NetTweens: The Internet and body image concerns in preteenage girls
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Date
2013-09-05
Authors
Tiggemann, Marika
Slater, Amy Elise
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Rights
http://www.sagepub.com/authors/journal/permissions.sp
Rights Holder
© The Author(s) 2013
Abstract
The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between media exposure and body image concerns in preteenage girls, with a particular focus on the Internet. A sample of 189 girls (aged 10-12 years) completed questionnaire measures of media consumption and body image concerns. Nearly all girls (97.5%) had access to the Internet in their home. Time spent on-line was significantly related to internalization of the thin ideal (as was time reading magazines and watching television), body surveillance, reduced body esteem, and increased dieting. In accord with the sociocultural model, internalization mediated the effect of the Internet on body image concerns. Further, 14% of the girls had a MySpace profile and 43% had a Facebook profile. Time spent on these social networking sites produced stronger correlations with body image concern than did overall Internet exposure. It was concluded that the Internet represents a potent sociocultural force among preteenage girls.
Description
Author version made available in accordance with the publisher's policy.
Keywords
Psychology, Adolescence, Body image, Internet
Citation
Tiggemann, M. and Slater, A.E., 2014. NetTweens: The Internet and body image concerns in preteenage girls. Journal of Early Adolescence, 34(5), 606-620.