Date of Award
2009
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Program
Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Supervisor
Dr. Harry Prapavessis
Second Advisor
Dr. Mary Jung
Abstract
This study sought to compare the effects of a media literacy intervention to an attention control on women’s body dissatisfaction after watching and exercising to a fitness video. Using a crossover design, 83 infrequent exercisers (M age = 24.54) with moderate to higher body dissatisfaction, including a sub-sample of women with higher body dissatisfaction (n=22; M age = 26.73), randomly received a media literacy intervention or attention control materials. Participants then watched and exercised to the video. The Appearance Evaluation and Body Areas Satisfaction subscales were administered at baseline, after watching, and after exercising to the video. Contrary to hypotheses, body dissatisfaction decreases in both samples after watching and exercising, regardless of group assignment. Overall, exposure to the fitness video resulted in increases in body satisfaction. These findings are discussed within a self-enhancement framework, and addresses potential differences between watching versus exercising to a fitness video on body dissatisfaction.
Recommended Citation
Elkavam, Joy G., "THE EFFECTS OF A MEDIA LITERACY INTERVENTION ON WOMEN’S BODY DISSATISFACTION: WATCHING AND EXERCISING TO A FITNESS VIDEO" (2009). Digitized Theses. 3946.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/digitizedtheses/3946