title: Form or function: Does focusing on body functionality protect women from body dissatisfaction when viewing media images?
abstract: We examined whether shifting young women's ( N =322) attention toward functionality components of media-portrayed idealized images would protect against body dissatisfaction. Image type was manipulated via images of models in either an objectified body-as-object form or active body-as-process form; viewing focus was manipulated via questions about the appearance or functionality of the models. Social comparison was examined as a moderator. Negative outcomes were most pronounced within the process-related conditions (body-as-process images or functionality viewing focus) and for women who reported greater functionality comparison. Results suggest that functionality-based depictions, reflections, and comparisons may actually produce worse outcomes than those based on appearance.
authors.affiliation: 1 University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia.
authors.forename: Kate E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Mulgrew
authors.affiliation: 2 Flinders University, Australia.
authors.forename: Marika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tiggemann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008402:Mass Media; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: body functionality; body satisfaction; body-as-object; body-as-process; media