title: Aspects of the media and their relevance to bulimic attitudes and tendencies among female college students.
abstract: We examined whether media pressures would mediate the association between two dimensions of the media (source of information and internalization) and bulimic attitudes/tendencies. The study sample consisted of 106 female college students (M age=19.9; range=18-22). Participants completed anonymous, self-report measures on media influences on body image and appearance as well as disordered eating attitudes/behaviors. Findings showed that the association between two dimensions of the media (source of information and internalization) and bulimic attitudes/tendencies was mediated by perceived media pressures. Such findings highlight the significant influence of media pressures on bulimic attitudes/tendencies. Future research and prevention implications are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Clark Science Center, Smith College Northampton, MA 01063, United States. soriorda@smith.edu
authors.forename: Siobhan S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: O'Riordan
authors.forename: Byron L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Zamboanga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D001828:Body Image; D002032:Bulimia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012925:Social Conformity; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D013690:Television