TY - JOUR
T1 - Understanding the process
T2 - How mediated and peer norms affect young women's body esteem
AU - Krcmar, Marina
AU - Giles, Steve
AU - Helme, Donald
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - This study examined the contribution of interpersonal and mediated perceived norms to young women's body esteem among first-year college women. In addition, we examined the role of social comparison as a mediator for the relationship between norms and body esteem. Several findings were notable. First, interpersonal norms do have a significant relationship with esteem. Young women who perceived that their peers and parents to valued thinness, and that parents made comments about body appearance, had lower body esteem. In addition, mediated norms also were related to lower appearance and weight esteem. Specifically, exposure to fashion, celebrity and fitness magazines had a negative effect on young women's appearance esteem; however, this relationship was mediated by social comparison, suggesting that comparison is the mechanism by which esteem is lowered. However, for fitness magazines, the relationship between exposure and esteem was direct and held up even when social comparison was controlled for.
AB - This study examined the contribution of interpersonal and mediated perceived norms to young women's body esteem among first-year college women. In addition, we examined the role of social comparison as a mediator for the relationship between norms and body esteem. Several findings were notable. First, interpersonal norms do have a significant relationship with esteem. Young women who perceived that their peers and parents to valued thinness, and that parents made comments about body appearance, had lower body esteem. In addition, mediated norms also were related to lower appearance and weight esteem. Specifically, exposure to fashion, celebrity and fitness magazines had a negative effect on young women's appearance esteem; however, this relationship was mediated by social comparison, suggesting that comparison is the mechanism by which esteem is lowered. However, for fitness magazines, the relationship between exposure and esteem was direct and held up even when social comparison was controlled for.
KW - Body esteem
KW - Interpersonal norms
KW - Media norms
KW - Social comparison
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79952519389&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1080/01463370802031844
DO - 10.1080/01463370802031844
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:79952519389
SN - 0146-3373
VL - 56
SP - 111
EP - 130
JO - Communication Quarterly
JF - Communication Quarterly
IS - 2
ER -