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The Role of General and Media-Specific Social Comparisons on Body Dissatisfaction: A Medation Model

Huelskamp, Nicole D.

Abstract Details

2007, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, Communication.
Research has shown that women are adversely affected by the media portrayals of extremely thin women. Exposure to these images often leads to body dissatisfaction which is often a precursor to the development of eating disorders. Research has used social comparison as a framework for why only some women are affected more negatively than others from this media exposure. This study was intended to extend this research by investigating the relationship between general social comparison and media- specific social comparison and their effects on body dissatisfaction using a mediation model. In a survey of 279 college-age women from a large Midwestern university, the data indicated that both general social comparison and media-specific social comparison play a role in body dissatisfaction. In fact, general social comparison was still significant after controlling for both media-specific social comparisons with glamour and athletic media images. What this study has shown is that social comparison seems to work both through the general and media-specific paths in predicting body dissatisfaction and that research should continue to investigate this relationship.
Prabu David (Advisor)
Anthony Roberto (Committee Member)
54 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Huelskamp, N. D. (2007). The Role of General and Media-Specific Social Comparisons on Body Dissatisfaction: A Medation Model [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1392981540

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Huelskamp, Nicole. The Role of General and Media-Specific Social Comparisons on Body Dissatisfaction: A Medation Model. 2007. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1392981540.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Huelskamp, Nicole. "The Role of General and Media-Specific Social Comparisons on Body Dissatisfaction: A Medation Model." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1392981540

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)