Sociocultural Influence and Appearance-Based Rejection Sensitivity Among College Students

Bibliographic Data

ID12005135
AuthorsLora E Park (0000-0002-2779-3034, Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, corresponding author), Ann Marie DiRaddo (Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York), Rachel M Calogero (0000-0002-2539-3475, University of Kent)
Year2009
Volume33
Issue1
Pages108-119
Publication date2009-01-28
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePsychology of Women Quarterly (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0361-6843 • E-ISSN: 1471-6402
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1111/j.1471-6402.2008.01478.x
OpenAlexW2077452734
LanguageEN
Citations received21
References cited58

The present research examined the influence of parents, peers, and the media in predicting college students' Appearance-based Rejection Sensitivity (Appearance-RS)—the degree to which individuals anxiously expect to be rejected based on their physical appearance. Given that women are socialized to be more appearance-focused than men, women were hypothesized to show greater Appearance-RS in response to sociocultural influences than men. A survey was administered to 220 students at a large public university in the United States. Overall, women showed greater sensitivity to appearance rejection than men. Specifically, perceptions of peer conditional acceptance based on appearance were associated with Appearance-RS among women. In addition, the more women and men internalized media ideals and felt media pressure to look attractive, the more sensitive they were to appearance rejection. No significant effects of parental influence were found. Thus, peer conditional acceptance predicted Appearance-RS among women, and media influence predicted Appearance-RS among women and men

Developmental psychology · Human physical appearance · Peer acceptance · Peer group · Perception · Sociocultural evolution · Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies · Eating Disorders and Behaviors · Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior · Psychology · Social Psychology

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