The influence of the media on the body perception and the risk of developing eating disorders in youth

Abstract

The standards of appearance created by media resources incite the excessive desire of young people to conform to patterns incompatible with reality. Determining the influence of media on body perception will contribute to reducing the risk of eating disorders in young people. The aim is to identify the impact of media on young people's perception of their bodies and their risk of developing eating disorders. The following empirical methods were employed: SATAQ-3, BAQ, EDI, ASI-R. Statistical methods: ANOVA, descriptive statistics, regression analysis. Media influence young people's attitudes to their body and pose a risk of developing eating disorders. Information impairs the attitude towards one's own appearance (p≤0.01) and provokes the risk of eating disorders (p≤0.01). Media pressure in 72% determines the risk of developing eating disorders (R=0.642), has the greatest influence on drive for thinness (β=0.620±0.319) and body dissatisfaction (β=0.557±0.235). The results of the study indicate the need to develop educational and preventive measures to eliminate the negative impact of mass media on body perception by young people and reduce the risk of eating disorders.