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About-Face facts on APPEARANCE MESSAGES
Parental messages about body image and teasing by others (e.g. peers and/or family) have been correlated with body image dissatisfaction and eating disorder symptoms. Thus parental and peer messages about one's body shape or weight seem to influence body image dissatisfaction (Thelen & Cormier, 1995). Pike & Rodin (1991) found that mothers whose daughters were eating disordered were themselves more eating disordered, and thought that their daughters should lose more weight than the mothers of the non-eating disordered girls. Thelen & Cormier (1995) observed that mothers' and fathers' reported encouragement of their daughters to lose weight was positively correlated with the daughter's body weight, desire to be thinner, and dieting efforts. Socio-cultural messages regarding weight and thinness were found to be of extreme significance in adolescent girls¼ lives in regards to their tendency to engage in dieting behaviors and their wish to be thinner. Media and fashion were reported to be most influential in exerting pressure to be thin. Peer behavior (e.g. dieting and weight comments) was also very influential. It was noted that social comparison seems to lead to body concerns. Family support for weight acceptance and self-acceptance was reported as a factor that facilitates body acceptance (Wertheim, Paxton, Schutz, & Muir, 1997). Socio-cultural messages regarding weight and thinness were found to be of extreme significance in adolescent girls' lives (15-year olds) in regards to their tendency to engage in dieting behaviors and their wish to be thinner. Media and fashion were reported to be most influential in exerting pressure to be thin. Peer behavior (e.g. dieting and weight comments) was also very influential. Family support for weight acceptance and self-acceptance were reported as factors that facilitate body acceptance (Wertheim, Paxton, Schutz, & Muir, 1997). |
