Danelle Kohlmeyer Xiao, W. (2010).

More Than Just Anorexia and Steroid Abuse: Effects of Media Exposure on Attitudes Toward Body Image and Self-Efficacy. Atlantic Journal of Communication, 18(1), 50-62. doi:10.1080/15456870903210089.

In this article, Xiao looks into how media exposure affects peoples attitudes toward body image and self-efficacy. This study used the integrative model of behavioral prediction which says that mass media does manipulate peoples behavioral intentions, attitudes, subjective norms, and self-efficacy. It also integrates the social cognitive theory throughout the study, which helps to explain how mass media can influence peoples self-efficacy and attitudes. The hypotheses for the study are: 1. For female participants, attitudes toward attractive body image would be predicted by (a) their viewing of popular television shows, (b) their fashion and entertainment magazine reading, and (c) their sports and fitness magazine reading. 2. Both female and male participants self-efficacy toward physical activity is positively related to their sports and fitness magazine reading. 3. For both female and male samples, participants intentions to participate in physical activity are a function of their attitudes toward attractive body image, subjective norms, self-efficacy, and PBC. The research question examined in this study is, For male participants, will their attitudes toward attractive body image be predicted by(a) their viewing of popular television shows, (b) their fashion and entertainment magazine reading, and (c) their sports and fitness magazine reading? A qualitative study was administered by using an internet based survey. It was conducted in the spring of 2006. A random selection of approximately 3,000 students, from a large

southeastern university was used. The final sample had 348 females and 161 male students. 76.2% of the females were White, 9.3% were Black, 8.4% were Hispanic, 3.5% were Asian, and 2.8% were other races. For the males, 77.5% were White, 7.5% were Black, 8.8% Hispanic, 3.4% were Asian, and 2.8% were other races. Likert scales were used to measure self-efficacy, behavioral intentions, magazine reading, and television exposure. The television shows assessed were: Real World, Desperate Housewives, Laguna Beach, OC, Sex and the City, and Friends. The results used a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach. This approach did confirmatory factor analysis and path analysis in one step to save time. Hypothesis one part b and c were supported because results showed that reading both types of magazines were related positively to female college students attitudes toward attractive body image. Mens attitudes on attractive body image were only influenced by sport and health magazines. Hypothesis two was also supported by the data. Hypothesis three was supported by positively correlated data on attitudes, subjective norms, self-efficacy, and PBC for females and attitudes, self-efficacy, and PBC for males. It can be taken from these results that attitudes and self-efficacy are the medium in the relationship between intentions and media exposure. Findings from this study showed that media exposure could have a positive effect on physical activity in individuals. It also showed that magazines had more of an impact on male and females than television shows watched. Limitations of this study were that there were only college students surveyed and they were all from the same university.