Influences of media images on healthy female’s body-self unity experience

This study examined the effects of media images of models performing a difficult body movement on young, healthy female’s body-self unity experience. According to van der Heij (2007), body-self unity consists of alienation and harmony of the body and self. Female participants (N = 44) were randomly selected into three group conditions. In the first two conditions they were exposed to several media images of models performing a difficult Yoga body movement and either answered statements about the body functionality or the attractiveness of the model. The last condition was a control group in which respondents were shown images of accessories and answered statements about the usefulness of these accessories. Using the Body Experience Questionnaire as an indicator of body-self unity, women who were exposed to the media images of models showed significantly greater discrepancies between themselves and their bodies as indicated by body-self alienation. However, no differences between the groups were found on body-self harmony. These results suggest that exposure to certain media images can have negative influences on individual’s experience of body-self unity, in particular body-self alienation.