1. The Media’s Portrayal of the Exceptionally-Fit Body and the Increase of Body Image Concerns within College Age Individuals
Levi Henry

2. Introduction The media’s role in American society (Homan, 2010).
Male body- Muscular, low body fat percentage (Leone, Sedory, & Gray, 2005).
Female body- Thin, lean, and fit (Homan, 2010).
Internalization and acceptance = Body image concerns (Daniel & Bridges, 2010).

3. Background
College students today, are a part of the first generation where media images saturate society, which creates competition (Readdy, Watkins, & Cardinal, 2011).
Social media

4. Literature Review (Media Influence)
“The ideal body”
Male versus female

5. Literature Review (Ideal Body)
Desire to change one’s body image to match that of the ideal body placed on society by the media is increasing (Homan, 2010; and Leone et al., 2005).
Standard
Internalization- the cognitive approval of the cultural ideal of attractiveness (Homan, 2010).
Body image disorders
Body comparison, insecurities, exercise dependence, poor dieting and the drive for muscularity (Daniel & Bridges, 2010).

6. Literature Review (Female Body Image)
Bulimia and anorexia nervosa- females
“Drive for thinness” =Body image concerns/dissatisfaction
Modern ideal female body
Thin, athletic/tone (some level of musculature)

7. Literature Review (Male Body Image)
Muscular physique- ideal body
Drive for muscularity
Males who are dissatisfied with their bodies, are susceptible to the opposite of anorexia nervosa, the condition known termed as bigorexia (Leone, Sedory, & Gray, 2005).
Muscle dysmorphia

8. Literature Review (Muscle Dysmorphia)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder and body dysmorphic disorder (Leone, Sedory, & Gray, 2005).
Uncontrolled fixation with gaining more muscle and becoming leaner.
“Drive for muscularity” is more common with males, but can exist in females as well.
Exercise addiction, social withdrawal, substance abuse, pharmaceutical use, and extreme diet.

9. Muscle Dysmorphia cont.
Limited research
Male bodybuilders- excluded from proposed study.

10. The Problem Media images saturating society Social media
Body image concerns growing problem in our society today.
Psychological effects have yet to be elucidated.
Understanding the psychological variables that lead to increases in body image concern would be useful in limiting and treating these increases.

11. Purpose
Examine to what extent does the media’s portrayal of the exceptionally-fit body cause increases in body image concerns and body dissatisfaction in both college age males and females, as well as to examine how these increases influence the development of characteristics associated with muscle dysmorphia.

12. The Study 74 participants (36 males, 38 females)
Questionnaire packet (6 questionnaires)
Cultural attractiveness standards
Exercise habits and exercise dependence
Body comparison
Diet/supplement use
Drive for muscularity
Characteristics of muscle dysmorphia

13. Hypothesis
The media’s portrayal of the exceptionally-fit body will have a significant influence in causing an increase in body image concerns and body dissatisfaction in both college age males and females who internalize the media’s stereotype of attractiveness, as well as causing both sexes to develop characteristics associated with muscle dysmorphia.

14. Results Demographic Questionnaire Participants Age Exercise Motivation
Frequency
Experience
Preference
Male 36
24.06
Health
5+ days
5+ years
Resistance/Weight Training
Female 38
24.50
3-5 days
2-5 years

15. Results
Top Media Sources
Instagram and Facebook

16. Results
Independent-samples t test (SATAQ-3)

17. Results
Independent-samples t test (BCS)

18. Results
Independent-samples t test (MDI)

19. Results
Independent-samples t test (OEQ)

20. Results
Independent-samples t test (DMS)

21. Results
Correlations among internalization variables and subscales on BCS, MDI, OEQ, and DMS.
Internalization-General= Weight and General appearance (BCS), and Exercise dependence (MDI).
Internalization-Athletic= Muscular (BCS), Exercise dependence and Dietary behavior (MDI).

22. Results Block-wise standard regression.
Internalization-general (IG) and Internalization- athletic (IA).
Weight comparison, 33.9% of variance in IG
Muscular comparison, 45.6% of variance in IG
Weight comparison, 21.3% of variance in IA
Muscular comparison, 30.5% of variance in IA

23. Results Block-wise standard regression. Internalization-general
Males vs Females
Weight comparison
Males- weight comparison, 30.2% of varianace
Females- weight comparison, 64.3% of variance

24. Discussion Purpose of study
Significant associations between internalization and body image concerns
Social media
Hypothesis = accepted and supported

25. Discussion Impact of social media Instagram and Facebook
Body comparison=Internalization=Body image concerns

26. Discussion
Internalization-general/athletic- similar for males and females.
Information- similar for males and females.
Pressure- females feel a greater sense of pressure.
Supports research of Daniel and Bridges (2010)
Supports research of Homan (2010)

27. Discussion Body comparison
General aspects (ears, nose, lips, hair, teeth, chin, shape of face, cheeks, forehead)- females.
Weight concerning (stomach, buttocks, thighs, hips, calves)- females.
Muscle concerning (chest, back, shoulders, arms)- males.
Supports research of Homan et al. (2012)
Supports research of Homan (2010)

28. Discussion Characteristics of Muscle Dysmorphia
High degree of internalization
Size/symmerty, physique protection, dietary behavior, and pharmaceutical use- males.
Exercise dependence and supplement use- similar for males and females.
Supports research of Readdy et al. (2011).

29. Discussion Exercise habits- similar for males and females.
High levels of internalization=negative exercise habits.
Supports past research of Daniel and Bridges (2012).

30. Discussion Drive for muscularity- males.
Females have the drive for muscularity, to a lesser degree.
Supports research of Daniel and Bridges (2010)
Supports research of Homan (2010)

31. Discussion Correlation model
Internalization-general and Internalization- athletic
Weight concerns
Muscular concerns
General appearance
Exercise dependence

32. Discussion
Weight concerning body comparison=Internalization (general and athletic)
Weight concerning body comparison and muscle comparison= Internalization (general and athletic)
High degrees of body comparison= Internalization-general

33. Limitations Los Angeles County Age group (18 to 27 year olds)
Emergence of social media
Active gym goers

34. Conclusion
Internalization- main factor in determining higher levels of body image concerns, and is consistent with the research of Daniels and Bridges (2010).
Body comparison, negative exercise habits, the drive for muscularity, and other characteristics associated with muscle dysmorphia; ultimately leading to increases in body image concerns.

35. Conclusion Males and females internalize similarly
Females compare general and weight aspects
Males compare muscle aspects
Males develop more characteristics associated with muscle dysmorphia
Males and females have similar exercise habits
Males have a higher drive for muscularity, females do posses a drive for muscularity
Rise and impact of social media