The Medias Portrayal of the ExceptionallyFit Body and

The Media’s Portrayal of the Exceptionally-Fit Body and the Increase of Body Image Concerns within College Age Individuals Levi Henry

Introduction • The media’s role in American society (Homan, 2010). • Male body- Muscular, low body fat percentage (Leone, Sedory, & Gray, 2005). • Female body- Thin, lean, and fit (Homan, 2010). • Internalization and acceptance = Body image concerns (Daniel & Bridges, 2010).

Background • College students today, are a part of the first generation where media images saturate society, which creates competition (Readdy, Watkins, & Cardinal, 2011). • Social media

Literature Review (Media Influence) • Media influence • “The ideal body” • Male versus female

Literature Review (Ideal Body) • Desire to change one’s body image to match that of the ideal body placed on society by the media is increasing (Homan, 2010; and Leone et al. , 2005). • Standard • Internalization- the cognitive approval of the cultural ideal of attractiveness (Homan, 2010). • Body image disorders • Body comparison, insecurities, exercise dependence, poor dieting and the drive for muscularity (Daniel & Bridges, 2010).

Literature Review (Female Body Image) • Bulimia and anorexia nervosa- females • “Drive for thinness” =Body image concerns/dissatisfaction • Modern ideal female body • Thin, athletic/tone (some level of musculature)

Literature Review (Male Body Image) • Muscular physique- ideal body • Drive for muscularity • Males who are dissatisfied with their bodies, are susceptible to the opposite of anorexia nervosa, the condition known termed as bigorexia (Leone, Sedory, & Gray, 2005). • Muscle dysmorphia

Literature Review (Muscle Dysmorphia) • Obsessive-compulsive disorder and body dysmorphic disorder (Leone, Sedory, & Gray, 2005). • Uncontrolled fixation with gaining more muscle and becoming leaner. • “Drive for muscularity” is more common with males, but can exist in females as well. • Exercise addiction, social withdrawal, substance abuse, pharmaceutical use, and extreme diet.

Muscle Dysmorphia cont. • Limited research • Male bodybuilders- excluded from proposed study.

The Problem • Media images saturating society • Social media • Body image concerns growing problem in our society today. • Psychological effects have yet to be elucidated. • Understanding the psychological variables that lead to increases in body image concern would be useful in limiting and treating these increases.

Purpose • Examine to what extent does the media’s portrayal of the exceptionally-fit body cause increases in body image concerns and body dissatisfaction in both college age males and females, as well as to examine how these increases influence the development of characteristics associated with muscle dysmorphia.

The Study • • 74 participants (36 males, 38 females) Questionnaire packet (6 questionnaires) Cultural attractiveness standards Exercise habits and exercise dependence Body comparison Diet/supplement use Drive for muscularity Characteristics of muscle dysmorphia

Hypothesis • The media’s portrayal of the exceptionally-fit body will have a significant influence in causing an increase in body image concerns and body dissatisfaction in both college age males and females who internalize the media’s stereotype of attractiveness, as well as causing both sexes to develop characteristics associated with muscle dysmorphia.

Results • Demographic Questionnaire Participants Age Exercise Motivation Frequency Experience Preference Male 36 24. 0 6 Health 5+ days 5+ years Resistance/Weight Training Female 38 24. 5 0 Health 3 -5 days 2 -5 years Resistance/Weight Training

Results • Top Media Sources • Instagram and Facebook 80 68 70 Total Responses 60 59 50 40 Male 30 Female 24 23 20 10 12 10 8 9 7 2 0 Social Media TV Magazines Media Sources Movies Internet

Results • Independent-samples t test (SATAQ-3) SATAQ-3 35 30 25 20 Male 15 Female 10 5 0 Internalization-General Internalization-Athletic Pressures Information

Results • Independent-samples t test (BCS) BCS 30 25 20 Male 15 Female 10 5 0 General-App Muscular Weight

Results • Independent-samples t test (MDI) MDI 18 16 14 12 10 8 Male 6 Female 4 2 0 Physique Protection Diet Beh Exercise Dep Supp Use Pharm Use Size Symm

Results • Independent-samples t test (OEQ) OEQ 42 40 38 36 Exercise Habits 34 32 30 Male Female

Results • Independent-samples t test (DMS) DMS 60 50 40 Male 30 Female 20 10 0 Drive for muscularity Behavior Attitudes

Results • Correlations among internalization variables and subscales on BCS, MDI, OEQ, and DMS. • Internalization-General= Weight and General appearance (BCS), and Exercise dependence (MDI). • Internalization-Athletic= Muscular (BCS), Exercise dependence and Dietary behavior (MDI).

Results • Block-wise standard regression. • Internalization-general (IG) and Internalizationathletic (IA). • Weight comparison, 33. 9% of variance in IG • Muscular comparison, 45. 6% of variance in IG • Weight comparison, 21. 3% of variance in IA • Muscular comparison, 30. 5% of variance in IA

Results • • • Block-wise standard regression. Internalization-general Males vs Females Weight comparison Males- weight comparison, 30. 2% of varianace Females- weight comparison, 64. 3% of variance

Discussion • Purpose of study • Significant associations between internalization and body image concerns • Social media • Hypothesis = accepted and supported

Discussion • Impact of social media • Instagram and Facebook • Body comparison=Internalization=Body image concerns 80 Total Responses 70 60 68 59 50 40 Male 24 23 30 20 10 12 10 Female 8 9 7 2 0 Social Media TV Magazines Media Sources Movies Internet

Discussion • Internalization-general/athletic- similar for males and females. • Information- similar for males and females. • Pressure- females feel a greater sense of pressure. • Supports research of Daniel and Bridges (2010) • Supports research of Homan (2010)

Discussion • Body comparison • General aspects (ears, nose, lips, hair, teeth, chin, shape of face, cheeks, forehead)- females. • Weight concerning (stomach, buttocks, thighs, hips, calves)- females. • Muscle concerning (chest, back, shoulders, arms)- males. • Supports research of Homan et al. (2012) • Supports research of Homan (2010)

Discussion • Characteristics of Muscle Dysmorphia • High degree of internalization • Size/symmerty, physique protection, dietary behavior, and pharmaceutical use- males. • Exercise dependence and supplement usesimilar for males and females. • Supports research of Readdy et al. (2011).

Discussion • Exercise habits- similar for males and females. • High levels of internalization=negative exercise habits. • Supports past research of Daniel and Bridges (2012).

Discussion • Drive for muscularity- males. • Females have the drive for muscularity, to a lesser degree. • Supports research of Daniel and Bridges (2010) • Supports research of Homan (2010) DMS 60 50 40 30 Male 20 Female 10 0 Drive for muscularity Behavior Attitudes

Discussion • Correlation model • Internalization-general and Internalizationathletic • Weight concerns • Muscular concerns • General appearance • Exercise dependence

Discussion • Weight concerning body comparison=Internalization (general and athletic) • Weight concerning body comparison and muscle comparison= Internalization (general and athletic) • High degrees of body comparison= Internalization-general

Limitations • • Los Angeles County Age group (18 to 27 year olds) Emergence of social media Active gym goers

Conclusion • Internalization- main factor in determining higher levels of body image concerns, and is consistent with the research of Daniels and Bridges (2010). • Body comparison, negative exercise habits, the drive for muscularity, and other characteristics associated with muscle dysmorphia; ultimately leading to increases in body image concerns.

Conclusion • • Males and females internalize similarly Females compare general and weight aspects Males compare muscle aspects Males develop more characteristics associated with muscle dysmorphia • Males and females have similar exercise habits • Males have a higher drive for muscularity, females do posses a drive for muscularity • Rise and impact of social media