title: Children's body image and social comparisons with peers and the media.
abstract: Social comparisons are related to the development of body dissatisfaction among adolescents and adults, yet this relationship remains relatively unexamined among children. This study examines children's peer and media-related social comparisons, and how this impacts on their body image. Children aged 8-10 years completed interviews (17 girls and 19 boys in individual interviews, and 16 girls and 16 boys in focus groups). Analyses revealed that appearance-related comparisons were more common among girls, whereas sports/ability-related comparisons were more common for boys. In addition, boys viewed media comparisons as inspiring, whereas girls reported negative emotions. Implications for future research and prevention programmes are discussed.
authors.affiliation: 1 Australian Catholic University, Australia.
authors.forename: Gemma L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Tatangelo
authors.affiliation: 2 Deakin University, Australia.
authors.forename: Lina A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Ricciardelli
mesh_terms: D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D010379:Peer Group; D012919:Social Behavior; D014739:Victoria
keywords: body image; children; media influences; peer influences; social comparisons