Is plus size equal? The positive impact of average and plus-sized media fashion models on women’s cognitive resource allocation, social comparisons, and body satisfaction

Bibliographic Data

ID12012007
AuthorsRussell B Clayton (0000-0002-0471-1585, Florida State University, corresponding author), Jessica L Ridgway (0000-0001-7632-6160, Florida State University), Joshua Hendrickse (0000-0001-6403-5972, Florida State University)
Year2017
Volume84
Issue3
Pages406-422
Publication date2017-06-07
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueCommunication Monographs (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0363-7751 • E-ISSN: 1479-5787
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/03637751.2017.1332770
OpenAlexW2623573733
LanguageEN
Citations received33
References cited50

During individual laboratory sessions, 49 women with an actual-ideal self-discrepancy randomly viewed 12 images of media fashion models varying in body types. Heart rate was recorded during image exposure. Self-report social comparisons and body satisfaction were measured following exposure to each image. A visual recognition test was administered following the last image. The results indicated that women reported the greatest body satisfaction and the least amount of social comparisons when viewing plus size models, but body satisfaction decreased and social comparisons increased when viewing average sized followed by thin size models. Further, as social comparisons increased (e.g., internal processing), external resource allocation and encoding decreased. The theoretical and applied implications from these findings are discussed

Cognition · Resource (disambiguation · Resource allocation · Social comparison theory · Computer Science · Consumer Behavior in Brand Consumption and Identification · Eating Disorders and Behaviors · Fashion and Cultural Textiles · Psychology · Social Psychology

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub