Jolien Trekels

“I Can/Should Look Like a Media Figure”: The Association Between Direct and Indirect Media Exposure and Teens’ Sexualizing Appearance Behaviors

Prior research has examined the influence of media exposure on adolescents’ sexualized self-concept, but engagement in sexualizing appearance behaviors remains understudied, especially among a younger age group (i.e., early adolescents). This three-wave panel study among 971 nine- to 14-year-olds (Mage = 12.99, SD = 1.03) showed that discussing media content with friends (i.e., indirect media exposure) was indirectly related to sexualizing appearance behaviors through perceived attainability of the appearance ideal. Direct media exposure was not significantly related to sexualizing appearance behaviors, nor to perceived pressure or perceived attainability. Direct and indirect media exposure influenced boys and girls in similar ways, although the model showed a better fit among the girls. In addition, reward sensitivity did not moderate the examined relations.

Preadolescents’ Reliance on and Internalization of Media Appearance Ideals: Triggers and Consequences

The present three-wave panel study (N = 973, X ¯ age = 11.14) sought to advance the current literature on media internalization in preadolescence by examining triggers and consequences related to preadolescents’ media internalization and use of media for appearance information. We sought to examine whether (a) media internalization and use of media for appearance information could be explained by pubertal timing and peer appearance criticism, and (b) such media internalization and use of media for information could foster dysfunctional body image investment. Structural equation analyses showed that early maturation relative to peers and peer appearance criticism predicted preadolescents’ use of media for appearance information and media internalization, 6 months later. Such media use, in turn, predicted preadolescents’ development of dysfunctional appearance beliefs, 6 months later. These results highlight the importance for future studies to examine whether preadolescents’ reliance on appearance media stems from their need to cope with current body concerns.

Sexualized Video Game Avatars and Self-Objectification in Adolescents: The Role of Gender Congruency and Activation Frequency

Little is known about the effects of playing sexualizing video games on adolescent boys’ and girls’ self-objectified body image. Early and middle adolescents (N = 115; Mage = 12.63, SD = 0.85) participated in a between-subjects experiment testing the effect of playing with a sexualized male or female avatar as compared to a control condition. We revealed that playing a video game with a sexualized avatar increased self-objectification among adolescents. This effect occurred regardless of the gender of the adolescent and, thus, did not support the gender congruency hypothesis. In contrast to the activation frequency hypothesis and video game literature on sexualization, the effect of playing with a female sexualized avatar was not moderated by game frequency. Given the adverse consequences of self-objectification in adolescence, the current study results highlight the need for research on how these effects may be countered.

Beauty Ideals from Reality Television and Young Women’s Tanning Behavior: An Internalization and Self-Objectification Perspective

The current cross-sectional study among 444 young Belgian women (Mage = 20.08; SD = 0.91) examined the influence of reality television exposure on tanning behavior, which is known to be a risk factor for the development of skin cancer among young women. In addition, it was explored whether the internalization of sun tan ideals from media content and self-objectification could explain this association. As such, this study introduced body image perspectives into media health research. A structural equation model revealed that watching reality television was related to the internalization of sun tan ideals and self-objectification. In turn, the internalization of sun tan ideals and self-objectification related to exposure to harmful UV radiation. This study therefore provides evidence for the explanatory value of both mechanisms in the relationship between reality television and UV exposure. Implications for skin cancer prevention campaigns are discussed.

How Social and Mass Media Relate to Youth’s Self-Sexualization: Taking a Cross-National Perspective on Rewarded Appearance Ideals

Although media exposure has been related to cognitive preoccupation with appearance, research rarely investigated adolescents’ behavioral self-sexualization. To address this gap, the present study among 12- to 16-year-olds (N = 1527; 50.2% girls) in Austria, Belgium, Spain, and South-Korea (1) investigates whether different types of media use relate to self-sexualization, (2) explores the explanatory value of rewarded appearance ideals, and (3) considers culture and gender as moderating factors. Despite cultural variation, a general trend of increasing self-sexualization with social media use and magazine reading appeared across the countries. Moreover, women’s magazine reading and rewards were related to self-sexualization among all the girls across the countries, which suggests that girls may be more vulnerable to the examined effects. Overall, this study provides a better understanding of the unique contribution of specific media genres to youth’s self-sexualization and points at the importance of social media use in girls’ and boys’ engagement in sexualizing appearance behaviors across four countries.

Media ideals and other-sex peer norms among Belgian early adolescents: equating self-worth with attractiveness

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate how total amount of television and magazine exposure and heterosocial involvement (i.e., mixed-sex interactions) relate to the endorsement of dysfunctional appearance beliefs. We anticipated a double dose effect in that exposure to media would be related to more dysfunctional appearance beliefs among those who are frequently involved in mixed-sex interactions. A total of 1976 early adolescent boys and girls (Mage = 11.77; SD = 1.04) participated in a cross-sectional study. Results indicated that the internalization of appearance ideals and appearance expectations of opposite-sex peers mediated the association between amount of television and magazine exposure and the endorsement of dysfunctional appearance beliefs. Heterosocial involvement did not, however, strengthen the influence of media exposure on early adolescents’ body image.