Laura Vandenbosch

Sexualization of Adolescent Boys Media Exposure and Boys’ Internalization of Appearance Ideals, Self-Objectification, and Body Surveillance

This study (N = 911) investigated how exposure to sexualizing prime-time television programs, music television, men’s magazines, and pornographic websites was related to the internalization of appearance ideals, self-objectification, and body surveillance among adolescent boys. A structural equation model showed direct relationships between exposure to sexualizing television and pornographic websites and the internalization of appearance ideals. Indirect relationships between these types of sexualizing media, and self-objectification and body surveillance through the internalization of appearance ideals were also reported. A direct relationship with self-objectification was only found for sexualizing pornographic websites. Discussion warns attention for adolescent boys at risk of sexualization.

Love me Tinder

First study to explore emerging adults motivation to use the dating app Tinder.Motivations included Love, Casual Sex, Ease of Communication, Thrill of Excitement.Tinder motivations meaningfully related to offline encounters with Tinder matches.Tinder is more than a fun, hookup app without any strings attached. Although the smartphone application Tinder is increasingly popular among emerging adults, no empirical study has yet investigated why emerging adults use Tinder. Therefore, we aimed to identify the primary motivations of emerging adults to use Tinder. The study was conducted among Dutch 18-30year old emerging adults who completed an online survey. Over half of the sample were current or former Tinder users (n=163). An exploratory factor analysis, using a parallel analysis approach, uncovered six motivations to use Tinder: Love, Casual Sex, Ease of Communication, Self-Worth Validation, Thrill of Excitement, and Trendiness. In contrast to previously suggested, the Love motivation appeared to be a stronger motivation to use Tinder than the Casual Sex motivation. In line with literature on online dating, men were more likely to report a Casual Sex motivation for using Tinder than women. In addition, men more frequently reported Ease of Communication and Thrill of Excitement motives. With regard to age, the motivation Love, Casual Sex and Ease of Communication were positively related to age. Finally, Tinder motivations were meaningfully related to offline encounters with Tinder matches. In sum, the study showed that emerging adults have six primary motivations to use Tinder and that these motivations differ according to ones age and gender. Tinder should not be seen as merely a fun, hookup app without any strings attached, but as a new way for emerging adults to initiate committed romantic relationships. Notably, the findings call for a more encompassing perspective on why emerging adults use Tinder.

“I Might Get Your Heart Racing in My Skin-Tight Jeans”: Sexualization on Music Entertainment Television

This study explores the culture of sexualizing the (female) body in music entertainment television. A quantitative content analysis was conducted, analyzing 9,369 scenes from 1,393 music videos and 180 programs, broadcast on Belgian music entertainment channels. Results indicated that 39.3% of the coded scenes contained sexualizing messages. These sexualizing messages were predominantly messages equating (female) Western body ideals to being sexually attractive. Music videos were shown to be a more sexualizing genre than nonfictional programs and fictional programs. Findings are discussed in light of objectification theory.

Early Adolescent Boys’ Exposure to Internet Pornography Relationships to Pubertal Timing, Sensation Seeking, and Academic Performance

Research has demonstrated that adolescents regularly use Internet pornography. This two-wave panel study aimed to test an integrative model in early adolescent boys (Mage = 14.10; N = 325) that (a) explains their exposure to Internet pornography by looking at relationships with pubertal timing and sensation seeking, and (b) explores the potential consequence of their exposure to Internet pornography for their academic performance. An integrative path model indicated that pubertal timing and sensation seeking predicted the use of Internet pornography. Boys with an advanced pubertal stage and boys high in sensation seeking more frequently used Internet pornography. Moreover, an increased use of Internet pornography decreased boys’ academic performance 6 months later. The discussion focuses on the consequences of this integrative model for future research on Internet pornography.

The three-step process of self-objectification: Potential implications for adolescents’ body consciousness during sexual activity

A three-wave panel study with intervals of six months was conducted to examine the relationships between internalization of appearance ideals, body surveillance, valuing appearance over competence, and body consciousness during sexual activity among 238 Belgian adolescents who had engaged in sexual intercourse. Consistent with predictions, structural equation modeling indicated that greater internalization of appearance ideals at Wave 1 contributed to increased body surveillance and valuing appearance over competence at Wave 2. Body surveillance at Wave 2 and internalization at Wave 1 predicted higher body consciousness during sexual activity at Wave 3. Gender did not moderate these results, as model paths were similar in strength for girls and boys. These results further implicate the consequences of internalizing sociocultural practices that objectify boys and girls regarding adolescents initial sexual experiences.

Temptation Island, The Bachelor, Joe Millionaire: A Prospective Cohort Study on the Role of Romantically Themed Reality Television in Adolescents' Sexual Development

This 3-year panel study among 498 adolescents explored the motives for and effects of viewing romantically themed reality television (RTRT). Viewing RTRT was predicted by television dependency and viewing frequencies, but not by connectedness to peers and viewing motives. Viewing RTRT, in turn, predicted communication with peers about sex among girls, and higher estimations of peers sexual activities among boys one year later. However, viewing RTRT did not predict stereotypical romantic attitudes. The need to explore the longitudinal relationships between television viewing and adolescents sexuality, with special attention toward the emergence of gender differences in these relationships, is discussed.

The impact of men's magazines on adolescent boys' objectification and courtship beliefs

Although much attention concerning the potential impact of sexualized media has focused on girls and women, less is known about how this content effects boys perceptions of women and courtship. Accordingly, the current three-wave panel study investigated whether exposure to sexualizing magazines predicts adolescent boys (N = 592) sexually objectifying notions of women and their beliefs about feminine courtship strategies. The results indicated that when boys consumed sexualizing magazines more often, they expressed more gender-stereotypical beliefs about feminine courtship strategies over time. This association was mediated by boys objectification of women. The possibility of a reciprocal relation whereby beliefs about courtship strategies predict future consumption of sexualizing magazines was also explored but received no support. Discussion focuses on effects of sexualizing media on boys, and supports future research to build on multidisciplinary knowledge.

A Conditional Process Analysis on the Relationship Between the Use of Social Networking Sites, Attitudes, Peer Norms, and Adolescents' Intentions to Consume Alcohol

Visiting social networking sites has become an important part of adolescents leisure activities. The current cross-sectional survey ( n = 674) of adolescents aged 13–16 years aimed to examine a conditional process model on the relationships between adolescents use of social networking sites and their descriptive /injunctive peer norms, attitudes, and intentions regarding alcohol use. First, the results support that exposure to alcohol-related content on social networking sites predicts respondents descriptive and injunctive norms on alcohol use. Adolescents who are more frequently exposed to alcohol-related content believe that a higher number of their friends consume alcohol and that this use is socially acceptable. These descriptive and injunctive norms were positively associated with adolescents drinking intentions. Second, the results support that the relationship between injunctive norms and intentions is stronger for respondents being more frequently exposed to alcohol-related messages on Facebook. Overall, the results shed more light on the complex associations between social networking sites, alcohol use, and the role of peers in this relationship.

The Interrelated Roles of Mass Media and Social Media in Adolescents Development of an Objectified Self-Concept: A Longitudinal Study

Previous research has shown that mass media stimulate the development of an objectified self-concept. However, we know little about the role social networking sites (SNS) play in these relationships. The current longitudinal study (N = 1,041) aimed to fill this gap by studying adolescents’ frequency of SNS use in general and their use of SNS to monitor attractive peers in particular. The results showed that the use of sexualizing mass media was associated with considering the appearance ideals promoted in mass media as one’s own standards to pursue. This internalization of appearance ideals, in turn, was related to the tendency to monitor attractive peers on SNS. Both the use of SNS to monitor attractive peers and the use of sexualizing mass media stimulated self-objectification and body surveillance over time. The frequency of SNS use played a limited role in the relationship between mass media and an objectified self-concept.

Sexy online self-presentation on social network sites and the willingness to engage in sexting: A comparison of gender and age

The present study investigated whether engaging in sexy self-presentations on social network sites (SNSs) or exposure to sexy self-presentations on SNSs predicts the willingness to engage in sexting. A second aim of the present study was to investigate whether adolescent girls demonstrate stronger relationships between (exposure to) sexy online self-presentations on SNSs and willingness to sext than adolescent boys and young adult men and women. A two-wave panel survey among 953 Dutch adolescents (13-17 years old, 50.7% male) and 899 Dutch young adults (18-25 years old, 43.9% male) showed that engaging in sexy self-presentations on SNSs increased the willingness to engage in sexting, but only among adolescent girls. Exposure to sexy self-presentations of others did not predict the willingness to engage in sexting. The findings call for more research on the role of gender and age in the link between sexy self-presentation and sexting.