Age and body image dissatisfaction in women : the moderating role of media influence

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine the association that age and exposure to media have on body image dissatisfaction. In particular, attempts were made to clarify whether the association between age and the dissatisfaction was moderated by media influence. Data were collected from 88 Thai women whose age ranged from 18 to 70. Findings suggested that age was not significantly associated with body image dissatisfaction. However, exposure to the media was significantly and positively associated with this dissatisfaction. An interaction effect was not found between age and media influence. Several studies in the field of body dissatisfaction suggest that women of different age groups vary in their levels of dissatisfaction with their bodies. They also suggest that repeated exposure to mass media that often depicts and idealizes a thinness portrayal of the female body could explain and correlate to the body image dissatisfaction among women.