Media images and female body dissatisfaction: the moderating effects of the Five-Factor traits.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine how the Five-Factor personality traits moderated the effects of exposure to idealized images on body dissatisfaction in women.


METHODS
Sixty-four college women completed the NEO-PI and the Eating Disorder Inventory and were then randomly exposed to images of either thin fashion models or heavier, ("plus-sized") models. Following presentation of the stimuli, participants completed a second body esteem measure, which was the dependent variable.


RESULTS
Women high in neuroticism showed significantly greater shifts in body esteem following exposure to media images than did less neurotic women, feeling more dissatisfied with their bodies after viewing idealized images and more satisfied with their bodies after viewing heavier women. Each of the other traits was associated with more favorable self-appraisals following exposure to the idealizing images.


CONCLUSIONS
Of the Five-Factor traits, the harmful effects of idealized images seem to be limited to women with relatively higher levels of neuroticism. These results suggest that the harmful effects of media images may not be as pervasive as is widely believed.
Roberts
Alan
A
Indiana University, IN, USA. alarober@indiana.edu
Good
Emily
E
D001828:Body Image; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008402:Mass Media; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010551:Personality; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult