Effects of Reality Television on Perceptions of Body Image

Researchers: Jackie Diliddo, Daniel Dias, Veronica Fitzgerald, Stacey Sarakiniotis Justin Casey, Dr. Melissa Niccole Freeburg

ABSRACT: This study was designed to determine the relationship between the amount of reality television viewed by an individual and its effect on the individual’s perceived body image. This study examined body image as a social justice issue. Data was gathered through participants response to demographic questions designed to determine the amount of reality television an individual is exposed to. This data was compared to the participant’s response to the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ). By comparing these variables we hoped to determine if any relationship exists between the two. We expected to find that the greater the amount of reality television an individual is exposed to the

higher that individual’s score on the BSQ will be. This study may have implications by presenting the effects reality television has on an individual’s perceptions of body image and may be used in research currently being conducted in the field of social justice.

PARTICIPANTS

• This research study sought respondents, ages 18 and older of all genders, who watch Reality Television.

• The six members of this research team gathered a sample of convenience by utilizing the snowball effect from their social media network on Facebook. From the research, Facebook currently has 500 million active users who access this site at least once a day. Furthermore, user friend lists on Facebook can generate the opportunity to reach wide pool of diverse people; possibly representing a broad range of age, gen-der, ethnicity, race, career, marital status, and social economic status (Sumerson, 2010). Participants were invited through weekly postings on each researchers’ Facebook. Opportunity for participation in this study were also be advertised on Bridgewater State University Student An-nouncements website.

INSTRUMENTATION

• We collected data via a survey regarding the demographic information and television viewing habits of our participants; specifically how many hours a week on av erage they watch reality television programming.

• Additionally, participants completed a Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) that will score their body image satisfaction.

• In previous studies, The BSQ has shown high test-retest reliability (α= 0.97) Furthermore, it showed high validity by correlating highly with the body dissatisfaction subscale of the Eating Disorders Inventory (r= 0.88), and high validity with significance at .001 level .Thus, the BSQ showed good concurrent and validity as well as high reliability.

METHODOLOGY

• This study operationalized the parameters of our independent variable as weekly hours watching reality television into three categories: 0-24 weekly hours, 25-48 weekly hours, and 48-72+ weekly hours. According to the Los Angeles Times, the average American watches about 21 -35 hours of television a week (Semuels, 2009). There are 168 hours in a week and if activities, such as 40 hours of work and 54 hours of sleep, account for 94 hours of this time, the average person has the opportunity to watch reality television 74 hours in a week. Based on the findings on average television watched, our IV categories will measure 0-24 weekly hours as low consumption of reality television while 48-72 will be considered high consumption. As such, we expected to establish that the dependent variable of body image satisfaction will have a direct response to our independent variable of exposure to reality TV. In other words, high scores of body dissatisfaction on the BSQ have a positive relationship to a high consumption of reality television.

• From the research, reality television is defined as a genre of television in which non-actors are filmed in special life events and daily routines (Frisby, 2004). At any given time of day, our target population of participants has the opportunity to view one or more hours of reality tele-vision programming. Through empirical research methods, this research project sought to examine the independent variable of hours spent watching reality television programming and its affect on an individual’s body perception.

• As a social justice issue, reality television offers the viewers of this genre the opportunity to make social comparisons in relation to self; this can ultimately affect an individual’s body image perception and sub-jective well being. Body image has been identified as an underrepresented and rarely acknowledged form of social injustice.

LITERATURE REVIEW• Explosion of Reality Television:

Poniewozik suggests that reality television has grown from a novelty in 1992, to a fad in 2000, to now in 2010, reality television has become a way of life. (Poniewozik 2010)

Egbert and James present several statistics illuminating the explosion of reality television in the mid to late 2000’s: For the fall 2007 televi-sion seasons, networks released 56 different reality television shows. Some cable providers also began to offer a new channel called Reality TV, only offering reality programs. Also at this time an internet reality television database also listed the titles of 400 reality programs. (Eg-bert and Belcher 2009)

Miller and Narro detail how many “media experts” during the rise in popularity of reality television in 2001 predicted that the genre would meet its demise in 2002, due to over saturation of reality television programming across cable and television networks. This prediction couldn’t have been more wrong, as the number of reality television offerings and their popularity have continued to grow by leaps and bounds year after year. (Miller and Narro 2008)

• Types of Programming:

Frisby presents the three major categories of reality television: game shows (Survivor), dating shows (The Bachelor), and talent shows (American Idol). (Frisby 2004)

Poniewozik presents the types of reality programming as two major sub-genres. The first, the competition event shows which include many of reality television’s biggest hits including: Survivor, Idol, The Bachelor, Amazing Race, the Biggest Loser, and Project Runway. He also states that these shows have now caused the emergence of more main stream reality television targeting bigger, broader, and older audienc-es, by applying the proven reality formula to familiar genres, game shows, singing competitions, cook offs, and dating shows. (Poniewozik 2010)

• Why is reality television so popular?

Watching reality television to fulfill needs: Egbert and Belcher suggest the boom in the reality television and its popularity are due to peo-ple’s desire to escape from reality and fulfill social affiliation needs. They also speculate that status aware people are drawn to reality televi-sion, because it over inflates the importance of ordinary people. (Egbert and Belcher 2009)

Everyday people in the spotlight: Frisby suggests that reality television has emerged as a popular genre, because it is refreshing for people to see “everyday people” in the spotlight, instead of just movie stars all the time. (Frisby 2004)

Miller and Narro study how various reality television programs and how they reflect various cultural values in our society. They explain how shows like Survivor, and the Biggest Loser, the Bachelor, and the Swan are examples of shows that illustrate popular societal values like competition, achievement, and activity. (Miller and Narro 2008)

• Watching reality programming does effect body image:

On current media influence: Derenne and Beresin argue that most magazines that display ideal, unattainable body types use airbrushing to correct photos and expensive computer technology to hide figure flaws. Also, celebrities and television stars can afford personal trainers and nutritionists to assist them in attaining their best body possible. (Derenne and Beresin 2009)

Markey and Markey present the findings of a study about the media’s messages on cosmetic surgery, and youth’s interest in altering their own physical appearance. In this study consumers who had favorable impressions of reality television shows featuring cosmetic surgery were more likely to pursue cosmetic surgery of their own, and a desire to alter their physical appearance. (Markey and Markey 2010)

Influence of fictional television (as opposed to reality television) characters: Winham and Hampl present information on perceptions of non reality television characters, citing their 2008 study of the relationship between media exposure and high school students’ feelings on eating habits, body image, and physical attractiveness. They found that high school students do not indiscriminately incorporate behaviors from television characters, but do incorporate some views that fit their reality like the importance of physical attractiveness in their romantic part-ners, but not clothing styles and eating habits. (Winham and Hampl 2008)

• Literature supporting body image as a social justice issue:

Conceptualization of cultivation theory: Egbert and Belcher assume that heavy consumers of television view this display of idealized bodies as accurate representations of reality, and use these images as a bench mark for personal comparison. (Egbert and Belcher 2009)

Numerous sources in the body of literature establish a link between a person’s body image, or how they view themselves, and its strong cor-relation between anxiety and depression and various expressions there of including eating disorders, and overall life satisfaction. In turn anxiety and depression have an impact on a person’s ability to obtain an education, employment opportunities, and countless other ways.

Russell-Mayhew argues that as a society we need to take a long hard look at the root causes and social meaning of eating issues, and stop try-ing to change people living in a system that supports eating disorders and obesity. In other words trying to change an individual within a so-ciety that supports eating issues will do very little, if we cannot change the larger system and societal views that create eating disorders.

“We need to better understand the global context of how political, social, and economic factors influence our relationships with our bod-ies.” (Russell-Mayhew 2007)

• Establishing a need for research:

Undoubtedly reality television has become so popular, and so engrained in our culture and society, as well as providing us with countless hours of entertainment and fodder for discussion. As is evident by the literature, there are a number of sources hypothesizing, and some even citing evidence of a tangible link between consumption of reality television and body image. Our group aims to shed some light on this void in the literature by conducting a study examining consumption of reality television and how that may impact a person’s score on the body shape questionnaire. In doing this we will add to the body of literature by taking further steps to establish a relationship between real-ity television and body image, and answer the question of how much is too much? While it is unlikely that reality television will disappear anytime soon, we anticipate that we will learn just how much our society is influenced by the media in particular the reality television genre.

SURVEY and BSQDemographic Information:1.Please specify your age:_______________

2.Please specify you gender by selecting one.o Maleo Femaleo Transgendero other ___________

3.Please specify the race/ethnicity you identify with (select one).o American Indian or Alaska Nativeo Asiano Black or African American o Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander o Whiteo Hispanic or Latinoo other ______________

4.What is your current marital status?o Now marriedo Widowedo Divorcedo Separatedo Never married

5. Please estimate your total annual household income?o Less than $19,999o $20,000 to $39,999o $40,000 to $59,999o $60,000 to $79,999o $80,000 to $99,999o $100,000 or more

6 .To assess the participants estimated weekly hours of watching reality TV, we will pose the following statement and question. “At this time we would like you to reflect on the average amount of hours you watch reality TV each week. Reality TV is defined as the genre of television in which non-actors are filmed in special life events and daily routines. Currently there are over 400 reality TV shows available, for example: Jersey Shore, The Biggest Loser, and American Idol. For accuracy, it may be helpful for you to reflect on the shows that you habitually watch in context to the days of the week:

Sunday (0-24): Monday (0-24): Tuesday (0-24):

Wednesday (0-24): Thursday (0-24): Friday (0-24):

Saturday (0-24):

Body Shape Questionaire

We would like to know how you have been feeling about your appearance over the PAST FOUR WEEKS. Please read each question and circle the appropriate number to the right. Please answer all the questions.OVER THE PAST FOUR WEEKS: 1.Never | 2.Rarely | | 3.Sometimes | | | 4.Often | | | | 5.Very often | | | | | 6. Always1. Has feeling bored made you brood about your shape? 2. Have you been so worried about your shape that you have been feeling you ought to diet? 3. Have you thought that your thighs, hips or bottom are too large for the rest of you?4. Have you been afraid that you might become fat (or fatter)?5. Have you worried about your flesh being not firm enough?6. Has feeling full (e.g. after eating a large meal) made you feel fat? 7. Have you felt so bad about your shape that you have cried?8. Have you avoided running because your flesh might wobble? 9. Has being with thin women made you feel self-conscious about your shape? 10. Have you worried about your thighs spreading out when sitting down? 11. Has eating even a small amount of food made you feel fat? 12. Have you noticed the shape of other women and felt that your own shape compared unfavorably?13. Has thinking about your shape interfered with your ability to concentrate (e.g. while watching television, reading, listening to conversa tions)? 14. Has being naked, such as when taking a bath, made you feel fat?15. Have you avoided wearing clothes which make you particularly aware of the shape of your body? 16. Have you imagined cutting off fleshy areas of your body?17. Has eating sweets, cakes, or other high calorie food made you feel fat? 18. Have you not gone out to social occasions (e.g. parties) because you have felt bad about your shape?19. Have you felt excessively large and rounded? 20. Have you felt ashamed of your body?21. Has worry about your shape made you diet?22. Have you felt happiest about your shape when your stomach has been empty (e.g. in the morning)? 23. Have you thought that you are in the shape you are because you lack self-control? 24. Have you worried about other people seeing rolls of fat around your waist or stomach?25. Have you felt that it is not fair that other women are thinner than you?26. Have you vomited in order to feel thinner?27. When in company have your worried about taking up too much room (e.g. sitting on a sofa, or a bus seat)?28. Have you worried about your flesh being dimply?29. Has seeing your reflection (e.g. in a mirror or shop window) made you feel bad about your shape? 30. Have you pinched areas of your body to see how much fat there is?31. Have you avoided situations where people could see your body (e.g. communal changing rooms or swimming baths)? 32. Have you taken laxatives in order to feel thinner?33. Have you been particularly self-conscious about your shape when in the company of other people?

34. Has worry about your shape made you feel you ought to exercise?

Research funding provided by Diversity and Inclusion Research Institute

results