Does image-focussed media contribute to the development of disordered eating behaviours among women between the ages of 15 and 45?

This study asks the question: Does image-focussed media contribute to the development of disordered eating behaviours among women between the ages of 15 and 45? It examines the issue of female body image and how the media can influence women between the ages of 15 and 45. Three sub-questions are presented for this study also, they are: (i) Do fashion magazines and their online counterparts induce self-objectification among women aged 15-45? (ii) Do the images in fashion magazines and their online versions directly contribute to the development of disordered eating behaviours among women between the ages of 15 and 45? (iii) Do the images in fashion magazines and their online versions contribute to social comparison among this age group? The study is done in an effort to understand if exposure to image-focussed media can contribute to the development of disordered eating behaviours among women of the aforementioned age group. These behaviours include internalisation of the thin-ideal, body dissatisfaction and objectification. In order to answer these questions fully a specific research design was implemented. Previous works in the field of media and body image were consulted, a content analysis of six fashion magazines and their online homepages was conducted, and finally an online survey was completed so that a deeper understanding of how women in this age bracket feel about their own bodies could be obtained. Theories of social comparison and objectification were also called upon to allow for an accurate understanding of the obscure issue at hand to be obtained. The results in general show that the images of the thin-ideal depicted in fashion magazines and their online homepages do contribute to the development of disordered eating behaviours among women between the ages of 15 and 45, but they do so indirectly. Other issues, such as women’s social and environmental circumstances, must be examined too. The findings of this dissertation show that many women within this age group are discontent with their bodies and objectify themselves against media images; therefore, although the present research is worthwhile further work must be done in order to discover a policy that could combat this problem, in an attempt to stop the development of disordered eating behaviours