title: Representation of ideal figure size in Ebony magazine: a content analysis.
abstract: Studies examining trends over time in mainstream magazines observe decreases in women's figure size, and increases in figure exposure and amount of diet/exercise content. Little is known, however, regarding the content of African American magazines. Utilizing methods from classic studies, this investigation examined content in Ebony, a magazine with wide African American readership, from 1969 to 2008. We included the full content of N=462 issues, with a total of N=539 cover images of women, of which N=208 were full-body shots. Analyses indicated a curvilinear relationship between time and figure exposure, with a recent trend toward more full-body shots, similar to mainstream magazines. Contrary to previous studies, however, the majority of figures across time were average size, and a curvilinear relationship between time and diet/exercise content showed peak content in the early 1990s. Results are considered in context of research indicating African American women show less body dissatisfaction than other racial/ethnic groups.
authors.affiliation: Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders, Department of Psychology, Boston University, 648 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02215, United States. heatherthompsonbrenner@gmail.com
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thompson-Brenner
authors.forename: Christina L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Boisseau
authors.forename: Michelle S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: St Paul
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D001828:Body Image; D049628:Body Size / Q000208:ethnology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000208:ethnology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D003469:Culture; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050177:Overweight / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012649:Self Concept; D012925:Social Conformity; D012951:Socialization; D013851:Thinness / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*