The role of cultural factors on eating and body-related disorders.

Several studies indicate that the media are a significant factor in the development and maintenance of eating and shape-related disorders. Objectification theory (Fredrickson and Roberts 1997) represents a cohesive framework to understand how sociocultural pressures are translated into psychological risk factors potentially promoting body image and eating problems. Effects of objectifying media on body image and on eating disorder symptomatology in an Italian sample have been examined. A sample of 113 men and 119 women (Mage = 20.60) completed questionnaire measures of exposure to Italian objectifying media, body surveillance, body shame and eating disorder symptomatology. As far as for women, the exposure to objectifying media leads to body surveillance which in turn leads to body shame, that is related to the etiology of disordered eating. Path analyses indicated similar results (even if weaker) for men. Women obtained medium scores significantly higher in every variable. We found gender issues in body surveillance and shame if considered as mediator variables. The results confirm that our society’s focus on external appearance has negative mental- health consequences for both men and women. In terms of practical implications, the data support the use of media literacy as a promising prevention approach, as well as the use of cognitive-behavioral and other integrated treatments for negative body image (e.g. virtual reality) which aim to decrease the central importance of appearance and thus reduce the risk for the development of eating disorders.