The direct effect of thin ideal focused adult television on young girls’ ideal body figure

The present study tested the direct effect of watching thin ideal focused television aimed at (young) adults on body dissatisfaction in preadolescent girls (9–12 years old). A within-subject design was used in which the girls (N = 60) were tested three times. They watched three movie clips in random order that were either focused explicitly (thin ideal program) or indirectly (soap opera) on the thin ideal or were neutral in content. Afterwards, they filled out questionnaires concerning their body dissatisfaction. Only older preadolescent girls (11–12 years old) showed greater body dissatisfaction after watching the thin ideal focused television clip than after watching the neutral television clip. After watching thin ideal focused television, they desired a thinner body figure than after watching neutral television. The findings imply that watching (adult) thin ideal television directly affects the ideal body figure in older preadolescent girls.

Research highlights▶ Investigation of adult thin ideal television influence on girls’ body dissatisfaction. ▶ Older girls showed greater body dissatisfaction after watching thin ideal television. ▶ Older girls desired a thinner body figure after watching thin ideal television.