Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Objectification Theory as It Relates to Disordered Eating Among College Women

  • Published:
Sex Roles Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objectification theory (B. L. Fredrickson & T. A. Roberts, 1997) demonstrates how sociocultural variables work together with psychological variables to predict disordered eating. Researchers have tested models that illustrate how certain constructsof objectification theory predict disordered eating, but a more comprehensive model that integrates a combination of constructs central to the theory (i.e., sexual objectification; self-objectification; body shame; poor interoceptive awareness of hunger, satiety, and emotions) has not yet been examined. In this study, we incorporated these variables within an inclusive model based on the assertions of B. L. Fredrickson and T. A. Roberts (1997) and examined it with 460 college women. Structural equation modeling analyses suggested that the model provided a good fit to the data and supported most propositions set forth by objectification theory and the eating disorders literature.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bentler, P. M. (1990). Comparative fit indexes in structural models. Psychological Bulletin, 107, 238–246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blascovich, J., Brennan, K., Tomaka, J., Kelsey, R. M., Hughes, P., Coad, M. L., & Adlin, R. (1992). Affect intensity and cardiac arousal. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 63, 164–174.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brookings, J. B., & Wilson, J. F. (1994). Personality and family-environment predictors of self-reported eating attitudes and behaviors. Journal of Personality Assessment, 63, 313–326.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brownlow, B. S. (1997). The relationship between objectification, body image disturbances, and disordered eating: Investigating race, socioeconomic status, acculturation, and self-objectification as mediators. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Duke University

  • Cohen, J. (1992). A power primer. Psychological Bulletin, 112, 155–159.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Costanzo, P. R., & Woody, E. Z. (1985). Domain-specific parenting styles and their impact on the child’s development of particular deviance: The example of obesity proneness. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 3, 425–445.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crandall, C. S. (1988). Social contagion of binge eating. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 55, 588–598.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dolan, B., & Gitzinger, I. (1995). Why women? Gender issues and eating disorders. Atlantic Highlands, NJ: Athlone Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fouts, G., & Burggraf, K. (1999). Television situation comedies: Female body images and verbal reinforcements. Sex Roles, 40, 473–481.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fredrickson, B. L., & Roberts, T. A. (1997). Objectification theory: Toward understanding women’s lived experiences and mental health risks. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 21, 173–206.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fredrickson, B. L., Roberts, T., Noll, S. M., Quinn, D. M., & Twenge, J. M. (1998). That swimsuit becomes you: Sex differences in self-objectification, restrained eating, and math performance. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75, 269–284.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garner, D. M. (1991). Eating Disorder Inventory-2 manual. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garner, D. M., & Garfinkel, P. E. (1979). The Eating Attitudes Test: An index of the symptoms of anorexia nervosa. Psychological Medicine, 9, 273–279.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill, M. S, & Fischer, A. F. (2004). Examining objectification theory: Sexual objectification’s link with self-objectification and moderation by sexual orientation and age in White women. Manuscript in preparation, University of Akron, Ohio.

  • Hirschmann, J. R., & Munter, C. H. (1995). When women stop hating their bodies. New York: Fawcett Columbine.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu, L. T., & Bentler, P. (1995). Evaluating model fit. In R. H. Hoyle (Ed.), Structural equation modeling: Concepts, issues, and applications (pp. 76–99). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hyde, J. S. (1991). Half the human experience (4th ed.). Lexington, MA: D.C. Heath

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaschak, E. (1992). Engendered lives: A new psychology of women’s experiences. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kashubeck-West, S., & Mintz, L. B. (2001). Eating disorders in women: Etiology, assessment, and treatment. Counseling Psychologist, 29, 627–634.

    Google Scholar 

  • Katkin, E. S. (1985). Blood, sweat, and tears: Individual differences in autonomic self-perception. Psychophysiology, 22, 125–137.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelloway, E. K. (1998). Using LISREL for structural equation modeling. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kilbourne, J. (1994). Still killing us softly: Advertising and the obsession with thinness. In P. Falon, M. Katzman, & S. C. Wooley (Eds.), Feminist perspectives on eating disorders (pp. 395–418). New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laquatra, T. A., & Clopton, J. R. (1994). Characteristics of alexithymia and eating disorders in college women. Addictive Behaviors, 19, 373–380.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Landrine, H., Klonoff, E. A., Gibbs, J., Manning, V., & Lund, M. (1995). Physical and psychiatric correlates of gender discrimination: An application of the Schedule of Sexist Events. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 19, 473–492.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lerner, H. G. (1993). The dance of deception: Pretending and truth-telling in women’s lives. New York: HarperCollins.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leung, F., Geller, J., & Katzman, M. (1996). Issues and concerns associated with different risk models for eating disorders. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 19, 249–256.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, M. (1992). Shame: The exposed self. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maine, M. (2000). Body wars: Making peace with women’s bodies. Carlsbad, CA: Gürze Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mazzeo, S. E. (1999). Modification of an existing measure of body image preoccupation and its relationship to disordered eating in female college students. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 46, 42–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McKinley, N. M., & Hyde, J. S. (1996). The Objectified Body Consciousness Scale: Development and validation. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 20, 181–215.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moradi, B., & Subich, L. M. (2002). Perceived sexist events and feminist identity development attitudes: Links to women’s psychological distress. Counseling Psychologist, 30, 44–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moradi, B., & Subich, L. M. (2003). A concomitant examination of the relations of perceived racist and sexist events to psychological distress for African American women. Counseling Psychologist, 31, 451–469.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morry, M. M., & Staska, S. L. (2001). Magazine exposure: Internalization, self-objectification, eating attitudes, and body satisfaction in male and female university students. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 33, 269–279.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muehlenkamp, J. J., & Saris-Baglama, R. N. (2002). Self-objectification and its psychological outcomes for college women. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 26, 371–379.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muthén, L. K., & Muthén, B. O. (1998). Mplus user’s guide. Los Angeles: Muthén & Muthén.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nolen-Hoeksema, S., & Girgus, J. (1994). The emergence of gender differences in depression during adolescence. Psychological Bulletin, 115, 424–443.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Noll, S. M., & Fredrickson, B. L. (1998). A mediational model linking self-objectification, body shame, and disordered eating. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 22, 623–636.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parsons, E. M., & Betz, N. E. (2001). The relationship of participation in sports and physical activity to body objectification, instrumentality, and locus of control among young women. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 25, 209–222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pike, K. M. (1995). Bulimic symptomatology in high school girls: Toward a model of cumulative risk. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 19, 373–396.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pipher, M. (1994). Reviving Ophelia: Saving the selves of adolescent girls. Carlsbad, CA: Gurze Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slater, A., & Tiggemann, M. (2002). A test of objectification theory in adolescent girls. Sex Roles, 46, 343–349.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stice, E., Nemeroff, C., & Shaw, H. (1996). A test of the dual pathway model of bulimia nervosa: Evidence for restrained-eating and affect regulation mechanisms. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 15, 340–363.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stice, E., Ziemba, C., Margolis, J., & Flick, P. (1996). The dual-pathway model differentiates bulimics, subclinical bulimics, and controls: Testing the continuity hypothesis. Behavior Therapy, 27, 531–549.

    Google Scholar 

  • Striegel-Moore, R. H., & Cachelin, F. M. (2001). Etiology of eating disorders in women. Counseling Psychologist, 29, 635–661.

    Google Scholar 

  • Striegel-Moore, R. H., Silberstein, L. R., & Rodin, J. (1986). Toward an understanding of risk factors for bulimia. American Psychologist, 41, 246–263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (1996). Using multivariate statistics (3rd ed.). New York: HarperCollins.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, J. K., & Heinberg, L. J. (1999). The media’s influence on body image disturbance and eating disorders: We’ve reviled them, now can we rehabilitate them? Journal of Social Issues, 55, 339–353.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tiggemann, M., & Slater, A. (2001). A test of objectification theory in former dancers and non-dancers. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 25, 57–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tribole, E., & Resch, E. (1995). Intuitive eating. New York: St. Martin’s Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Tylka, T. L. (2001). Building and examining a multidimensional model of eating disorder continuum. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Akron, Ohio.

  • Tylka, T. L., & Subich, L. M. (1999). Exploring the construct validity of the eating disorder continuum. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 46, 268–276.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wear, R. W., & Pratz, O. (1987). Test–retest reliability for the Eating Disorder Inventory. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 6, 767–769.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Marion, Ohio

    Tracy L. Tylka

  2. State University of New York at New Paltz, New Paltz, New York

    Melanie S. Hill

Authors
  1. Tracy L. Tylka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Melanie S. Hill
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tracy L. Tylka.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tylka, T.L., Hill, M.S. Objectification Theory as It Relates to Disordered Eating Among College Women. Sex Roles 51, 719–730 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-004-0721-2

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-004-0721-2

Search

Navigation