The Effect of Objectifying Media Images On Eating Pathology: an Experimental Study Comparing Australian and Asian Females

Abstract

IntroductionThe onset of eating pathology has commonly been attributed to media influences. However, most of these studies have not included an experimental design and have mainly concentrated on Caucasian samples, with limited research on non-Western populations.ObjectiveTo assess whether exposure to either objectifying female media images or neutral images (e.g. chairs) had an impact on eating pathology and self-objectification and whether this effect was different for Australian and Asian females.MethodA total sample of 301 female participants [Caucasian Australians (n= 97); Asians grown up in Australia (n = 70), Asians currently residing in Australia (n = 60) and Chinese living in Hong K..