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CHARACTERISTICS OF APPEARANCE-RELATED SOCIAL COMPARISONS TO THIN IDEAL AND SAME-SEX PEER MEDIA BY ADOLESCENT FEMALES WITH AND WITHOUT EATING DISORDERS

Tissot, Abbigail M.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1247326590

Abstract Details

2009, PHD, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychological Sciences.
Adolescence is a period of peak risk for eating disorders (ED) among females and is characterized by significant physiological and psychological growth. Sociocultural influences are particularly salient to adolescents and social comparison is one mechanism through which social pressures may impact body concern and EDs. This research used an experimental design to evaluate cognitive and affective processes involved in the appearance-related social comparisons of adolescent females with and without EDs. Participants were 53 adolescent females with EDs and 53 controls matched on age, ethnicity, and family income. Females were exposed to 90-second video stimuli portraying either idealized (thin ideal) or nonidealized (same-sex peer) adolescent females. Through a social comparison diary participants provided information regarding frequency and nature of comparisons and ratings of state negative affect and cognitive variables (e.g., body concern, schema activation). Trait attributional tendencies were also assessed. Results indicated that ED females engaged in significantly more comparisons and more upward and neutral comparisons than controls. ED females evidenced greater increases in negative affect and body concern following both types of media, regardless of whether a comparison was made. Subgroup analyses revealed a trend for ED females to endorse greater negative affect and body concern following a comparison thancontrols. All females attributed significantly greater attractiveness to thin ideal than same-sex peer media and significantly greater attractiveness to themselves following same-sex peer than thin ideal media. Although there were no significant group differences in schema activation prior to viewing clips, all females exhibited greater schema activation following thin ideal than same-sex peer media and ED females showed significantly more schema activation following exposures than controls. Groups did not differ significantly in attributional tendencies related to negative events, but ED females endorsed less internality and stability (and a trend for less globality) related to positive events. Finally, a moderational influence of attributional tendencies related to positive events was supported, with lower internality, stability and globality being associated with greater fluctuations in body concern following comparison. These results provide new insights regarding social comparisons of adolescents, particularly those with EDs, and implications of cognitive and affective processes involved in these comparisons.
Janis Crowther, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
John Gunstad, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Kathryn Kerns, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
John Stalvey, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Melody Tankersley, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
John Updegraff, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
150 p.
Psychology
Adolescents; Eating Disorders; Body Image; Social Comparison; Media

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Tissot, A. M. (2009). CHARACTERISTICS OF APPEARANCE-RELATED SOCIAL COMPARISONS TO THIN IDEAL AND SAME-SEX PEER MEDIA BY ADOLESCENT FEMALES WITH AND WITHOUT EATING DISORDERS [Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1247326590

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Tissot, Abbigail. CHARACTERISTICS OF APPEARANCE-RELATED SOCIAL COMPARISONS TO THIN IDEAL AND SAME-SEX PEER MEDIA BY ADOLESCENT FEMALES WITH AND WITHOUT EATING DISORDERS. 2009. Kent State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1247326590.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Tissot, Abbigail. "CHARACTERISTICS OF APPEARANCE-RELATED SOCIAL COMPARISONS TO THIN IDEAL AND SAME-SEX PEER MEDIA BY ADOLESCENT FEMALES WITH AND WITHOUT EATING DISORDERS." Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1247326590

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.