Media influences on body image and disordered eating among indigenous adolescent Australians

Adolescence, Spring, 2005 by Marita P. McCabe, Lina Ricciardelli, David Mellor, Kylie Ball

Consistent with this proposal, Brevis, McGarvey, Jones, and Swinburn (1998) found that Samoans demonstrated an absence of a strongly negative view of obesity, and the ideal body size for Samoan women in Samoa was greater than that for Samoans in Auckland, New Zealand. In contrast, the ideal size for Samoan men in New Zealand was greater than that for Samoan men in Samoa. It would seem that once ethnic groups become more aware of the cultural ideals generated by Western societies (as would occur in New Zealand), they are more likely to adopt the sociocultural ideal of that society. However, from the studies noted earlier, this ideal may not be internalized to the same extent as it is by Whites within these societies. Further support for this proposal was provided by a recent Australian study of acculturation effects on body weight dissatisfaction and extreme weight loss behaviors (Ball & Kenardy, 2002). In a community sample of 14,779 young women, a strong acculturation effect was observed such that the longer the time spent in Australia, the more women reported weight-related values and behaviors similar to those of Australian-born women. These findings support the contention that, as individuals become more acculturated to Western society, they become more susceptible to sociocultural influences from the media and peers that promote the thin ideals in these societies. This may lead to the development of concerns about body image and the adoption of body change behaviors.

Very few studies have examined the impact of race and ethnicity on body image concerns and body change strategies among adolescent males. In one study, Black males were found to be more satisfied with their weight and proud of their body compared to Whites (Story, French, Resnick, & Blum, 1995). However, in two other studies, no differences were found in the number of White versus Black adolescent boys who were trying to lose weight (Adams, Sargent, Thompson, Richter, Corwin, & Rogan, 2000; Field et al., 1999). No studies were located that have examined the role of race and ethnicity on body change strategies to increase weight or muscles.

From the above review, it is clear that further research needs to be conducted to determine the differences in body image and body-change strategies among different ethnic groups. Most particularly, it is important to examine the body image and body change strategies adopted by males from different ethnic groups, since males have been largely ignored in studies of body image and ethnicity. Furthermore, given the central role of the media in shaping body image and body change strategies, it is important to examine its role among non-White populations.

The current study was designed to examine body image, body change strategies, and media influences among indigenous and non-indigenous Australian adolescent boys and girls. Satisfaction with and importance of body shape, as well as body change strategies to decrease weight, increase weight, and increase muscles were explored. It was predicted that indigenous boys and girls would be less likely to be dissatisfied with their bodies and would view their body shape as less important than would non-indigenous boys and girls, and would also be less likely to adopt strategies to lose weight or increase muscles. It was also predicted that indigenous Australians would detect less pressure from the media to lose weight or increase muscles, and that the media would be less likely to predict body satisfaction or body change strategies among indigenous adolescent boys and girls.