A QUALITATIVE APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION AND THIN DEPICTING MEDIA USE AMONG COLLEGE-AGED FEMALES

The purpose of this thesis was to explore the relationship between interpersonal communication and consumption of thin depicting media among college-aged females. A total of 30 females participated in one of five focus group sessions at a small Southeastern University in the United States. Extant literature suggests a theoretical basis for exposure to thin depicting media and body image, by way of Social Cognitive Theory, social comparison theory, and objectification theory. Further, interpersonal communication has demonstrated a mediating role between exposure to health communication campaigns and behavioral outcomes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to better understand how, through interpersonal channels, thin depicting media is communicated among college-aged females. The first research question examined characteristics of conversations about thin depicting media for college females. Specifically, with whom college females talk about thin depicting media, what they talk about, and where these conversations are likely to take place. The remaining research questions examined these conversations in light of prominent theories related to body image. A theoretical examination is designed to elucidate potential influences of these conversations on body image disturbance. Analysis of results revealed three implications of talk about thin depicting media: (a) the women in this sample seem to understand or acknowledge that media role models are unrealistic and do not provide relevant models for comparison, (b) women in this sample acknowledge that conversations about thin depicting media occur as a result of exposure to thin depicting media, and (c) body image talk does not just occur with peers, it also occurs with parents.

Grantor dc:publisher

Wake Forest University

Year dc:date.issued

2012

Author dc:creator

• Taylor, Stephanie Elizabeth

• Body Image

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10339/37264

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:wakespace.lib.wfu.edu:10339/37264