Adolescents, food behaviour and television

Abstract

Several researchers have indicated that the emphasis placed by young people on body shape and appearance has been greatly shaped by the media. The aim of this research was to investigate this notion specifically with regard to televised media. It was hypothesised that there would be a relationship between media images, eating attitudes and dietary behaviours, particularly for teenagers with body-image self-schemas who were conscious of their appearance.

Nine hundred and sixty five senior secondary school students, from 33 country and metropolitan, state and independent, co-educational and single-sex South Australian high schools were surveyed. Fifty-six percent of the sample were adolescent girls and the average age of participants was 16.1 years. The questionnaire included sections on television usage, dieting behaviours, eating restraint and eating habits, as well as attitudes to foods, gender and appearance.

Cluster analysis procedures indicated that it was possible to cluster television viewers into four distinct groups, "Telephiliacs", "Telephobics", "Modellers" and a "Relaxation/Information" group. These groups were classified according to television usage. Telephiliacs made the mose use of television, using it to gain information, for relaxation and entertainment and as a resource for body image and appearance standards; Modellers used it as a guide on which to model their appearance and behaviour; the Relaxation/Information group used it to relax and to gain information; and Telephobics did not watch much television and made the least use of it.

The results of discriminant analyses confirmed that these cluster groups were different and that they could be distinguished by attitudes to appearance, dieting behaviours and foods consumed. The findings support the notion that the adolescent television audience is an active one and that television usage is dependent upon the needs of the individual.

Television usage varied amongst adolescents and it was more likely to be used as a source of reference for body image standards by teenagers who were conscious of their appearance. These teenagers were also more likely to diet. Any outcomes related to television usage were accentuated if teenagers believed that television was "real".

The findings suggest that television perpetuates an image of the thin body ideal and acts as a source of reference for adolescents with body-image self-schemas.