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http://dx.doi.org/10.5723/KJCS.2013.34.2.27

The Mediating Effects of Body Comparison on the Relationship between Internalization of Sociocultural Attitudes toward Appearance and Body Dissatisfaction among Adolescent Girls  

Chyung, Yun Joo (Dept. of Consumer & Child Studies, Incheon National University)
Publication Information
Korean Journal of Child Studies / v.34, no.2, 2013 , pp. 27-42 More about this Journal
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine: (1) the relationships among internalization of sociocultural attitudes toward appearance, body comparison, and body dissatisfaction in adolescent girls; and (2) whether or not body comparison mediates the relationship between internalization of sociocultural attitudes toward appearance and body dissatisfaction. The participants consisted of 291 girls from fifth through ninth grades. The data were collected by means of questionnaires given in classroom settings. The findings are as follows: there are significant bivariate correlations among internalization of sociocultural attitudes toward appearance, body comparison, and body dissatisfaction. Furthermore, body comparison partially mediates the relationship between internalization of sociocultural attitude towards appearance and body dissatisfaction. These results seem to indicate that the idea that there are multiple standards of beauty and individuality for every person should be promoted, and this in turn could lower the risk of body dissatisfaction among adolescent girls.
Keywords
sociocultural attitudes; appearance; internalization; body comparison; body dissatisfaction;
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