637-1
London, B., Rattan,A., Downey, G., Romero-Canyas, R., & Tyson, D. (2012).
Gender-based rejection sensitivity and academic self- silencing in
women. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 102(5), 961-979.
doi:10.1037/a0026615
Peterson, S. H., Wingood, G. M., DiClemente, R. J., Harrington, K., &
Richmond, V.P., & McCroskey, J.C. (2004). Nonverbal behavior in
interpersonal relations (5th Ed.). Boston:Allyn & Bacon.
Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton:
Princeton University Press.
Smiler,A. P. (2006). Living the image: Aquantitative approach to
delineating masculinities. Sex Roles, 55(9), 621-632. doi:10.1007/
s11199- 006-9118-8
Sara Byerrum, Rebecca Grafstrom, Matthew Moroson & Alexandra Vlachos
Department of PsychologicalSciences, Northern Arizona University
Effects of Idealized Media Images on Self-Esteem and Body Fixation
Idealized Males
Neutral Image
Figure 1. Image Fixation Questionnaire and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale
Mean Total Scores Comparison (depict minimal differences in mean scores).
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Rosenberg IFQ
TOTALSCALESCORE Idealized
Neutral
Control
Table 1 Means, standard deviations, and confidence intervals of all
measures from Image Fixation Questionnaire
Scale n M SD 95% CI Sig.
Survey only 18 8.67 5.10 [6.13, 11.20] .552
Neutral images 20 10.90 7.34 [7.46, 14.34]
Idealized Images
Total
11 10.36 6.53 [5.98, 14.75]
49 9.96 6.36 [8.13, 11.79]
Table 2 Means, standard deviations, and confidence intervals for all
measures from Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale.
Scale n M SD 95% CI Sig.
Survey only 18 22.44 5.34 [19.79, 25.10] .851
Neutral images 20 23.10 4.45 [21.02, 25.18]
Idealized images 11 23.45 5.05 [20.06, 26.85]
Total 49 22.94 4.84 [21.55, 24.33]