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Gender and Age Group Differences in Mass Media and Interpersonal Influences on Body Dissatisfaction Among Chinese Adolescents

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Abstract

Despite evidence that middle adolescent girls (ages 14–17) experience more body dissatisfaction than early adolescent girls (ages 10–13) or boys at these ages, researchers have rarely considered whether such differences are observed regarding factors related to body dissatisfaction, particularly within non-Western samples. To address this issue, gender and age group differences in media and interpersonal influences on body dissatisfaction were assessed among early and middle adolescents living in Chongqing, China. In Study 1, 595 boys and 648 girls completed self report measures of demographics, public self-consciousness and appearance-based social pressure, comparisons, and conversations. Compared to boys, girls reported more appearance pressure from mass media and close interpersonal networks (friends, family), appearance comparisons with peers, and appearance conversations with friends; these effects were qualified by interactions with age group, indicating media and interpersonal factors were more prominent in the lives of middle adolescent girls than other groups. Effects were observed independent of body mass index (BMI) and public self-consciousness. In Study 2, 738 girls and 661 boys completed the same measures and a body dissatisfaction scale. By and large, gender and age differences were replicated. Middle adolescent girls also reported more body dissatisfaction than peers did. Perceived appearance pressure from mass media and interpersonal ties were both implicated in mediation analyses to explain this gender × age group effect.

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Acknowledgement

This research was supported by grants from the Foundation program for Humanities and Social Science research, State Education Commission (08JAXLX014), The Key Discipline Fund of National 211 Project, China (NSKD08004), and the School of Arts and Social Sciences, James Cook University. Select findings from Study 2 were presented in a poster at the 2009 convention of the American Psychological Association. We thank Zhang Tingyan, Rao Ying, He Yulan, Gao Xiao, Liang Yi, Jiang Xiaxia, Chen Minyan, Pan Chenjing, Liukun, Yang Tingting, and Zhao Yi for assistance with data collection.

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  1. Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Southwest University, Chongqing, China

    Hong Chen & Todd Jackson

  2. School of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China

    Hong Chen

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  1. Hong Chen
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  2. Todd Jackson
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Correspondence to Todd Jackson.

Appendix: Research Measures (附录:测量工具)

Appendix: Research Measures (附录:测量工具)

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Chen, H., Jackson, T. Gender and Age Group Differences in Mass Media and Interpersonal Influences on Body Dissatisfaction Among Chinese Adolescents. Sex Roles 66, 3–20 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-011-0056-8

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