Research Proposal

Title
Media influence on body dissatisfaction and eating disorders in adolescents.

Key Words
Media Exposure, Eating Disorder, Body Satisfaction, Adolescents

Background
Based on data and statistics by the Eating Disorders Foundation of Victoria, 2-3% of adolescent and adult females in Australia meet the DSM IV diagnostic criteria for anorexia and bulimia nervosa. It has been estimated that young women of today are exposed to more images of exceptionally beautiful women in one day than there mothers saw throughout their entire adolescents (EDFV 2009). Little & Hoskins (2004) paper address issues related to media, consumerism, and identity construction. It appears that as the exposure to beauty in the media, which is centred on being thin rises, so does the prevalence of body dissatisfaction, and in turns facilitates the onset of eating disorders. This paper will focus on studies based around adolescent males and females. The EDFV (2009) found that onset of anorexia is generally in adolescence and a staggeringly 68% of 15 year old females are on a diet. Concerns regarding body image are generally heightened during adolescence, this is a time where the development of an eating disorder is most likely to occur. Peterson, Paulson & William’s 2007 study examines the relations of adolescents' perceptions media pressures with the development of eating disorder symptoms. Results by Field et al (2001) suggest that the media influence the development of weight concerns and weight control practices among preadolescents and adolescents. As the issue of eating disorders among adolescents is both current and increasing, it is important to find a link between factors that may have an influence, such as the given example, media.

Aims/Purpose:
With a focus group of females in Australia, I will be exploring past research from other western countries such as America, Australia and England which are compatible as they have cultural similarities in terms of types of media and level of media consumption. I would like to examine if and what kind of correlation exists between media and eating disorders focused on weight loss. I would also like to explore the types of media which may be of a stronger influence than others.

Genre
The research topic will be presented in the form of an online blog, these kinds of issues are common on blogs and online forums, imagery presented on blogs are often taken from the type of media I will be focusing on for this topic.





References:

Eating Disorders Foundation of Victoria (EDFV)
viewed on 10th August 2009
(www.eatingdisorders.org.au)

Field, A, Camargo, A, Taylor, B, Berkey ,C, Roberts, S and Colditz, G (2001)
Peer, Parent, and Media Influences on the Development of Weight Concerns and Frequent Dieting Among Preadolescent and Adolescent Girls and Boys
PEDIATRICS Vol. 107 No. 1 January 2001, pp. 54-60

Little, N and Hoskins, M. (2004)
"It's an Acceptable Identity": Constructing "Girl" at the Intersections of Health, Media, and Meaning-Making
Child & Youth Services; v26 n2 p75-93 2004

Peterson, K, Paulson, S & Williams, K (2007)
Relations of Eating Disorder Symptomology with Perceptions of Pressures from Mother, Peers and Media in Adolescent Girls and Boys
Sex Roles: A Journal of Research, vol. 57, no. 9-10