Self-Esteem and Body Image in Adolescents

1. Self-Esteem and Body Image in Adolescents

2. Defining Self-Esteem • Self-esteem • Individual’s sense of his/her worth; extent to which a person values, approves of, or appreciates himself/herself • Self-concept • more global sense of self-worth • Self-efficacy • One’s belief that one has the ability to complete or accomplish a particular task

3. Body Image • Linked to self-esteem and self-concept • Shaped by past experiences • Positive or Negative • Affects Boys and girls

4. What Is Body Image? • Relates to how you feel about your body and what you think your body look like to others • Formed at an early age • Influenced by our parents, caregivers, peers and life experiences • Every body is different • Ideal body weight is the weight that allows us to feel strong and energetic and lets us lead a healthy life

5. Effect on Early Childhood • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOHbtM9463c • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAyD-Hm6y44

6. How do I know if I suffer from Body Image issues? • Do you… • Weigh or measure yourself daily or more • Allow the number on the scale to determine how you feel about yourself • Under eat when with others and over eat when by yourself • Restrict food intake all day and overeat on weekends • Have a closet full of clothes in different sizes • Believe that all of your life’s problems would be solved if only you were thin • Feel guilty and ashamed when you eat anything other than diet food • Find yourself constantly critical of your body or specific body parts • Are waiting to be thinner before beginning any new activity like exercising, dating, getting a part time job etc…

7. Body Projects • In the 20th century, North American girls have made their bodies “projects” as a form of self-definition and self-expression. • As the female body has become more and more exposed in the media (particularly in film) the demands on beauty and dietary regimens have increased.

8. A brief history: • 1920s—the century of slimming; college women began dieting, flapper image in vogue • 1930s—modern bra comes into existence; prior to this it was a camisole, store manufacturing of clothes rather than homemade; girls are made to adapt bodies to clothes rather than the other way around

9. More… • 1960s—dieting becomes a persistent preoccuation, rather than episodic; girls start dieting at 9 or 10 instead of 15 • 1980s—smaller bikinis, and the “jeaning of America”; all promoted leaner thighs (NO thunder thighs); hair is also a major focus p

10. 1990s—piercings!; what used to be exotic and more characteristic of primitive people becomes the latest form of self expression • 2000s—??? • Slim and toned bodies • Tattoos/piercings • Lasik vision correction • Teeth whitening/cosmetic Surgery

11. Research on Media Exposure • A 2005 study showed exposure to models (ultra thin or average size) resulted in lower body satisfaction and lower self-esteem in girls aged 11-16. • A 2003 study of female undergraduates showed that both magazine and TV exposure to thin ideals were related to body dissatisfaction.

12. In a 2005 study of the relationship between television viewing and body attitudes on 1,500 eighth through eleventh grade boys and girls, the following was found: • girls considered themselves as more overweight than boys • boys watched more TV than girls but watched sports, entertainment, and information shows for enjoyment while girls watched soap operas and music videos and did so for social learning purposes • watching soap operas was related to drive for thinness for boys and girls • watching music videos was not related to any body image variable for girls, but was related to drive for muscularity for boys

13. Positive Body Image Realistic perception of the body Understand that healthy, attractive bodies come in many shapes and sizes, and that physical appearance says very little about character or value Assessment of the body is separate from a sense of self-esteem

14. Negative body image • Body dysmorphic disorder • Over-preoccupation with an “imagined” physical defect in appearance • Usually nose, skin, or hair • Anxiety and/or depression • Muscle dysmorphia (bigorexia) • Over-preoccupation with the perception or feeling that one’s muscles are too small or too weak • Spend unrealistic amounts of time working out in the gym, and yet they don’t feel “good enough”

15. Positive and Negative Body Image • People with positive body image exhibit • Self-confidence, energy, vitality and positive self-appraisal • Feelings of attractiveness and beauty • Trust and respect for their bodies • Freedom of expression with their bodies, not dependent on weight • People with negative body image describe • Dissatisfaction with their physical appearance • Belief that their appearance is being scrutinized and evaluated by others • Excessive emphasis on physical appearance in how they evaluate themselves • Distressing preoccupation with their bodies • Feelings of shame and/or embarrassment

16. What Are Some Factors That Affect Body Image? Standards set by society and the culture that surrounds us Comments from family, friends, and others about our bodies, their bodies, and other people’s bodies Self-esteem (view our bodies and evaluate ourselves) History of abuse, teasing, life changes, and physical changes that may be a result of puberty, medical problems, surgery or sports injuries Images of idealized versus normal bodies

17. Boosting a Body Image? What are three ways to boost body image? How can you change your body type? If you know people who are always comparing themselves to others in terms of appearance, what could you do or say to help? How could participating in physical activity contribute to positive body image?

18. Exposure to Mass Media and Weight Concerns • Girls between Grades 5 and 12 • 69% reported that magazine pictures influence their idea of the perfect body shape • 47% reported wanting to lose weight because of magazine pictures • Girls who were frequent readers of fashion magazines were two to three times more likely than infrequent readers • To diet to lose weight because of a magazine article • To exercise to lose weight because of a magazine article • To feel that magazines influence what they believe is the ideal body shape

19. Dove Self-Esteem Fund • Think critically about the media and about how much the media work to influence people of all ages • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHqzlxGGJFo

20. The Power of Advertising • Advertising is the most influential media in our culture • It reflects our daydreams, affects what we eat, what we wear, how we look and play. • It is ALL AROUND US!

21. Perfection

22. Women in Advertising • Media portrays women in debilitating, demeaning and inaccurate ways • It presents women as flawless, decorative objects, and creates unrealistic expectations for women

23. Women are Decorative/Sex Objects

24. Cultivating Images of Thinness • In advertising, women receive more messages about slimness and staying in shape than men do • Thinness is associated with good health and attractiveness • In fact, images of thinness are a major cause of the eating disorders.

25. Thin is BeautifulThinness is Associated with Health

26. Magazine Models • Don’t believe everything that you see and read!

27. Real or Not? Real Not

28. Facts! • there are 3 BILLION women who don’t look like super models and only 8 who do • Marilyn Monroe wore a size 12 (that would make her a PLUS size model today) • If shop mannequins were real women, they’d be too thin to menstruate • models in magazines are airbrushed – they’re not perfect • 20 years ago, models weighed 8% less than the average women. Today, they weigh 23% less

29. How to improve body image… • Celebrate our natural sizes – enjoy the diversity of our body shapes • Become informed and recognize and challenge myths and misperceptions about body image • Challenge weight prejudice. Challenge the media. • Boycott the diet industry • Educate others around the issues of weight prejudice and set point theory • Surround yourself with a range of realistic body images • Surround yourself with positive people who build you up, not tear you down • Positive affirmations – learning to love yourself is a process, it takes time to truly love the skin you are in 

30. Body Myths Myth #1: Overeating Causes Overweight Animal research suggests at least 51 causes of overweight, including genetic, metabolic and other environmental factors. Myth # 2: Dieting is Effective Clinical studies show that up to 95% of dieters regain the weight lost, usually within the first year. (yo-yo dieters…) Myth #3: Dieting is Healthy In addition to inadequate nutrition, dieting has been implicated in the development of weakness, fatigue, binge eating, bulimia, weight gain and obesity. (Don’t diet, make lifestyle changes!!!) Myth # 4: Everyone Can Be Slim Many researchers are suggesting that the body has a "set point" or biological control for the amount fat in the body; weight is determined predominately by genetics and early nutrition.