Conference presentation
Short term exposure to attractive and muscular males in music video clips negatively affects men’s body image and mood
2011 University Research Conference Program Book, p.15
USC Research Conference, 2011 (Sunshine Coast, Australia, 18-Jul-2011–22-Jul-2011)
University of the Sunshine Coast
2011
Abstract
Current standards of male attractiveness, as presented in the media, emphasise a level of muscularity that is difficult for most men to approximate. Preliminary research has shown that exposure to idealised images in the media can reduce men's body satisfaction. However there is no research that has specifically examined the impact of music video clips (MVCs), a popular form of entertainment for young men. Therefore the aim of this study was to examine the effect of male images in MVCs on men's body image, mood and cognitions. Specifically, three questions were asked: What are the immediate effects of exposure to MVCs? Are these effects transitory or do they persist over time? Do these images activate cognitive appearance schemas? A National sample of 90 men was exposed to fi ve minutes of MVCs containing images of either muscular and attractive men, average looking men, or scenery. Participants completed pre and multiple post-test measures (at 3, 6 and 9 minutes) of mood, body image and confidence. Additionally, they completed a post-test word-stem completion task to assess the degree to which they cognitively processed the images. A clear pattern of results emerged where participants who were exposed to the MVCs containing muscular males showed a decrease in their overall body satisfaction, muscle satisfaction and confi dence levels. Additionally they become significantly less happy and more depressed compared to the men who viewed MVCs containing average looking men or scenery. These adverse effects persisted over time with participant's body image and mood remaining low nine minutes after the initial exposure. No evidence of schema activation was found suggesting a low level of cognitive processing of the stimuli. Together, these findings suggest that even short term exposure to MVCs can produce a range of negative effects on men's body image and mood states.
Details
- Title
- Short term exposure to attractive and muscular males in music video clips negatively affects men’s body image and mood
- Authors
- Kate Mulgrew (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
- Publication details
- 2011 University Research Conference Program Book, p.15
- Conference details
- USC Research Conference, 2011 (Sunshine Coast, Australia, 18-Jul-2011–22-Jul-2011)
- Publisher
- University of the Sunshine Coast
- Date published
- 2011
- Organisation Unit
- School of Social Sciences - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health - Psychology; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99449586702621
- Output Type
- Conference presentation
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