Effects of Media Images on Self

Esteem

Alyssa Zaid

Nickolas Bliznoff

Chastity CoxHanover College

Introduction

Media portrayals of beauty have a negative influence on self-esteem, particularly in young women (Penton-Voak, 2008)Meta-analysis of females (Van den Berg,

et. al, 2007)Males and Females with no effect on

males(Groesz, Levine & Murnen, 2002)

Introduction Males and females are more self

conscious about their body due to attractive images in the media, such as magazine and television images portraying beauty (Kates, 2008)

Ideal attractiveness and body image in women are defined differently for females than for males (Wasserman, 2006).

Hypothesis

People commonly rate their self esteem differently after viewing particular imagesSelf esteem levels decrease after viewing

attractive imagesIncrease after viewing unattractive images And stay constant after viewing neutral

images• (Agliata, 2004)

Expected results

Pre Post0

1

2

3

4

5

6

AttractiveUnattractiveNeutral

Participants

Convenience Sample

Participants:9 Males (31%), 20 Females (62%)

Ages: 18-21 Majority Caucasian (93%)

7 % African American Hanover College Students

Materials and Procedure

Two 15-item self-esteem questionnaires on a Likert scale from 1-6, where 1 was strongly disagree and 6 was strongly agree

20 images for each condition (attractive, unattractive, neutral)

A questionnaire rating each image on trustworthiness (1-6 scale)

LCD projector with images shown Two questionnaires were not identical

Sample of Images Shown

Findings

Pre Post3

3.5

4

4.5

5

5.5

6

Attractive

Unattractive

Neutral

Discussion

Hypothesis was not supported All participants self esteem decreased

in post test More self consciously aware Possibility that it was not due to

images shown, but questionnaire design

Definition of attractiveness

Limitations

Homogeneous sampleMore non-athletesMore males

Limited time frame between Images shown

Generally unknown models

Limitations

Rated on trustworthinessRate on how attractive they

believe the image is Social pressure- presence of others Other factors contributing to

participants view of attractiveness Test specificity

Future Direction

Factors that change self esteem levelsBesides body weight

Larger sample A more extensive and detailed

questionnaire Sex differences

Have more male participantsHeterogeneous sample

QUESTIONS?