ABSTRACT

This cross-national survey among Austrian, Belgian, Spanish, and South Korean boys and girls (N = 1,983; M _age = 14.41, SD = 1.08) investigated the association between mass media use, self-objectification, and positive body image. In doing so, we (a) extended existing research on the link between media use and positive body image by including different media genres that are known to be part of adolescents’ media diets, (b) introduced self-objectification as a potential mediator, (c) differentiated between boys and girls, and (d) tested these assumptions across diverse cultural settings. Overall, our findings suggest that the use of different types of media that emphasize physical beauty and (sexual) appearance relate both negatively as well as positively to adolescents’ appreciation of their own body. Self-objectification (i.e., valuing one’s appearance characteristics over competence/functionality characteristics) is negatively related to adolescents’ positive body image, indicating a mediating mechanism. Our results highlight the need for further research on the content of mass media and a positive body image.

摘要

这项针对奥地利，比利时，西班牙和韩国男孩和女孩的跨国调查（N = 1,983；M _年龄 = 14.41，SD = 1.08）调查了大众传播媒体使用，自我客观化和积极的身体形象之间的关联。为此，我们（a）通过纳入已知属于青少年媒体饮食一部分的不同媒体类型，扩展了有关媒体使用与身体正面形象之间联系的现有研究，（b）引入了自我目标化作为潜在的媒介， （c）区分男孩和女孩，以及（d）在不同文化背景下检验这些假设。总体而言，我们的研究结果表明，使用强调身体美感和（性）外表的不同类型的媒体，无论对青少年对自己身体的欣赏程度，都具有正面和负面的关系。自我目标化（即，评估一个人的外表特征胜过能力/功能特征）与青少年的积极身体形象负相关，表明这是一种中介机制。我们的结果强调需要对大众传播媒体的内容和积极的身体形象做进一步的研究。