08 February 2011
Washington, DC USA
A new study from the University of Haifa has shown that the more time adolescent girls spend in front of Facebook , the more are their chances of developing a negative body image and various eating disorders, such as anorexia, bulimia and exaggerated dieting.
This study, conducted by Prof Yael Latzer, Prof. Ruth Katz and Zohar Spivak of the Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences at the University of Haifa, set out to examine the effects of two factors on the development of eating disorders in young girls: exposure to the media and self–empowerment.
A group of 248 girls aged 12–19 (average age: 14.8) took part in the survey. These girls were asked to provide information on their Internet and television viewing habits. Regarding the latter, they were asked to give the number of popular shows related to extreme standards of physical image (the "Barbie" model) that they watched.
The girls also filled out questionnaires that examined their approach to slimming, bulimia, physical satisfaction or dissatisfaction, their general outlook on eating, and their sense of personal empowerment.
The results showed that the more time girls spend on Facebook, the more they suffered conditions of bulimia, anorexia, physical dissatisfaction, negative physical self–image, negative approach to eating and more of an urge to be on a weight–loss diet.
Extensive online exposure to fashion and music content showed similar tendencies, but manifested in fewer types of eating disorders. As such, more the exposure to fashion content on the Internet, the higher a girl's chances of developing anorexia. A similar direct link was found between viewing gossip– and leisure–related television programs (the likes of "Gossip Girl") and eating disorders in adolescent girls.
The study also revealed that the level of personal empowerment in these girls is negatively linked to eating disorders, such that the higher the level of empowerment, the more positive the physical self–image and the lower the chances of developing an eating disorder.
Disclaimer: The news story on this page is the copyright of the cited publication. This has been reproduced here for visitors to review, comment on and discuss. This is in keeping with the principle of ‘Fair dealing’ or ‘Fair use’. Visitors may click on the publication name, in the news story, to visit the original article as it appears on the publication’s website.
