Korean Journal of Child Studies (아동학회지)

Korean Association of Child Studies (한국아동학회)
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The Mediating Effects of Body Comparison on the Relationship between Internalization of Sociocultural Attitudes toward Appearance and Body Dissatisfaction among Adolescent Girls

외모에 대한 사회문화적 태도 내재화와 신체비교가 여자 청소년의 신체불만족에 미치는 영향

  • Chyung, Yun Joo (Dept. of Consumer & Child Studies, Incheon National University)
  • 정윤주 (인천대학교 소비자.아동학과)
  • Received : 2012.11.12
  • Accepted : 2013.04.16
  • Published : 2013.04.30
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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

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